Was OU free in the 1980s?

[ColdinSeptember]

I’mn rewatching Educating Rita. I assume she was doing the OU for free?

In the earlier parts of the 2000s there used to be grants that covered the costs. Not the loans that are available today.

I don't know when that started but there certainly was a time you could study OU without costs, if on a low income.

I think it’s such a pity it’s so expensive now. I know there are loans but it’s not the same.

I studied with the OU 2008-2013 for a degree. I wasn't low income, but it cost £650 per module and I took 6 modules for my BA Hons degree. Total cost £3,900.

I just looked it up and the same qualification today costs £21,816 with the OU.

I did an OU degree in the early 2000s and although it was cheaper it certainly wasn’t free. About £800 per module (6 modules in total)? In 2004 that was a fair chunk of money.

If you were on some benefits you could get it at very reduced fees.

And up until about 10ish years ago, even at full fees cost, it was a lot cheaper as the funding model was different.

Do bear in mind that you only start to repay student loans if you earn over a certain threshold.

I’ve just had a look at the masters degree fees and they are more expensive than doing it person.
I know it’s more flexible and you can work as well but you aren’t getting the same thing.

I did an OU degree in the early 2000’s for free. Funding was based only on the students income not household

I started my degree in the eighties and it was about £320 per module excluding set books and £100 extra if you needed to go to summer school.

I probably spent around £3k in total. I was earning £11k when I started.

I’d have started it sooner but watching Educating Rita put me off as I actually thought it would be like that!

Was it not? 😂😂😂

I assume you weren’t seeing an actual tutor once a week.

I also went to Liverpool University and was confused why it didn’t look the same.

I took some OU modules in the 80's and they weren't free. I don't remember exactly how much they cost, but there was no financial support available even though I was a SAHM and had no independent income. I sold some jewellery to fund one course and asked for monetary birthday and Christmas gifts to help finance other courses.

I did an OU foundation module in the early 1980s (first part of an OU degree). I was a single parent on 'supplementary benefit' as it was called then.

I got a grant from my local authority (LA). If I remember correctly, I would have received a grant for modules at a rate which have taken me six years to get a degree on that basis through the OU.

However, I did so well in my first OU module that I was able to use that as 'proof of ability' to get into a university to do a degree in three years with no other qualifications apart from O levels. Again, at that time, because I had left the parental home several years before and I was on benefits, my LA paid for all of it, as well as living expenses, through a grant which didn't need to be paid back.

I am eternally grateful for that funding. I got my degree and it opened doors throughout the rest of my live that I would never have even been able to approach without it...

Don't underestimate how good OU degrees (undergrad and masters) are and how much support you get. I did an OU MSc and it really was extremely good and very thorough (and was a fantastic grounding for my PhD).

Definitely wasn't free for me, but you could apply for help with fees if on a very low income. I got a contribution from the LA, and I didn't have to do the summer school because I was very pregnant. They also sent an invigilator to my house one year because I had a very young baby. I think some Local Authorities were more generous than mine - I finished my degree at a university where I got fees paid, and a grant that covered books and travel.

Not free for me, but in the hundreds per year, can't remember exactly what, but not a sum that worried me and I started in the late 80s. I had on the whole good tutorials and support, excellent tutors and attended a couple of summer schools (they were extra, but again affordable) and ended up with a BSc and an additional Post Grad Diploma. Certainly couldn't have afforded it in the thousands!! I did undertake a professional qualification with them more recently (sponsored by work) and the quality of support was awful, as even the tutor complained about the workload on them and sadly it bore no resemblance to the support for my degree.

Is she doing g OU in Educating Rita? I thought she was studying at a university as it's all about her relationship with her tutor.

DP did an OU degree when he was unemployed in the early 80's. It was £10/module.

Yes shes an OU student, she’s a hairdresser who visits her tutor one evening a week.

(LOVE educating Rita)

It was certainly a lot more than that when I did modules in 1983-85!

If you earn under £25,000 and live in Scotland the Scottish Awards agency will pay your fees for either part time or full time study. I know a few people doing this because they have an illness that prevented them going to a brick Uni. The only draw back is if you do go full time you don’t get the loan for living costs. However, full time is only 3 years instead of the 4 you have to do in Scotland.