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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Open University - expensive?

49 replies

WeAreGypsy · 08/08/2016 19:53

I thought Open University degree course might be a good option for those who don't want to rack up large university fees, but still would like to study for a degree in the future, including my own children.

When I had a quick look on the internet, OU fees are approximately £6k per year, which I assume would work out about £18K for a full course. This seems to be nearly half the cost of a full normal university course, which seems quite alot.

Anyway, has anyone taken this option or considered this option? Did it seem expensive? Was it worthwhile?

Thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

WeAreGypsy · 09/08/2016 10:23

A very helpful thread which really answers my questions.

I don't know how I feel at the end of it all. OU obviously sounds very good quality. Like Rosamund I did a degree at a normal university, in my early 20s, and I also think it was an overrated experience. And it was free! For that reason I find it hard to recommend to my own children except for the sciences and vocational courses like law, medicine etc - unless you have a total passion for your subject (I didn't I just wandered into it). Maybe I should do another thread about that! I think I will! I'll do it now ...

OU sounds so good, it is just such a shame its so expensive. At least some subsidisation wouldn't go amiss. Even £10K would be much more affordable. Its hard to imagine that at one time it just used to cost a few hundred times.

Thanks again.

OP posts:

Original poster

WeAreGypsy · 09/08/2016 10:43

a few hundred pounds

OP posts:

MrsToddsShortcut · 09/08/2016 10:57

I'm about to start my final year of my OU degree. As I started before the fee changes, I am on 'transitional fees' so still paying old prices (about £750 per module). I was very lucky. If I started now, I wouldn't even be able to consider it.

They've also axed the financial support which I was able to access for a couple of years while on Housing Benefit. It's a shame. Higher Ed is becoming more and more unattainable financially.

Cary2012 · 09/08/2016 13:11

My OU degree was amazing, I enjoyed it and it certainly advanced my career. Reading this I am so grateful that I graduated in 2010 before the price hike, I think my whole hons BA came to about £3,500. I've more than earned it back in career advancement. I certainly wouldn't be able to do it at today's prices.

HostaFireandIce · 09/08/2016 15:39

OP, have you looked at London International University? It's the University of London's distance learning programme. Their degrees are a fair bit cheaper, though they don't give you a great deal of help in my experience. They might be worth looking at.

user1470498144 · 09/08/2016 15:49

I'm currently taking an open university course from home - it's a hell of a lot cheaper as I don't have to pay for student accommodation/travel, course textbooks (everything I need is in the course handbook they gave) etc.
I was able to apply for a student loan. I wouldn't suggest paying upfront if you can get the loan.

Anonymouses · 09/08/2016 15:53

It's cheaper but not much these days. Depending on what you want to study there are other places that offer online courses for much less, especially in more vocational things like ministry and youth work.

wizzywig · 09/08/2016 15:53

There are many unis doing distance learning degrees. Im doing one. The OU would be way too expensive for me

Flappyhat · 09/08/2016 15:56

wizzy I have been looking into doing an out degree, I didn't realise 'regular' unis offered distance learning too. How different is it cost wise?

HostaFireandIce · 09/08/2016 16:36

Flappyhat as an example, the degree I am doing through London International cost about £900 fees the first year and then £450 for each year after that (you can do it in a minimum of 3 years). It then costs £250 for each paper that you do (total 11 papers and dissertation - I think the dissertation costs a little more than the normal paper fee, but I haven't got there yet).

Flappyhat · 09/08/2016 16:43

Thankyou for that Hosta I will have to look into it further. Didn't realise this was an option. Do you pay upfront or get a student loan?

CathyEarnshawsGhost · 09/08/2016 16:52

I'm currently studying with the OU. It is about 2/3 the cost of a brick uni. I'm not eligible for a student loan but the OU has its own loan facility so I pay monthly. At £230 something a month, it really doesn't feel like a massive burden as I'm able to work alongside studying (I appreciate that is a lot of money, but compared with an £18k+ debt hanging over you at the end, it's better for me).

So far, my tutors have been excellent and the course materials (both web and printed) are outstanding. The only additional costs I have incurred (other than my stationery) are buying my books (I'm studying English Literature) but you could take these out of your local library or buy them second hand for very reasonable prices, and my parking fees every 5 weeks during term time for my face to face tutorials/study days.

Cary2012 · 09/08/2016 17:06

CathyEarnshaw: I did Lit with the OU, you probably know this but always check out ebay for the novels for the lit modules, students often sell all the novels there as a bundle. I got mine that way, then resold them when I finished, saved me loads.

tinyterrors · 09/08/2016 17:14

I'm the same as MrsTodd and about to start my final year of my degree with the OU so I'm also on transitional fees. There's no way I'd have been able to afford it if I'd have started a year later and missed the transitional fees.

As Cats says the OU has been badly hit with funding cuts and restructuring to fit in with the traditional academic year. It really is a shame as the OU, while frustrating at times and bloody hard work, is the only way lots of people could fit a degree in around work/childcare/family commitments as you could feasibly do your degree and never have meet anyone face to face. It was also affordable for most with a mix of tesco clubcard vouchers, financial support and OUSBA fee loans which only accrued a tiny amount of interest.

The OU was perfect for me as I could fit it around my dcs, family commitments and caring for my terminally ill mum, while also being relatively affordable. It also has the advantage over a brick university in that all course books being included in the cost of the module, rather than having to pay an extra few hundred for books you only use one or two chapters from.

My degree will have cost about £7000 all together which I've paid with a mix of clubcard vouchers (could be trebled at the start then we're phased out the following year) some financial support and the rest in short term OUSBA loans which I paid back over a year after the module started. Now though the same degree would cost nearly £18000 and there's no way I could afford that even with a traditional loan from the SLC.

It's not fair, for want of a better way to put it, and I can see it being the end of the OU as I know it. Already several regional centres have been closed over the last year or so and I can only see these cuts getting worse.

notamummy10 · 09/08/2016 17:20

I wish I payed £18000 for my degree, my degree fees are about £30k in total; this year alone is £9000!

wowbutter · 09/08/2016 17:21

I think what you are misunderstanding is that yes, it is expensive, but those people who say "I couldn't afford to do it" - well yes you can.
Student loans now pay the fees, so you have no outlay. All you have to do is apply for the loan, use that to pay and then lay back £7 a month or so if you earn enough.

I have just completed a degree with the ou, and have started my masters.
My masters has or will cost me 5k, which I don't have. But I have a loan from the government for 10k, which covers that.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 09/08/2016 17:24

I'm also on the transitional funding and am massively conflicted about continuing, I only enrolled to do a 15 credit module for interest and the lure of the low funding has kept me going (part way through L2 now). However I don't need the degree, it impacts a lot on my free/family time and I'm running out of interesting modules that fit my pathway.

I have really enjoyed all my modules, the materials are great, tutors and other students are a huge support, I'm so glad I've done it, because sadly, at today's fees, studying purely for interest is not a luxury I can justify. Now, need to decide whether to re-enrol in Sept!

wizzywig · 09/08/2016 17:28

My distance learning masters is exactly the same price as attending a uni. Totally flexible, ie, you can take 6yrs to complete it, local tutorials, i feel really well looked after.

Original poster

WeAreGypsy · 09/08/2016 17:29

^ Amazing

OP posts:

chameleonspots · 10/08/2016 19:44

I did a postgrad diploma with London distance. It was MUCH cheaper, but you got a book in September and then an exam date in May. There was an afternoon tutorial in Jan/Feb but that was it.

The OU (undergrad) in comparison has assessment all through the year, textbooks plus an online component that is excellent. There were numerous great tutorials in my first year.

I'd not do London again unless I was really pushed. To have no idea how you're doing until you sit the exam is pretty tough going.

GrannyHeadology · 10/08/2016 19:50

I'm in the middle of a degree with the OU, for less than £3k per module I have been fully engaged and supported. Compared to brick uni fees they are cheap, and as they are now supported with student loans it's perfect.

As others have pointed out its meant to fit around work whereas brick uni would mean I would have to work part time making it impossible to get my degree.

HeCantBeSerious · 10/08/2016 20:04

Well cheap here in Wales. Mine's about £1200 a year. Whole thing should cost me around £7k.

Katymac · 10/08/2016 20:04

But, wowbutter, surely you can only get a student loan for your first degree - after that you can't

So those of us that want to do further study are unable to do so

MrsH987 · 10/08/2016 21:29

I completed and OU degree last year and cost me about £500 for the 6 years. Courses were around £700-£750 each year.

year 1 & 2 - I didn't have to pay any fees as due to my income I was below the OU student support threshold.

Year 3 & 4 - I was eligible for ILA 500 which was a £500 grant towards a course each year.

Year 5 & 6 - I was eligible for SAAS part time fee grant (replaced ILA) which covered entire cost of course.

Look into all options available. There are a few different things from SAAS and the like you may be able to claim from.

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