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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to use a NI address for cheaper OU fees?

90 replies

fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 21:45

I've NCed for this.

I would like to do an OU degree in a subject I'm interested in, but it would cost about £18,000 for the 360 units required which I really can't justify, especially as it's not even work-related.

If I lived in NI it would cost closer to £6,000, which I could probably afford spread over the duration of the course.

I have family in NI and could easily use one of their addresses and get them to send on any textbooks etc. They wouldn't mind me doing this.

Is this a terrible idea? And is it immoral? AIBU to consider it?

OP posts:
Manclife1 · 19/05/2019 21:47

It’s fraud and a criminal offence. You decide if it’s a good idea!

CatToddlerUprising · 19/05/2019 21:48

You could get a student loan if you don’t have a degree already

Original poster
fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 21:49

Manclife1 is it a criminal offence? I've been hunting on the website and couldn't find anything to that effect.

OP posts:
TigerCubScout · 19/05/2019 21:50

Are you an international student?

Original poster
fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 21:50

No, I live in England.

OP posts:
LindsayDenton · 19/05/2019 21:52

I looked into undertaking an OU course a while ago, but the difference in price across the UK was ridiculous!

User12879923378 · 19/05/2019 21:52

It's called obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception. It's an offence under the Theft Act. Of course the university's website is not going to tell you that claiming you live somewhere you don't to pay less than you should do is a criminal offence Confused

Manclife1 · 19/05/2019 21:53

S2 Fraud Act 2006. Fraud by false representation.

Manclife1 · 19/05/2019 21:54

@User12879923378 that’s not been an offence for years.

TigerCubScout · 19/05/2019 21:57

So the OU are charging £1500 for a 30pt course? Wow that's expensive.
OU used to have a load of retired folk keeping their brains active - can't imagine they could afford to do that now.

Justincase87 · 19/05/2019 21:58

You may need to do face to face tutorials which would be NI, also phone tutorials may give away your location, I think you would probably have to provide proof of address as well as it's a university application rather than just sending away for some textbooks - whether or not people think it's immoral, I don't think it would be as easy practically as you imagine.

Mummyshark2018 · 19/05/2019 21:59

I'm pretty sure you need to have been ordinarily resident in NI for 3 years otherwise we'd all be doing it!

User12879923378 · 19/05/2019 21:59

It's been replaced by something very similar by the look of it. Anyway, I still can't believe anyone would need to ask whether it was OK to do this though.

IronManisnotDead · 19/05/2019 21:59

But you have moved to NI to live with your family haven't you @fakepersonwithfakename ?😉

Original poster
fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 21:59

£1,008 for a 60 credit module if you're resident in NI.

£3,012 for a 60 credit module if you're resident in England.

OP posts:
Original poster
fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 22:00

Scotland and Wales are the same as NI, I think.

OP posts:
SheepOnRafts · 19/05/2019 22:02

Used to work there. Yes it’s illegal and immoral. It’s in the terms and conditions of registration. There’s a declaration you sign up to and when you tick that box and it’s a lie you’re committing fraud. Others have done it and there are ways of finding out. They’ve been billed for the remainder and the debt is chased. It’s not worth the hassle. Pay the correct amount or don’t study. It’s not just about where you’re living at the time of study. It’s about where you were born, where you’re a national of, how long you’ve been living in the country, etc.

lastminutetutor · 19/05/2019 22:16

All of your day schools would be in NI and you would have to lie in online tutorials as sometimes there might be a chat at the beginning about where you all are etc.

The reason for the difference in cost is due to government funding. Higher education is given more centralised funding from the devolved parliaments who prioritise it more than Westminster who give less funding for undergraduates in England than other parts of the UK. It is not the OU choosing to charge English citizens more. On that basis it might be that they gain the remaining cost from the devolved government in which case you would probably need evidence of residency. I am not sure about NI but in Scotland you need to have been resident for at least three years and not solely for education, so if your parents moved there when you were 13 due to their jobs you would qualify, but if you went to a boarding school in Scotland from age 13 then you would not qualify (or at least you wouldn't when I last looked into it).

You would be using NI tax payers money to part fund your education. I can't imagine they would be impressed when they find out.

Chippychipsforme · 19/05/2019 22:21

That's not how student finance works.

Hopeygoflightly · 19/05/2019 22:25

Why is the OU so expensive?? Can’t imagine paying that much for a Mickey mouse uni - are there no real unis near you where you can do part-time study?

bobstersmum · 19/05/2019 22:25

The price difference is a joke how can it cost at much more in the UK? I'd consider doing it op.

Original poster
fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 22:28

Chippychipsforme - what's not how student finance works?

Hopeygoflightly - unfortunately not, although even if there was a brick uni nearby I imagine the fees would be the same.

OP posts:
titchy · 19/05/2019 22:30

Can't you get a loan?

titchy · 19/05/2019 22:31

The price difference is a joke how can it cost at much more in the UK?

Lastminutetutor explained it exactly two posts up from yours Hmm

Original poster
fakepersonwithfakename · 19/05/2019 22:31

I couldn't get student finance. I could get a loan elsewhere/credit card etc but I can't justify 18 grand on a degree that I'd be doing as a hobby.

OP posts: