AIBU to use a NI address for cheaper OU fees?

[fakepersonwithfakename]

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?

Roll on the next General Election.

Try a MOOC then if it's just a hobby and you want it cheap.

I already do lots of MOOCs. I've been working my way through the OU's offerings.

@titchy, yeah I read that, it's still a joke!

Roll on the next General Election.

How's that going to change things - unless a new government does away with devolution or funds HE properly nothing will change and I can't see either of those happening.

NI is in the UK by the way.

yeah I read that, it's still a joke!

It's devolution, and Scotland, Wales and NI residents all voted for it.

OP have you looked at online offerings from 'brick' universities? A number of them - Oxford and Cambridge for starters! - have departments (generally called continuing education or lifelong learning) that offer a mix of courses. You can find everything from hobby weekend courses to online courses with CATS points and even part time postgraduate qualifications (though they usually require some attendance in person). It's worth having a Google, especially if you are doing it for interest. I am not sure they are as cheap as £6000 for 360points but you might be able to find less than £16k.

I can't justify 18 grand on a degree that I'd be doing as a hobby.

Don’t do it, then. Life’s tough. Definitely don’t commit fraud to do it, though. Dishonest and unwise.

@titchy

there's this thing called a "manifesto" where political parties write down what they will do if they get elected and form a government. When there's a general election, the citizens of a country get the chance to read them, and vote for the party whose objectives they most agree with.

For example, at the last General Election, one of the parties wrote:

" (party name) believes education should be free, and we will restore this principle. No one should be put off educating themselves for lack of money or through fear of debt."

"There is a real fear that students are being priced out of university education. Last year saw the steepest fall in university applications for 30 years."

"(party name) will reintroduce maintenance grants for university students, and we will abolish university tuition fees.

University tuition is free in many northern European countries, and under a (party name) government it will be free here too."

Clue:
It wasn't the Conservatives.

Most bricks and mortar universities do distance learning these days, may be cheaper and have better support. 1/4 of the students registered here are distance learning, most masters are distance

The OU is not a ‘Mickey Mouse’ university. It has an excellent reputation and the people who study there have to make a huge commitment to a course. It’s far harder to do a degree through distance/blended learning than sitting in a classroom getting support and feedback from peers. I don’t think you’d be eligible for NI fees. It’s not just a matter of saying you’re from NI otherwise everyone would be doing it. I suspect you’d also have to apply to NI’s HE funding body as they’ll be the ones making up the difference. The degree still costs the same regardless of where you’re from. You’ll just be asking the NI government to make up the difference.

If you already have a degree have to considered a Masters or conversion diploma? That would be cheaper, and you’d get a higher qualification. For example, many universities offer an accredited conversion diploma in psychology for people who have a degree in another subject. It’s 1 year full time or two part time, and it’s hard going, but at the end of it you’re eligible for British Psychology Society registration so you can go on to get professional qualifications and practice in the field. Other degrees may offer similar opportunities.

Pigletjohn - yes I am aware of the concept of manifestos. Parties once in power do NOT stick to manifestos. Labour will not get in anyway, and even if they did they will NOT change the HE system in England to pick up the tab, whatever Jezza says.

Ironically the Augar review due out shortly might change fees.

Cling to your beliefs, titchy.

Fuck right off with your Mickey Mouse uni shit.

A normal university could be cheaper for some courses but it might not be better. OU is expensive for certain courses because it now has an amazing reputation amongst employers and other universities (in terms of quality of it’s research degrees).

I'm in my second last year of a OU degree which I have done while working full-time and raising my daughter. My degree will not be a Mickey mouse degree - it's still a BSc. OU degrees are rated highly by employers so take your snobby attitude about OU degrees and educate yourself

OU degrees are not Mickey Mouse degrees, but even so, they should not be obtained by fraud or deception, which a false address is.

What is your current level of education? I’m doing a distance learning masters and some folk are on it due to their work experience rather than having an UG degree. It’s about £2300 a year.

It's not a belief pigletjohn - it's my job.

Can’t imagine paying that much for a Mickey mouse uni

😂 oh dear. You obviously don't have a clue.

PigletJohn "there's this thing called a "manifesto" where political parties write down what they will do if they get elected and form a government."

Oh yes, of course, because no government has ever reneged on their manifesto... All governments kept their word.

I have no idea why university should be free. Unless ALL training is free at any point.

What if I want to take a year long programming course at 19. Should it be provided to me for free? Should my company be able to get a government grant to put me through all my accountant training?
Should I be able to get a free degree despite having £9million in my bank account?

I would 🤷