Anyone studying for a degree at Open University?

[SallyTimms]

I'm havi g a crisis of confidence, in 40s, could have gone to uni but didn't, passed my a levels, and now have 2 p%t jobs to fit around school / dc.

I'm thinking should I look at a degree? Is there much point?

How have people found the commitment to study, if I err on the side of caution it will take me 6 years! I'd anyone fi d they could work and cram for a degree in the 3 years?

Looking at humanities based, but nit sure if I'm reacting to having my confidence knocked or whether it's a pipe dram with no tangible benefits to me

Dressinggowned

Thank you!

Apologies for my mistake re maintenance. It's always been the case as long a so remember you could only get maintenance loan if you couldn't go to a brick uni. I didn't realise this had changed and I didn't see any info on the site about maintenance loans.

@firesidetartan

Apologies for my mistake re maintenance. It's always been the case as long a so remember you could only get maintenance loan if you couldn't go to a brick uni. I didn't realise this had changed and I didn't see any info on the site about maintenance loans.

There isn't any. I'm in my 3rd year and it hasn't been the case. If it's changed recently the poster should've said that. You still can't get maintenance loan for a part time course and OU states their courses are still considered part time so I'm not sure why it would have changed.

The gov site states
'You can only apply for a Maintenance Loan as a Distance Learning student if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.'

So.. I don't think it has changed.

@Dressinggowned

* You shouldn't be! Unless you are not in England. In England any OU course is considered part time. You can get a fee loan but no maintenance loan (you say grant? Is this from SFE as they don't exist anymore?) as they're considered part time even if called a full time course by OU.*

You can now, it changed either this academic year or last (recently anyway).

Can you link me to this? The gov site still says : 'You can only apply for a Maintenance Loan as a Distance Learning student if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.' Which would mean that for any OU course you can't get one unless under that exception. This would have made a massive difference as to doing my final year.

@Itsjustaride8w737

Dressinggowned

Thank you!

I can't find a single thing about this changing anywhere. At all. I've googled and searched SFE site and Gov site. None of them mention any changes (unless maybe they changes are temporary due to covid and on a different page?)

I couldn't find anything either.

I'm in my 50s, I'm on my third module and I'm studying one at a time so it will take me a while.

I have a degree already but you can get a loan for fees if you study STEM subjects.

OP

They are very supportive and totally geared up for distance learning. For each unit/module you have email and phone access to a tutor, you also get online tutorials and there are forums to post questions.

But the OU is not your only option, I did an HNC day release from work in my early 20s, then at 32 I went to a brick uni full time, dropped to part time, moved to a different uni and since then have done 2 teaching qualifications, one part time, one full time.

I would say it's probably going to be a lot tougher to stay motivated if you don't have a particular career goal at the end.

I'd say the opposite, the Open Degree is popular and a you can start with that and then specialise later.

I finished with OU a couple of years back and you couldn’t get maintenance loan .

It is very hard work I found but maybe that was just me being in quite disorganised

Worth it though

I'm thinking of doing the same thing, also humanities. I am nearly 36 and did A levels, never went to uni. I just want to do something I am interested in for me. And a degree would open up more job roles. I looked at the finance and unless I get a different higher paid job I will never have to pay back the loans and the student loan itself does not affect mortgage applications etc, just the amount you are paying back each month.

www.gov.uk/student-finance/parttime-students

I think this might cover the part-time maintenance loan eligibility:

www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/part-time-undergraduate-education/part-time-maintenance-loan/

@OnlyTeaForMe

It says exactly what I said at the start

Students studying a distance learning course cannot get a part-time Maintenance Loan, unless they are unable to attend their course in person because they have a disability.

[quote Itsjustaride8w737]www.gov.uk/student-finance/parttime-students[/quote]

Also

You can only apply for a Maintenance Loan as a Distance Learning student if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.

Which is what I said.

I give up 😂

Anyway I'm not disabled and study part time with OU, i get a maintenance loan.

Try ringing student finance they helped me out

Student finance changes the rules all the time (well the gov do) and that means that 'continuing' students may be assessed under old rules, or they may be assessed under new rules.

When I started my first degree (not OU) you couldn't get disabled students' allowance for part time study. The uni advised disabled students who needed to start their course full time, have their assessments, get their equipment then drop down to part time after the first semester.

Parents and disabled students could, in most cases continue on benefits while they studied, but only if they took out the student loan as well.

OP the best thing to do is talk to the OU about your situation and finances. Oh and they have some short free courses you could do.

@Itsjustaride8w737

I give up 😂

Anyway I'm not disabled and study part time with OU, i get a maintenance loan.

Try ringing student finance they helped me out

The link you provided say the opposite

Honestly, go for it, just sign up. If you’ve had no previous student loans you’ll probably get one like others have posted.

If you have an intellectual itch you need to scratch then do it, bringing up babies is beautiful but sometimes our brains need more, and it’s our choice to do that.

I graduate this September, used maternity leave to bump up the pace to full time hehe. Bought a house, moved twice and now expecting DC2 all whilst studying. The tutors get you have a life outside of uni. It’s not like you’re 18 living away from home with no distractions.

You may find something you’re passionate about and then seek a job/volunteering in that field. The personal achievement is enough of a reason. As an aside: the ‘outcomes’ of children’s (I dunno, lives or something I have forgot the exact fact) are directly related to the maternal level of education.

Not just me being thick then! It definitely hasn't changed so either that poster has lied to SFE or they have been given the wrong info from OU. I think you may be able to get one for post grad (not post grad so don't know!) But the poster didn't mention that.

@sashh

Student finance changes the rules all the time (well the gov do) and that means that 'continuing' students may be assessed under old rules, or they may be assessed under new rules.

When I started my first degree (not OU) you couldn't get disabled students' allowance for part time study. The uni advised disabled students who needed to start their course full time, have their assessments, get their equipment then drop down to part time after the first semester.

Parents and disabled students could, in most cases continue on benefits while they studied, but only if they took out the student loan as well.

OP the best thing to do is talk to the OU about your situation and finances. Oh and they have some short free courses you could do.

They do change, but SFE and gov sites always update re the changes. There have been no changes.

@Itsjustaride8w737

I give up 😂

Anyway I'm not disabled and study part time with OU, i get a maintenance loan.

Try ringing student finance they helped me out

I did ring them and they told me you can't get it. Either you're lying here, not in England, not on an undergrad course or SFE have been given the wrong info from OU. You clearly think you're correct - but you're not supposed to be getting it if that is the case. You called it a grant earlier. Now a loan. Honestly, it sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm in Wales and get a loan for my fees and a maintenance loan. However neither of those need to be paid back until my earnings reach the threshold. I'm doing the degree for my own satisfaction. It is something I am interested in and I have become fiercely protective of my two hours every morning when I lock myself away behind my desk. I am nearly 60 and will be passed retirement age when I complete the degree but I don't care. I just want to be able to say I did it.

I’m just about to enter my 6th and final year this September (health and social care Bsc).

I’ll be 35 when I graduate and I’ve done it whilst raising 3 kids and working part time. I didn’t necessarily need my degree for the career that I’m in but nevertheless I work in the sector and I had an intellectual itch that I did need to scratch.

Me personally I’ve always wanted to have a degree. I knew I had the capability and motivation but I won’t lie it has been hard at times. I’ve loved and hated it in equal measure.

One more year to go. Can’t wait to have a graduation day 👩‍🎓.

You may be interested in this thread on the Mature Study and Retraining board :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students/4365554-Open-University