OU or Brick Uni? Money Matters

[meanmutha]

I'm a single mum and on I.S. plus help with mortgage. I want to start a degree course next October and could do either OU or Brick Uni!. Just read that loans and grants would take me over threshold for I.S. is this true?! I can't afford to lose help with mortgage!

I am not sure how grants work, but the good thing about the OU is that you can study whilst on income support and not miss out on any money at all. I am currently doing a 60 point OU course and on benefits. As long as you don't have an undergrad degree already, your course is fully paid for and you get 250 towards a new computer and a couple of hundred towards expenses and you don't have to pay it back.

Ok,Thanks and nice to hear from someone in similar position. I have got a place on a residential school in July with the O.U. and can't wait! How is it going? I have recently finished intro.to the arts.. Just think I might benefit from seminars and lectures.

Oh that sounds great! I am on my last course after doing one last year and transferring my previous degree to the OU. I do find doing all the work by myself a bit hard and crave for people to be around so I can chat to them about it! That's the thing with the OU - you have to be very self disciplined.

Self discipline, yes I found that in the starter course.. Never been my strong point but I am hoping it's a skill you can learn?! Have also become a bit sceptical about being a 34year old with a load of (7:1 F:M on my course!!) girls just left home doin the Uni thing Proper! (Like, I'm soo over!!)

meanmutha: hi I'm a single parent and was also on IS until I started uni last September. I still receive Housing Benefit, although it's not the full amount: I pay around £15 a week towards my rent. The IS stopped the day I started the course as they consider a degree full-time education even if you're only going in for 6 hours a week. The grants/bursaries etc. I receive more than make up for the IS. You'll also still receive CTC for your child. If you need any more info feel free to e-mail me:
[email protected]

I agree with Lois. Don't let the money matters influence your choice. I'm a single parent and I'm far better off since starting uni than I was claiming benefits.