Open University: Student Finance Availability And Options

If you're considering studying at the Open University, you may be wondering how you'll fund your tuition fees and living costs. The good news is that there are several options available to you, including loans, grants, scholarships, and bursaries. In the UK, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and, in some cases, a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs. However, it's important to note that as a distance learning student, you can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if you cannot attend your course in person due to a disability. The Open University is a distance learning university, and all its students can only apply for a part-time loan, even if studying full-time. This will still cover your tuition fees if you decide to study full-time, but there is no maintenance funding for distance learning students in England.

Student finance for full-time study

Full-time students at the Open University can apply for a part-time loan to cover their tuition fees. Although the Open University is a long-distance university, and its students are considered part-time, the part-time loan will cover the costs of both modules.

The amount of the loan is based on the fees, not the speed of study. Undergraduate fees at the Open University are usually lower than at other universities, so the loan amount will be less than a full-time loan.

You can work out the 'course intensity' of your Open University course by comparing your module credits with the number of module credits a full-time student will study. You will be asked how many credits you will study when you apply for the loan.

If you are a distance-learning student, you can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability. If you are eligible for a Maintenance Loan, you can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much you will get.

You will need to repay your loan once you have completed your course.

Tuition fee loans

When applying for student finance, you will need to select the option for a part-time loan. The part-time designation is based on face-to-face contact hours, and all undergraduate courses at the Open University are considered part-time according to UK funding rules. However, the part-time loan will still cover the full cost of your tuition fees, even if you are studying full time.

It's important to be aware that if you live in England, there is no maintenance funding available for long-distance students. This means that you will not receive additional funding for living costs or other expenses. The tuition fee loan will only cover the cost of your tuition fees.

The amount you can receive in a tuition fee loan may also be impacted by the number of modules you are taking. Each module has a set cost, and the loan will cover these costs. However, the total amount may be less than a full-time loan at a traditional university, as the Open University's fees are typically lower.

Maintenance loans

The amount of maintenance loan funding you can get depends on the following factors:

• Where you live while studying
• Your household income
• Your course intensity

If your course has a 'course intensity' of 25% or more, you may be eligible for a maintenance loan. 'Course intensity' is calculated by comparing how much of your course you complete each year with an equivalent full-time course. You can work this out by comparing your module credits with the number of module credits a full-time student will study.

If you are a distance-learning student, you can only apply for a maintenance loan if you cannot attend your course in person due to a disability. If you live in England, there is no maintenance funding for long-distance students.

You are not eligible for a maintenance loan if you are 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

Course intensity

The 'course intensity' of a degree programme is a measure of how much of the course a student completes each year, compared to a full-time student on an equivalent course. For example, a student on a part-time course with a course intensity of 25% is completing 25% of the course in a year, compared to a full-time student on the same course.

Student finance for international students

Student finance is a viable option for international students looking to study at the Open University in the UK. However, it's important to note that the specific arrangements differ from those for full-time on-campus students at traditional universities.

For international students, the Open University's distance-learning nature means that all students, regardless of their study intensity, are considered part-time students when it comes to student finance. This means that international students can only apply for a part-time loan, even if they intend to study full-time. Nevertheless, this part-time loan will still cover the costs of tuition fees for the full duration of the course.

It's worth noting that this arrangement applies across the UK, as per funding rules. So, whether you're in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, the Open University's distance-learning structure means its undergraduate courses are classified as part-time. This is a consistent experience for all students, regardless of their location within the UK.

Additionally, it's important for international students based in England to be aware that there is no maintenance funding available for distance-learning students. This means that the student finance option will not provide support for living expenses. Therefore, international students considering the Open University should carefully review the financial requirements and ensure they have the necessary resources to cover their living costs throughout their studies.

Frequently asked questions