I am not sure how many of you are aware of it but did you know that, from September 2012, new OU students will have significantly higher fees to pay?
This stalwart of our educational system that has encouraged and brought access to knowledge to life long learners for over forty years (believe it or not the OU opened its door to first students in January 1971) it is being forced to commercialise it's courses by stringent cuts to its funding by government.
For those young people that thought studying with the OU could be a way to gain a degree without racking up an eye watering £20,000 - £27,000 debt for tuition fees alone this is a blow. For older learners who like to study discreet modules to pursue their own interests or gain their qualifications whilst working it is going to cost a great deal more.
The fees will be going up to £5,000 per year for two full modules (120 credits the equivalent of 1 full time standard university year). If you want to study one 60 credit module it will cost you £2,500 or £1,250 for a 30 credit module. To compare that with 2011 prices fees were per course and a 60 credit module (without a summer school) costs approximately £700. Young students will get a degree for £15,000, a lot lower than traditional universities, but this was never what the OU was about. It was about distance learning, empowering everybody to study at their own rate and choosing from a whole range of subjects and studying to the level they wish.
The OU didn't want to do it, they protested, there were petitions but, as usual, nobody listened and the fees start for new students this September.
What a shame - am I being stupid in thinking student numbers will decline and more learning opportunities for mature students will become out of people's reach.
I am an OU student and, luckily, there are transition arrangement that guarantee I can complete my degree at the old rates as long as I do at least one course a year.
Still, studying with the OU is a great experience and I feel that this is a very sad state of affairs ...
See here for more information on the fees: http://www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012?samsredir=1328386586
This stalwart of our educational system that has encouraged and brought access to knowledge to life long learners for over forty years (believe it or not the OU opened its door to first students in January 1971) it is being forced to commercialise it's courses by stringent cuts to its funding by government.
For those young people that thought studying with the OU could be a way to gain a degree without racking up an eye watering £20,000 - £27,000 debt for tuition fees alone this is a blow. For older learners who like to study discreet modules to pursue their own interests or gain their qualifications whilst working it is going to cost a great deal more.
The fees will be going up to £5,000 per year for two full modules (120 credits the equivalent of 1 full time standard university year). If you want to study one 60 credit module it will cost you £2,500 or £1,250 for a 30 credit module. To compare that with 2011 prices fees were per course and a 60 credit module (without a summer school) costs approximately £700. Young students will get a degree for £15,000, a lot lower than traditional universities, but this was never what the OU was about. It was about distance learning, empowering everybody to study at their own rate and choosing from a whole range of subjects and studying to the level they wish.
The OU didn't want to do it, they protested, there were petitions but, as usual, nobody listened and the fees start for new students this September.
What a shame - am I being stupid in thinking student numbers will decline and more learning opportunities for mature students will become out of people's reach.
I am an OU student and, luckily, there are transition arrangement that guarantee I can complete my degree at the old rates as long as I do at least one course a year.
Still, studying with the OU is a great experience and I feel that this is a very sad state of affairs ...
See here for more information on the fees: http://www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012?samsredir=1328386586
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