O U Students Association

OUSET The Student Charity

In 1982, OUSA established the Open University Students Educational Trust (OUSET) to help those students who were in financial need but did not qualify for assistance from elsewhere.

Both OUSA and the Open University have been very gratified that after many years of campaigning, some of the worst forms of discrimination against part time students have at last begun to be addressed. However, despite all these advances, there are still those students in financial need who fall through the net and this is where OUSET comes into its own.

How to Apply For Funding

O U students who are in financial difficulty can apply to the Trust for assistance, including postgraduate students and students studying outside the U K. However, as the funds available are relatively small, the Trustees use a set of criteria on which to base their decisions. These criteria are reviewed annually so that changes in government funding regulations can be taken into account. The current criteria are set out below.


Current criteria November 2008

The Trust will consider applications:-

• from students who have already successfully completed 30 points of study with the OU.

• on the basis of prioritising those from students who have already commenced their OU studies but through changed financial circumstances now find it difficult to complete their study for the chosen award

• normally for a maximum grant toward fees rate of 80% of the UK rate

• for a maximum grant per student, per study period of £1300

• for post-graduate students who are graduates of The Open University and already part way through their studies with The Open University for a post-graduate award

• in respect of courses which form a component of a specific award which the student is intending to achieve

• for assistance with costs which relate directly to OU study e.g. course fees, travel and child or dependant care costs associated with tutorials/residential schools, set books, toward the purchase, repair or maintenance of essential IT equipment

The Trust will not consider applications:-

• from students new to the Open University

• from any student who has not first checked whether or not they have an entitlement to financial assistance from the University

• for grants in respect of completed courses and never to clear a debt when the student has finished the course concerned

• for general cost of living expenses e.g. heating, lighting, rent

• for purchase of a PC or similar equipment by students in their first, penultimate or final year of study for an award

• from students who already have a first (Bachelors) degree and wish to continue studying at undergraduate level other than those continuing for honours or whose degree is more than 10 years old

• from post-graduate students who already have a higher degree

• from students already studying at higher education level with another institution.

• from students who are in full time education below statutory school age

• from students who have failed or withdrawn on two consecutive occasions

• stand alone residential school courses unless they are part of a named degree for which the student is registered

If you meet the criteria and wish to apply you should contact the Secretary to the Trust for an application form which is only available from OUSA Office. You should contact the Secretary to the Trust by telephone on +44 (0) 1908 652026 , by email ouset@open.ac.uk or by letter addressed to OUSET, OUSA Office, PO Box 397, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BE.

Fundraising for OUSET

The majority of funds for OUSET are raised by OUSA members. Year on year, students use their ingenuity and their expertise to come up with ever more interesting ways of raising money on behalf of those students in financial need. Good money spinning schemes are regularly recycled and include raffles, sales of second hand books and pub quizzes to name but a few. When the mood strikes, more daring deeds are undertaken and have included sponsored parachute jumps, bungee jumping and impressive feats of cycling and rowing. OUSA's Vice President Student Support leads the Executive Committee's efforts on fundraising and is always happy to hear from those wanting to lend a hand.

However the money is raised, OUSA is always grateful for the support it receives from its members and the wider Open University community whether it be in making a small donation or buying a raffle ticket; being one of those attempting brave and daring deeds or one of those helping to promote and run a fund raising event.

If you would like to be involved in raising money for the student charity you can contact your local OUSA branch or the OUSA Office.

You can find the full OUSET Guidelines by following the link below.
OUSET guidelines

Other sources of financial support

There is a range of financial support available through the O U to help you pay for fees and study costs. Even if you are working and have a household income as high as £30,000 (more if you have dependants) you could be eligible for financial support, depending on where you live in the U K. For more information, follow the link below.
O U financial support website