You may be aware that there are changes happening to how higher education is funded in parts of the UK. The Welsh Government has announced that there are no changes to the funding or support systems for part-time students in Wales for 2012/13. Therefore, fees for OU students in Wales for 2012/13 will only change, as is normal, in line with inflation.
This means many students will continue to pay approximately £1,610 for a standard 120 credits of study (the equivalent of a year of full-time study). Many students currently study on a module basis, a standard 60 credit module will be priced from £735 after 1 September 2012. For information on current fee levels, go to Study at the OU where fee information is available on course descriptions.
The Welsh Government will introduce a new package of support for part-time students and universities in 2013/14, which will affect how part-time higher education in Wales is funded. More details about these future changes will be available as the Government consultation process develops over the coming months and we will update this website when we know more.
Paying for your study
Students studying with The Open University are able to pay their fees upfront, or spread the cost of their studies into instalments through the OU’s own unique loan system. You can find more information on our Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) website.
In addition, some students in Wales may be eligible for financial support to fund part or all of their studies. You can find out more about financial support options for students who are resident in Wales on our Financial Support page.
Postgraduate fees
Postgraduate fees are unaffected by the changes in funding for undergraduate study. Fee levels for taught postgraduate study will be broadly at current levels plus inflation. Specific fees for 2012/13 will be available in the OU’s online prospectus in early 2012.