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what will inspire you to learn? Earning less than £16,510 a year? You may be able to study for free. It’s not about what your parents earn. We only consider your earnings. Most of our degrees will set you back just £4,000.

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"All of my friends decided to go to regular campus based universities but i saw the Open University as an opportunity to get a degree with out the debt" Gavin Edley Business Student

Earning less than £16,510* a year? You may be able to study for free

It's not about what your parents earn. We only consider your earnings.

Studying for a degree at most universities is likely to leave you with a debt of at least £20,000. The good news is that most of our degrees will set you back, on average, just £4,000 and, better still, if you're earning less than £16,510* a year you won't have to pay a penny towards the cost of your study. Unlike other universities, we don't take your parents' income into consideration, so it's pretty simple to work out if you'll get help with study costs.

70% of our students balance study with working life

The beauty of an Open University course is that you don't have to turn your life upside down to get it on the right track. You can even make a start on the career you want and study at the same time. Just think about the extra benefits of earning while you learn! Not only will you have pots of extra cash to enjoy travel, treats and a good social life, the work experience will put you head and shoulders above other graduates when it comes to landing that dream job further down the line.

No one offers more help with study costs

We don't believe that money worries should stand in the way of you getting the qualification you want. That's why we're always working on new ways to help you to expand your knowledge without having to tighten your belt.

  • Last year we helped over 38,000 students with the cost of study
  • We can help you with the cost of childcare
  • Our courses start from as little as £115
  • We offer more flexible ways to pay than ever before

* if you are a student in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland studying a 30 or 60 credit point course. £16,530 if you are a student in Wales.

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