Hello and welcome! This is the student cafe for all of those who have participated in Openings and wish to discuss, advise or support others.
Whether you're currently studying a Y-module, thinking of studying one or have recently completed, this is the place to chat.
A full list of the current Openings suite can be found here.
Join Twitter Q&A for advice on what to do post 'A' levels
Join Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK’s chief executive, to take part in a Twitter Q&A session on Monday 13 August 2012 ahead of A-level results day
The Q&As will take place on Monday 13 August at 4.30pm and will last about 90 minutes.
Students can submit their questions by messaging on Monday morning using @studentroom and @universitiesuk, or using the hash tag #resultsday, which The Student Room will be monitoring. Questions posted on Twitter will also appear on The Student Room website on a dedicated page.
Find out more:
Join Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK’s chief executive, to take part in a Twitter Q&A session on Monday 13 August 2012 ahead of A-level results day The session will also be hosted on thestudentroom.co.uk. Topics to be covered range from confirmation, clearing, to student finance and financial support available to prospective students. Nicola will also be ...
OU community raises £21,000 for Openings students
An OU-wide appeal for donations to help disadvantaged or under-confident students access higher education has received £21,000 in donations from members of Open University staff and the volunteer community.
The OU's Access to Success Fund will provide new opportunities for those who wish to study at higher education level, but who lack the confidence to commit to a full-time course and/or long-term student loan. The fund will provide financial support for those taking their very first steps with the OU - through Openings courses - many of whom will be from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In addition to the £21,000, a donation of £100,000 towards the project was granted by the Open University Students Educational Trust (OUSET) and further appeals will be launched in the New Year.
Matthew Gorman, Head of Fundraising at The Open University, said: “The OU has always prided itself on its commitment to widening participation and historically we have found that our Openings modules (link) are a great way for students who, for various reasons may not be able to learn in a traditional method, to take their first steps into higher education.
'Give them the confidence to go on...'
“In previous years Government have provided resource for Openings students, but under the new funding system, students in England wishing to study for an Openings course will not be eligible to apply for a Government loan.
“Over the past few months, the OU has been working hard to develop an Access to Success programme which will address the financial barrier that Openings students now face.
“By offering students who are unable to afford the cost of their fees a heavily subsidised Openings course - which will cost just £25 - we are confident that we will be able to engage them with higher education and give them the confidence to go on and study for a full degree,” he added.
The Access to Success Fund will be launched more widely in the New Year, however, donations are welcome at any time by visiting www.open.ac.uk/giving
An OU-wide appeal for donations to help disadvantaged or under-confident students access higher education has received £21,000 in donations from members of Open University staff and the volunteer community. The OU's Access to Success Fund will provide new opportunities for those who wish to study at higher education level, but who lack the confidence to commit to a full-time course ...
Are student fees influencing your decision to go to university?
Age: 27
Location: Welwyn Garden City
Are you planning to go to university/signed up for a course?
I am thinking about signing up for a course in Natural Sciences, maybe working towards a masters or some form of degree. I had wanted to go to university when I left school, but was a bit intimidated by the fees involved, I wasn't quite so financially aware.
Has news of the new student fees/loan system (starting in 2012) affected your decision whether to go to university?
The changes in the fees/loans system doesn't stop me wanting to undertake a university course, so no it hasn't affected my choice to go to university or whether to study full/part-time courses. What will affect my ultimate decision will be whether I can realistically fit studying and paying the fees into my life, because like most of us I have responsibilities and bills to pay. If I can afford to pay for it and find enough time to study then I would 'go for it' regardless.
Age: 34
Location: Luton
Somewhat equivalent. Had my education abroad.
Are you planning to go to university/signed up for a course?
I have signed up for a BSc (Honours) Natural Science (Physics) degree with the Open University, starting January.
The financial support offered by The Open University and the flexibility of modular study were the main contributors, enabling me to return to my studies in adult life. I had looked at full-time and part-time courses at other universities, and even though the new 2012 student fee/loan system does appear to make it more accessible, it is still very difficult for adult students with family commitments.
Useful links
Today (14 November 2011) is Student Finance Day. With student fees and loans high on the agenda for those considering university, Platform caught up with some prospective students via Twitter to find out how fees have influenced their decision making so far... Name: Mrs Claire Siciliano Age: 27 Location: Welwyn Garden City Have you got A Levels or ...
One thousandth OU student benefits from OU in Wales/UNISON partnership
Since 2007/08 UNISON in Wales has sponsored 1005 students on OU courses, primarily on Openings courses with a large proportion opting for Health and Social Care (294 on K100//K101).
The impact of the partnership is clear with 10 per cent of all UK K101 students this autumn being in Wales (the benchmark is usually 5 per cent based on the general population). Similarly registrations on Y178 Understanding Health are currently 11-12 per cent of the UK total.
One in five UNISON sponsored Openings learners are resident in ’Communities First’ wards i.e. the most socio-economically challenged communities. As a result of the success of the partnership, UNISON hopes this will create sustainable career development for individuals.
Find our more:
The OU and UNISON in Wales has just reached a significant milestone with the one thousandth learner benefiting from the partnership. Since 2007/08 UNISON in Wales has sponsored 1005 students on OU courses, primarily on Openings courses with a large proportion opting for Health and Social Care (294 on K100//K101). The impact of the partnership is clear with 10 per cent ...
any one doing y178?????????????????
just would like to speek about startin courses after years of bringing up kids and find people in same boat :)
just would like to speek about startin courses after years of bringing up kids and find people in same boat :)
Y180
Hi, I've just finished Y180 and am waiting A) for final assignment matrk and B) the start of AA100
Pete
Hi, I've just finished Y180 and am waiting A) for final assignment matrk and B) the start of AA100 Pete
Y156
Thought I might as well start the ball rolling. I have registered for Y156 Understanding Children starting in November. I completed Starting with Psychology in June.
Linda.
Thought I might as well start the ball rolling. I have registered for Y156 Understanding Children starting in November. I completed Starting with Psychology in June. Linda.
