Q1. Why is the OU withdrawing from the Tesco Rewards partnership?
Q4. Are there any financial support options available to me?
Q6. How long will I have to use my tokens?
Q7. How do I find out if a module is open for registration?
Q8. The only module that I want to study is full?
Q11. What can I expect to pay to continue my studies after the Tesco Rewards Partnership ends?
Q12. If registration, including payment, using Rewards Tokens has to be completed by 31 July 2012, when is the last date I can exchange my Clubcard Vouchers for OU Rewards Tokens? (Question added on 3 February)
OU Tesco Rewards partnership FAQs
Q1. Why is the OU withdrawing from the Tesco Rewards partnership?
The Open University will be exiting the Tesco Clubcard Rewards scheme on 31 July 2012 due to the cost associated with maintaining the scheme. Changes to the way higher education is funded in England has reduced the OU’s income by more than £90 million. The OU is therefore reviewing all of its costs in order to protect services to students and keep fees as low as possible, while sustaining high quality and remaining true to its mission of being open to all.
Q2. Why does the change in higher education in England affect the Tesco Rewards partnership for Tesco customers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales?
Changes to the way higher education is funded in England has reduced the OU’s overall income by more than £90 million. We are therefore reviewing all of our costs in order to protect services to all of our students and keep our fees as low as we can.
Q3. Is the decision to end the scheme as a result of the OU’s change in fee structure in the UK and outside of the UK?
Changes to the way higher education is funded in England has reduced the OU’s income by more than £90 million. The OU is therefore reviewing all of its costs in order to protect services to all our students and to keep fees as low as possible, while sustaining high quality and remaining true to its mission of being open to all.
However, in a new higher education environment where a large number of OU students are expected to pay for their study by government-backed student loans, the part-payment of OU study through the Tesco Rewards scheme was judged to be incompatible.
Q4. Are there any financial support options available to me?
Changes to the way higher education is funded in England have resulted in student loans being extended to most part-time students in England. Find out if you are eligible for a government-backed student loan (DirectGov website). Students accessing the government’s student loans will only begin to repay the loan after four years and only if they’re earning more than £21,000.
To qualify you’ll need to study at a pace that’s equivalent to at least 25 per cent of a full-time student, for example an OU module worth 30 credits. And you’ll need to be studying for an undergraduate qualification that’s higher than any you already have.
If you don’t qualify for a student loan (for example, because you are not ordinarily based in England), or choose not to apply, you can pay your fees by monthly instalments through our Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
In addition, the OU is involved in the Government’s new National Scholarship Programme (NSP) which will help students in England from disadvantaged backgrounds with the cost of their higher education. The OU's Access and Success Fund will also help to provide new opportunities by providing financial support for those taking their very first steps with the OU, many of whom will be from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Current OU students in England studying towards a qualification may also be eligible for transitional arrangements. Transitional arrangements have been put in place by the University to help students complete their studies at a price and pace consistent with their expectations when they started. For more information on transitional arrangements see the Fees 2012 website.
To find out more about the financial support options that may be available to you, see our Financial Support page.
Q5. I am not ordinarily based in England, so I am not eligible for a student loan. What financial support options are available to me?
Students studying with The Open University are able to pay their fees upfront, or spread the cost of their studies into instalments paid during each module through the OU’s own unique loan system. You can find more information on our Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) website.
Some students may also be eligible for financial support to fund part or all of their studies. To find out more about the financial support options that may be available to you, see our Financial Support page.
The following financial help is available for students on low incomes who are ordinarily resident in Scotland:
Part-time fee waiver
If you have a household income below £16,510 (more if you have dependents) or are on certain state benefits, you may be entitled to a module fee waiver which will cover the cost of your module fees. To see if you are eligible for a part-time fee waiver, please see here.
Part-Time Fee Grant
The Part- Time Fee Grant (formerly known as ILA £500) allows you to claim up to £500 a year towards the module fee if your personal income is £22,000 or less a year, or you are on certain benefits, and you are studying at least 40 credit credits a year. For more information on the Part-Time Fee Grant, see here.
Individual Learner Account 200 (ILA £200)
If your personal income is £22,000 or less a year or you are on certain benefits, you can claim up to £200 a year towards a wide range of modules where the amount of study is less than 40 credits. For more details on the ILA, see www.ilascotland.org.uk
For information on all the current levels of support available, visit Student Finance Wales.
For the latest information on student finance in Northern Ireland, please visit the Student Finance NI website.
Q6. How long will I have to use my tokens?
We announced on 1 February 2012 that the OU would cease to be a partner of the Tesco Reward Scheme at close of business (8pm) on 31 July 2012. This was to give existing and prospective students as much notice as we could to decide on how best to use their Tesco Reward points. The six months’ notice period means students will be able to register, including payment options being arranged and registration completed, for OU modules using Tesco Reward tokens up until close of business on 31 July.
You will, however, be able to sign up for modules that begin after this date, subject to the course being open for registration, and payment options being arranged and registration being completed before 1 August.
Q7. How do I find out if a module is open for registration?
Details of all OU modules, including when registration opens, are available at www.open.ac.uk/study
Q8. The only module that I want to study is full?
For some courses a waiting list may operate. In those instances, if a place becomes available before the final enrolment date we will contact you to complete registration. Unfortunately we are unable to guarantee that a place would become available in time to complete registration before 1 August.
Q9. The module I want to study won’t be open for registration before 31 July – can an exception be made to enable me to register on the next presentation?
Unfortunately no exceptions can be made, as those intending to use their Tesco Reward tokens to study with the OU must do so, including payment options being arranged and registration completed, before 1 August.
Q10. At a time when the OU’s fees structure is changing, does this announcement not reinforce the view by some that the OU is becoming less “open” than it once was?
Making education accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study is at the heart of the OU’s mission. Changes to the way higher education is funded in England, however, has reduced the OU’s income by more than £90 million. The OU is therefore reviewing all of its costs in order to protect services to students and keep fees as low as possible, while sustaining high quality and remaining true to its mission of being open to all.
Students in England new to higher education and starting their studies after 1 September 2012 will, for the first time, be able to apply for a government student loan so they do not have to pay their fees upfront. Students accessing the government’s student loans will only begin to repay the loan after four years, and only if they’re earning more than £21,000.
Students studying with The Open University are able to pay their fees upfront, or spread the cost of their studies into instalments paid during each module through the OU’s own unique loan system. You can find more information on our Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) website.
Current OU students in England studying towards a qualification may also be eligible for transitional arrangements. Transitional arrangements have been put in place by the University to help students complete their studies at a price and pace consistent with their expectations when they started. For more information on transitional arrangements see the Fees 2012 website.
In addition, the OU is involved in the Government’s new National Scholarship Programme (NSP) which will help students in England from disadvantaged backgrounds with the cost of their higher education study. In addition, the OU's Access and Success Fund will help to provide new opportunities by providing financial support for those taking their very first steps with the OU, many of whom will be from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Q11. What can I expect to pay to continue my studies after the Tesco Rewards Partnership ends?
The fee students pay is based on where they are ordinarily resident. For most students currently studying with the OU, fee levels will remain on current levels, subject to inflation.
Because of the fee changes for new students in England starting their studies after 1 September 2012, the OU has put in place transitional arrangements to help current students finish their studies on the OU’s current fee levels. If you are a current student resident in England, we would recommend you read information on our Fees 2012 website to understand transitional arrangement eligibility.
However, if you are new to the OU and considering starting your studies after 1 September 2012, you can find out more about the prices of our modules and qualifications at our Fees 2012 website.
Additional Q&A added: 3 February 2012
Q12. If registration, including payment, using Rewards Tokens has to be completed by 31 July 2012, when is the last date I can exchange my Clubcard Vouchers for OU Rewards Tokens?
A. The last date that OU Rewards Tokens will be issued is 10 July 2012. This allows time for Tesco to send the Tokens to you, and for you to ensure the registration process, including payment, is complete by 31 July 2012.
(Additional information to clarify response added 6 February 2012) Please note that students wishing to use Rewards Tokens to pay towards an OU course cannot register online, instead they must register by post. Students must ensure that the postal registration process, including payment, is complete by31 July at the latest.
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FAQs posted 1 February 2012, unless otherwise stated.
