What is the Open Futures Bursary for Black Students?
The Open Futures Bursary for Black Students provides the opportunity for new, UK-resident students who identify as Black to receive a bursary of £500, paid across the first two academic years of their Open University study.
50 bursaries will be available in 2023/24. The bursary is intended to support with the costs of study, such as buying a laptop, study materials or supporting with internet or childcare costs.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you’ll need to meet all the following criteria:
- Identify as being from a Black background; you must have one of the following ethnicities:
- Black African
- Black Caribbean
- Black Other
- Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
- Mixed – White and Black African
- Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
- Have a personal annual income of not more than £25,000 or be in receipt of a qualifying benefit
- Be ordinarily resident in the UK and eligible for a UK fee
- Hold no existing higher education qualification
- Be a new student to The Open University
- Be studying your first Open University module, which starts in September or October 2023
- Be studying towards an eligible undergraduate OU qualification
- Be studying at a minimum intensity of 25% (30 credits) per academic year
Full details of the scheme are available in the bursary terms and conditions.