Support for Study Costs

Support for study costs

If you’re ordinarily resident in Scotland and eligible to pay the Scottish tuition fee for your modules, you could get some additional help with some study-related costs.

The Discretionary Fund could help you with the cost of set books, internet and more.

Support for study costs in Scotland

Through the Discretionary Fund, you’ll be able to access additional funds to help keep you in study.

The fund is non-repayable, and the costs it can help cover include:

- Study-related childcare costs
- Up to £250 towards the purchase of a new PC/laptop
- Internet access for the duration of your module
- Additional set books
- Support needed due to current cost of living increases
- Travel

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

- Be ordinarily resident in Scotland and age 16 or over
- Actively study part time with the OU
- Have an annual household income of less than £25,000, or be able to show that you’re experiencing financial hardship and your household income is greater than £25,000 a year, or be in receipt of a qualifying income replacement benefit

Be one of the following:

- A British citizen,
- A national of the EEA, or
- If not a UK/EU national, have ‘settled status’ in the UK, as set out in the Immigration Act 1971.

How to apply for study costs support

You can apply up to 2 months ahead of your module start date, once you have fully completed your module registration. Payments will only be made to you once your module has started, and are likely to take up to 28 days from the date of submission.

You’ll need to be able to demonstrate that you’re experiencing financial hardship, with appropriate evidence and supporting information.

You can submit an application form online through your StudentHome Help Centre, which you can access once you have a student account with us. There are also downloadable guidance notes that have more information about the eligibility criteria and supporting evidence you can provide.