Fees, funding and cost of living

Fees

You can find a breakdown of the current fees on this page Fees – What you pay | Research Degrees | Open University

Funding

The prospectus also contains information on:

• Studentships and funding | Research | Open University
• Doctoral Training Partnerships | Open University
• Sponsoring a research degree | Research Degrees | Open University.

Funding FAQs

When do I receive my stipend?

Your first stipend payment will include two month’s payments and will be paid at the start of the month following registration and induction (i.e., November for an October start; March for a February start). This will be paid directly into your bank account. 
If you already have a UK bank account, you should have completed a payment form at registration. If you didn’t do this, please call 01908 653806. 
If you have just arrived in the UK, you’ll need to set up a bank account before completing the payment form. See Moving to & studying in the UK and Milton Keynes | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk) for more advice on this.

When do I receive my Doctoral Loan?

If you have applied for a Doctoral Loan from Student Finance England, your registration will be confirmed once you have completed registration with the Open University. You will receive your first payment about two weeks after this, as long as the loan has already been approved by Student Finance. There's more information on Studentships and funding | Research | Open University.

Am I allowed to take on paid work during my research degree?

Full-time PGRs are limited to 6 hours paid work per week according to the Research Degree Regulations (RD 8.6); part-time PGRs are not limited in the number of hours they can do paid work.

Where a full-time PGR would like to take on paid work of over 6 hours per week, they should initially write to their Research Degrees' Faculty mailbox (see list on Contact us page). This will go to Progress Board to be considered. They should include information about the paid work including:

• what the work consists of
• how many hours they will be working per week
• whether their supervisory team approves this request.

Cost of living

You may be eligible for:

• Additional Funding Support | Research Degrees | Open University
• Funding for computers, internet and childcare etc: UK: Funding for study-related costs: England, Northern Ireland and Wales | Help Centre | The Open University 
• Funds for Women Graduates: Grants, Bursaries & Fellowships (check in August for new funding)

Information and resources

• Equipment to borrow: Equipment Facilities Archive - Henry Royce Institute
• AV equipment to borrow: the Graduate School has a small selection of audiovisual equipment (e.g. microphones) to borrow.
• Managing your financial wellbeing (sharepoint.com) (includes the Vivup retail discount scheme)
• Cost of living and your studies | Help Centre | The Open University (note that the Student Assistance Fund mentioned here is for taught students - PGRs have their own version as mentioned above)
• The Noticeboard on the intranet is a good way of finding or selling second-hand items.
• A PGR has recommended this blog post by Pat Thomson starting the phd – money matters | patter (patthomson.net).

Student discounts

Once you have your @open.ac.uk email address you’ll be able to sign up for student discount on any 
website that offers it. You can also sign up for free Student Discount apps that prove your student status and give lots of discounts.
UNiDAYS
StudentBeans

As an OU student, you are eligible to purchase a TOTUM card, powered by the National Union of Students (NUS), to access student discounts: TOTUM (oustudents.com).

Travel

• Students can get a student 18-25 Railcard. If you are over 25, please fill out the mature student form and email it to [email protected] or bring it into the Graduate School office in the library.
• The Cranfield Connect bus service is available to OU students at a student rate - show your OU ID to the driver.
• Arriva Bus service has shared this information on saving money on Arriva tickets.
• We know a lack of public transport is making it difficult to commute into Walton Hall campus. You can explore options for travel here Travel Advice at Walton Hall | Estates (open.ac.uk), including the car share scheme.

On campus options

• Your security card will identify you as a PGR which gets you 10% discount on hot meals and deli-counter sandwiches at the Hub; more information on Catering options and discounts.
• The PGR Common Room is open 24/7 and we are pilotting keeping it supplied with tea, coffee and long-life milk; let us know if supplies are running low or you have any feedback on this pilot [email protected].