Changes to policy and curriculum

Fee Rules 2016/17

Warning: the content within this page reflects the information available to students in the 2016/17 academic year. As such, this information may no longer be factually accurate.

In February 2016 the document outlining the fee rules for Open University students was split into three separate documents to improve clarity and relevance for specific groups of students starting modules in the 2016/17 academic year.

The new policy documents published are:

• Fee Rules (Transitional Arrangements) 2016/17
• Fee Rules (Undergraduate Study) 2016/17
• Fee Rules (Postgraduate Study) 2016/17

The changes made

An introductory section has been added to clarify who these Fee Rules apply to and clarify policy on the setting and changing of fees. The following summaries of the changes apply to each document as indicated:

Fee Rules (Transitional Arrangements) 2016/17

Section II Eligibility for Transitional Arrangements:

1. Reference to financial support availability and eligibility removed for greater clarity regarding the fees which apply.
2. Information added to clarify end of transitional arrangements.

Section III Fee refunds and fee credits policy:

1. An application deadline for discretionary fee credit or refunds clarified.
2. Amendments to conditions specified by Senate, required to be met for consideration for a discretionary fee credit, to better apply provisions of the Equality Act.

Section IV Fees for repeating modules:

1. References to Module Regulations amended to Academic Regulations (Taught Courses) 2016.
2. Additional information and amendments added to reflect changes to calculation of reduced repeat fee.

Fee Rules (Undergraduate Study) 2016/17

Introduction:

1. Students studying an Apprenticeship qualification excluded from “Who the Fee Rules apply to” section.

Section II Working out your fee liability:

1. Amendments made to provide clarity on the rules that will apply for students resuming study after a study break or changing qualification.

Section III Fee refunds and fee credits policy:

1. Amendments to reflect changes to Fee refunds and fee credits policy.
2. Fee credit validity period amended to 13 months from start of deferred module.
3. Fee credit amount amended to a universal 25% fee credit award regardless of point of deferral.
4. Amendments to conditions specified by Senate, required to be met for consideration for a discretionary fee credit, to better apply provisions of the Equality Act.

Section IV Fees for repeating modules:

1. Reference to Module Regulations amended to Academic Regulations (Taught Courses) 2016.
2. Amendment to reduced module repeat fee policy to align scheme with fee credit policy.
3. Amendment to registration period to register/enrol to repeat the module to 13 months.
4. Amendment to definition of participation in failed module to be inclusive of single component assessment modules without an end of module assessment.

Section V:

1. Terminology amended to “low credit value modules” from “short modules” for clarity.

Fee Rules (Postgraduate Study) 2016/17

Section III Fee refunds and fee credits policy:

1. Amendments to reflect changes to Fee refunds and fee credits policy.
2. Fee credit validity period amended to 13 months from start of deferred module
3. Fee credit amount amended to a universal 25% fee credit award regardless of point of deferral.
4. Amendments to conditions specified by Senate, required to be met for consideration for a discretionary fee credit, to better apply provisions of the Equality Act.

Please talk to your Student Support Team if you need any further information. You can find out how to contact them on Contact the OU.