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Changes to policy and curriculum

Show all changes for 2020/21

Fee Rules (Undergraduate) 2020/21

In March 2020, The Open University published its new Fee Rules (Undergraduate) 2020/21 for the first time.

This document sets out the rules that affect the fees, fee liabilities, fee refunds and fee credits for students studying undergraduate modules or qualifications. They explain the circumstances in which students may receive fee refunds or fee credits, The Open University’s discretionary fee refunds and credits policy, when students may become liable to pay fees, as well as what The Open University might do if they do not pay their fees. Significant changes were made since the 2019/20 version of this document

The changes made

  1. Amendments to ‘What this document does not cover’ to include non-credit bearing short courses.
  2. Additional sentence within “Introduction” to specify that students living in Wales can receive correspondence in Welsh.
  3. Amendment to wording within paragraph B1.1 and Glossary to avoid potential confusion with the Student Loans Company Registration Confirmation.
  4. Removal of paragraph B7.5 clause regarding provision of an address in the UK for delivery of study materials (paragraph has been moved to Conditions of Registration).
  5. References to government agency have been amended to ‘Funding Authority’ in Section B8 and the Glossary.
  6. Addition of paragraph C2.4 to inform of caps per Seasonal Academic Year and management of excess costs.
  7. Clarification added to paragraph D4 regarding tuition fee debt, and removal of reference to settling the debt.
  8. Removal of paragraph E3 regarding your right to cancel coming to an end when short course materials have been accessed, as students studying short courses are not in scope for this document.
  9. Amendment to paragraph E4 (previously E5) to inform that the Funding Authority may be asked to suspend payments if we cannot be certain of participation.
  10. Addition of paragraph G11 regarding Fee credits not being permitted for use against Microcredentials or Apprenticeship Programmes.
  11. Addition of sentence to paragraph H2.4 to advise that students will be asked to provide alternative payment for the module fee.
  12. Removal of current paragraph J4 which referenced the module Questions in Science (S111) and Origins, Methods, Context (T192).
  13. Insertion of new paragraph J4 to reference adjusted Repeat Fees presented in the Conditions of Registration: Supplementary Agreement (Social Work) for particular Social Work modules.
  14. Addition of paragraph Ap1 1.3 to advise where we may require additional evidence to verify your status in the UK or ensure you are entitled to visit the UK.
  15. Amendment to Appendix Section Ap1.2.5 to include information for non-relevant family members of Nationals.

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.