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Changes to policy and curriculum

Show all changes for 2021/22

Conditions of Registration 2021/22 (Short Courses)

In March 2021, The Open University published its new Conditions of Registration 2021/22 (Short Courses) for the first time.

The Conditions of Registration (Short Courses) set out the terms and conditions (“Conditions”) that apply to registration for an Open University Short Course. A ‘Short Course’ is any non-credit bearing module that does not count towards any qualification, as set out in the short courses sections of The Open University’s online prospectus.

The changes made:

There have been several significant changes to this policy:

  1. Additional definitions added to the Scope section to determine whether a student is studying a fixed-start short course, or flexible-start short course. Students are directed to the Glossary for a full description, and asked to contact Student Recruitment if unsure
  2. Additional paragraph added to the Scope section to note that the Conditions document may be updated throughout the year to correct errors, improve clarity or accessibility, or to reflect changes in legal or regulatory requirements
  3. Vocational learners added to the out of scope section
  4. Amendment to The Open University Student Charter section to reference the Student Charter Values which were launched in 2020
  5. Amendments to paragraph 1 of the Summary of Main Terms to clarify a students’ right to cancel and fee liability according to whether the short course has a fixed or flexible start date
  6. Rewording of paragraphs A2.1 and Ap1.1 to provide clarification that students who have a criminal conviction, are not required to disclose this in order to study at The Open University
  7. Amendment to paragraph A3.2 which currently reference the Equality Act (2010), to account for other statutory duties and obligations
  8. Amendments to paragraph B1.1 to clarify whether the short course has a fixed or flexible start date
  9. Rewording of paragraph B1.2 to provide clarification
  10. Addition of new paragraph B1.4 regarding the accessibility of digital services dependent on geographical location, and that access may be restricted or not be permissible without use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
  11. Addition of new paragraph B1.5 regarding the student responsibility to ensure VPN provider compatibility with the geographical location required
  12. Addition of new paragraph B1.6 regarding eligibility for refund because of VPN sign-in restrictions within your place of residency
  13. Addition of new paragraph B1.7 regarding your responsibility to make use of VPN providers within your place of residency
  14. Addition of new paragraph B1.8 regarding non provision of a refund for any technical issues arising with VPN use
  15. Addition of new paragraph B1.9 regarding travelling or choice to study in a particular location, and your responsibility to arrange access via suitable VPN provider or download materials in advance.
  16. Additional information and paragraphs added into Section B3 to describe the differences in assessment submission between whether a student is studying a fixed-start short course, or flexible-start short course. Students are directed to the Glossary for a full description, and asked to contact Student Recruitment if unsure
  17. Removal of reference to short course KG006 “Membership Portfolio Assessment” in paragraph B3.1 (now B3.2)
  18. Additional clarification added into B4.1.1 to specify that the course website will open approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course
  19. Section C has been amended to clarify the right to cancel and fee liability according to whether the short course has a fixed or flexible start date:
  20. Rewording of paragraph C1.2 to provide clarification
  21. Addition of new Section C2: “Procedure for cancelling your registration”
  22. Section C2.1 (was C1.4.1 “Withdrawing your application before you are registered”) has been revised to align with the cancellation period, and the title now refers to ‘cancelling’
  23. Section C2.2 (was C1.4.2 “Withdrawing from your course within 14 calendar days of registration”) has been revised to account for differences between courses with flexible and fixed start dates. The title has been changed to “Cancelling” to align with the cancellation period
  24. Section C2.3 (was C1.4.3 “Withdrawing from your course after your right to cancel has come to an end”) has been revised to account for differences between courses with flexible and fixed start dates. The title has been changed to “Withdrawing from your course more than 14 calendar days after registration”
  25. Subsequent renumbering of clauses within the Section
  26. Addition of new paragraph C3.1e regarding the Open University’s right to cancel registration if we are unable to deliver the services required to your geographical location, or we find that the course is not available for study within the country in which you are resident
  27. Additional reference to C2 “Procedure for cancelling your registration”, added into paragraph D2
  28. Addition of new Section K: Fitness to Study to explain that registration to study with The Open University required you to agree to engage with the Fitness to Study Policy if requested by The Open University
  29. Related amendment to paragraph C3.1 d) to add that The Open University may cancel your registration or enrolment at any time “due to a voluntary or imposed study break following a Fitness to Study Stage 3 Case Conference Panel in accordance with the Fitness to Study Policy”
  30. New Glossary definitions added to describe Cancellation Period, Case Conference Panel, Course Start Date, Fixed Start Date, Flexible Start Date, Withdrawal Period. Removal of definition ‘Module Start Date’
  31. Additional wording added to the Further Clarification section to state that the most up-to-date response times for receiving and sending postal correspondence are available on the OU Offices webpage
  32. Additional contact details added into the Further Clarification section for Scotland, North Ireland and Republic of Ireland, and students from outside the UK (except for Republic of Ireland)
  33. Additional clarification to paragraph Ap2.1 to explain that disclosure in this Clause relates to any legal restrictions and conditions that you are currently subject to or become subject to during the course of study

For more help or information

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.