OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Do you have caring responsibilities?

OU

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Research by CarersUK shows that many carers want to participate in learning and training opportunities, but there are often real difficulties in doing so.

At The Open University (OU), our methods of teaching, learning and continual support can go a long way to overcome these problems so that you can gain undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees. The way the OU can help you to meet the challenges in your life makes it the best choice for study at higher-education level.

In the Sunday Times University Guide 2005, the OU is ranked as one of the top five UK universities for teaching quality, with 86% of our departments rated as excellent. With over 210,000 students we are also Europe’s largest university and the OU is the world expert in supported open learning.

The challenges for carers wishing to study at university:
Lack of time
Considerable and unpredictable demands on your time, as well as feelings of concern when you spend time away from the person being cared for

Difficulty in being away from the home
Regular attendance at classes outside the home can be difficult or impossible, involving complicated and costly care arrangements

Lack of self-confidence
You can lose confidence in your own abilities as a learner, when so much attention is given to the needs of the person being cared for

Financial problems
There are major expenses attached to caring, especially when on state benefit, and external paid employment may not be feasible

Lack of knowledge of what courses are available
You can feel quite isolated and, although local support groups can help, you may need guidance to develop longer-term study and career plans.

The solution:
The OU is organised in ways which can help overcome all these difficulties. Many carers have successfully completed degrees with us. Hear what they say:

"The OU was the only way I could possibly have managed a degree." - Pam (single mother of a son with a severe disability, now with a BSc in Psychology and studying towards a teaching qualification).

"My tutor was brilliant, always there at the end of the phone and able to give me extra help when I needed it." - Diane (carer for her adult daughter with a chronic illness, now following up her BSc with an MEd).

Six ways The Open University can help carers succeed in higher education
Open entry and a wide choice of qualifications

• genuinely open access for study at undergraduate level, with no previous qualifications and no entry tests or interviews required
• introductory Openings courses and short courses to get you started if you haven’t studied for a while
• you can build a certificate, diploma or degree from a choice of over 600 courses to suit personal interests and career aspirations

Freedom and flexibility

• OU courses start at various times of the year, and there are schemes to help if you have to take a break from your studies during the course
• you can, if you need to, take a year (or more) off between courses; courses are of various lengths so you can choose one to suit the time you have available

Supported open learning

• you learn independently at home, at times to suit yourself
• course materials are delivered to your home, with packages of specially-commissioned teaching and learning materials that guide you through the subject
• courses are presented in a wide range of media – and may include video, DVD, audio, printed word and computer conferencing
• you have a tutor and support from your regional centre to help you plan and succeed in your studies
• you send your assignments by post or online and you’ll receive detailed feedback on them
• you can join a mutually-supportive student network – using phone, email and econference – as well as face-to-face

Top class teaching

• you’ll have a tutor who is a specialist in the subject chosen, who guides and supports your study, assesses your work and monitors your progress
• your tutor is there to answer questions and provide advice – and is readily accessible by phone or email to give individual help and to solve specific problems
• you don’ t need to worry if you are unable to get out to tutorials – these are not usually compulsory and, for some courses, tutorials are held over the phone or online. You can access the resources of the library online
• the OU is at the forefront of educational technology which can help students who find it difficult to attend tutorials outside the home.

Helpful financial support scheme and manageable fees

• you pay course by course – fees are reasonable, can be paid by instalments and include nearly everything needed to complete the course
• there is a wide range of financial support available for those in receipt of benefit, or employed but on a low income, or with a disability, medical condition or specific learning difficulty
• if you live in Scotland and are receiving Carers’ Allowance, Income Support or Housing Benefit you will automatically qualify to have your fees paid for most courses

Individual advice and guidance readily available
You benefit from a very wide range of support services easily accessible by phone, email or websites. For example:

• careers and course choice advice
• extra help for language and studyskills
• additional arrangements to support individual needs – whether arising through disability or from personal circumstances