The Contribution Is Currently Only Applicable to Students in England and Is Intended To

DSAStudent Fees, 1st January 2017 PC/Laptop Contributio n Scheme Background From the 2015/16 Academic Year students who are receiving a Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA) for the first time may be required to pay a £200 contribution towards a PC/Laptop on which to run their DSA funded assistive software. The contribution is currently only applicable to students in England and is intended to cover the cost of the ‘basic’ PC or Laptop which all students would reasonably be expected to own, or have access to, in order to study effectively in Higher Education. The Open University operates a means tested scheme to assist students in financial hardship with this cost. Summary The eligibility criteria follow the existing means tested Study Related Costs schemes with certain exceptions outlined below:  Payments will only be approved to assist students with the purchase of equipment from DSA-QAG accredited suppliers (listed below).  In order to ensure that DSA equipment is available to students when they commence study, payments from this scheme may be made prior to a student’s modules start date.  Payments will ordinarily be made directly to the supplier on submission of a suitable invoice and delivery confirmation.  In exceptional circumstances, subject to the submission of suitable evidence, reimbursements may be made to students who have already made payment directly to a supplier.  Where a student does not proceed to study and is placed into overpayment by SFE then the £200 will also be classed as an overpayment and attempts will be made to recover the funds. Eligibility Undergraduate and Postgraduate students Part-time undergraduate and post graduate students who are required to make the contribution towards their DSA PC/Laptop are eligible to apply for the scheme. Income Support from this scheme is only available to students in hardship. Students will be considered to be in hardship if their income meets the guidelines detailed within the study related costs application guidance. Eligibility criteria are reviewed annually. Currently, a student in receipt of a qualifying benefit or with a household income of no more than £25,000 would be eligible. Applications Applications can be made using the standard Study Related Costs schemes application and must be accompanied by:  Suitable income evidence.  A copy of the student’s DSA entitlement letter.

DSA PC/Laptop Contribution Scheme, Student Fees, 1 June 2015. 1 DSAStudent Fees, 1st January 2017 PC/Laptop Contributio n Scheme  A copy of the SFE approved equipment quote. Applications should be submitted for consideration to the Open University Student Fees Office.

Student Fees The Open University PO Box 6055 Milton Keynes MK10 1NH Phone +44 (0)1908 653411 Email: [email protected]

DSA-QAG Accredited suppliers Supplier Email Amano Technologies Ltd [email protected] Assistive Solutions Ltd [email protected] Avantek Computer Limited [email protected] Barry Bennett Ltd [email protected] Clear Links Support Ltd [email protected] Concept Northern [email protected] Friendly Computers [email protected] Hamer Technology Limited [email protected] Iansyst Ltd [email protected] Invate Ltd [email protected] Microlink PC (UK) Ltd [email protected] Onyx Solutions [email protected] Prima IT Ltd [email protected] Reach Data Technologies Ltd [email protected] Remtek Systems Ltd [email protected] Sight and Sound Technology [email protected] Wyvern Business Systems Ltd [email protected]

DSA PC/Laptop Contribution Scheme, Student Fees, 1 June 2015. 2