Artist's Resource Pack

It can be harder to get funding to study on open and distance learning courses. Local authorities often do not fund people to study at home, but if you have to study at home rather than at college because of the nature of your disability, your local authority may be more likely to fund the course.

If you want to study this way at further education, talk to the college that you want to study with and find out what support might be available.

If you want to study this way at higher education level contact your local education authority to find out what support might be available. You should still be able to get Disabled Students Allowance if you want to study this way at this level.

The Open University can also help you find support if you are wanting to study with them. They support a large number of students, and prioritise disabled students for support. They have a whole section on their website about financial support options. This will take you out of the artist’s resource site and straight to the financial support part of the Open University site (www3.open.ac.uk/courses/about/p6_1.shtml).

If you want to talk to someone directly, Skill have a freephone helpline that is run twice a week:
on Tuesdays between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm
on Thursdays between 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm

Phone them on freephone 0800 328 5050, or on 020 7657 2337 (this is not a freephone number) or textphone 0800 068 2422.

You can email advisers on info@skill.org.uk.