Open University, the Cheaper end of Expensive British Degrees

If you’re thinking about college but worried about the price tag, let me tell you about the Open University (OU). It’s a game-changer for anyone who wants a degree without breaking the bank, and if they in fact want a British degree. Plus, they’ve got a ton of programs to choose from. Let’s dive into why OU is so affordable and what kind of degrees you can snag.

Why OU Won’t Empty Your Wallet

Tuition, books, and maybe even moving to a new city—it adds up fast. But OU does things differently. They’re all about distance learning, no dorms or meal plans required. That alone saves you cash.

At OU, you pay for your courses module by module. A typical 60-credit module in Wales, for example, costs around £1,312. Most degrees take about 360 credits to complete, so you’re looking at roughly £7,872 total for an honours degree if you’re studying part-time (which most OU students do). Compare that to traditional universities where you might pay £9,250 per year in the UK—that’s over £27,000 for a three-year degree! OU is way easier on your budget.

There’s also the Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA), which lets you spread payments out monthly, kind of like a no-stress payment plan.

Degrees for Every Dream

OU offers a crazy range of degrees, so whether you’re into science, business, or even creative writing, there’s something for you. They’ve got certificates (120 credits), diplomas (240 credits), and full-on honours degrees (360 credits). Most part-time students do 60 credits a year, so you can pace yourself and still have time for work or life.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the cool degrees you can get:

• Arts and Humanities: Love history, literature, or philosophy? You can dive into stuff like English Literature or Classical Studies.
• Business and Management: OU’s Business School is is triple accredited. You can study for a Bachelor of Business Administration or even an MBA if you’re aiming high. Their MBA program is ranked 13th globally for online learning.
• Science and Tech: OU has degrees like Environmental Science, Computing and IT, or even Mathematics.
• Health and Social Care: If you want to help people, check out degrees in Nursing or Social Work.
• Education and Psychology: Dreaming of teaching or understanding how the mind works? OU offers stuff like Primary Education or Psychology degrees that open doors to classrooms or counseling.

OU also lets you mix and match with something called an Open Degree. You pick modules from different subjects to build a degree that’s totally you.

Why It’s Worth It

You study online, so you can learn at midnight in your pajamas or during your lunch break. Plus, their courses are designed for people who might not have studied in a while or who are juggling jobs and families. You get support from tutors, online forums, and even free resources like OpenLearn.

OU’s been around since the 1970s and has taught over 1.5 million students. Their degrees are respected by employers because they know OU grads are self-starters who can handle real-world challenges.

Can't afford OU? Try out Rennier University - it's tuition-free. An admission fee of $30 is all you need from start to finish.

Review of University of the People

Like Rennier University, University of the People is a lid adorned with a modest price tag. Not free, mind you, but remarkably affordable. A $60 application fee opens the journey, followed by $120 for each course assessment. For a bachelor’s degree, the total might range from $2,500 to $5,000—a mere fraction of the towering costs of traditional universities, especially in the United States. Scholarships, like unexpected windfalls, can lighten the load further.

The Quest for Admission

The path to entry is a high school diploma or its equivalent—carefully notarized and sealed, then dispatched across oceans or plains to a distant office in California. It’s as if you’re sending a missive to a far-off kingdom. For those beyond American borders, the journey can twist into a logistical problem, with extra steps to prove your credentials worthy.

A Voyage

Once admitted, the experience unfolds like a self-guided voyage; You chart your course, surrounded by fellow travelers—your peers—who share the task of assessing each other’s work. It’s a collaborative expedition, yet the guides, the instructors, are volunteers, appearing like kindly scholars who drift in and out of the stacks. The rhythm is asynchronous, meaning you can pretty much take your own pace.

Tales from the Trail

A student can expect that, after a year on this path, gathered his credits like precious stones, transferred them to another realm, and secured a position with a 3.67 GPA—a shortcut to his destination. Another, pursuing a Master’s for $3,200, savored the journey’s affordability yet longed for the the human connection, which can sometimes be a big miss in an online program. Others spoke of moments lost in the maze, frustrated by sparse guidance or the uneven judgments of their peers, as if handed a map with faded lines.

Accreditation

The university’s accreditation stands as a passport, stamped by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) in the United States. It opens doors, yet its authority varies. Some employers, particularly in the US, seek the broader seal of regional accreditation. It’s a detail worth pondering, ensuring your credentials align with the shores you aim to reach.

--

University of the People offers a frugal yet bold expedition through the realm of learning. It beckons to self-motivated students that need minimal escort. Yet for those who thrive under a watchful mentor’s gaze, it may feel like a ship too lightly crewed. It's worth, like any voyage, hinges on the destination you seek and the effort you’re willing to invest. So pause, survey the horizon, and consider well before you set sail.

(By the way, Rennier University offers tuition-free Masters and PhD programs).

PhD Scholarship in UAE - Apply Soon

There’s this university in the UAE called United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and they’re offering a fully funded PhD scholarship for 2025. It’s in Al Ain, which is a city in the United Arab Emirates. This scholarship is open to students from all over the world, not just one place. You can apply for it online, which is super easy. The deadline to get your application in is March 31, 2025, so you gotta hurry a little. The cool thing is, it’s fully funded, meaning they pay for a bunch of stuff. It’s a great chance for anyone who wants to study something big like a PhD. When you apply, you need to send your passport copy, your transcipts from Bachelor’s and Master’s, your IELTS score, your CV, two letters from professors who know your work, and a statement about your research experience. Oh, and if you want more info, just check out their website at www.uaeu.ac.ae.

So, what does “fully funded” mean? It covers all your tuition, so you don’t have to pay for school. You also get money every month to help you live, like for food and stuff. Plus, it includes health insurance, which is awesome because doctor visits can be expensive. And here’s a bonus: if you do a research project, you might get extra cash! You can get 3,000 AED for projects outside the university or 2,000 AED for ones inside. That’s pretty sweet, right?

But there are some rules to get this scholarship. You need to have finished a Master’s degree and have a GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4. You can’t have a job or get money from other scholarships or sponsors while you’re doing this. Also, your past research has to be about topics like renewable energy, transportation, health, water, technology, or space. Those are some cool subjects to study!

When you apply, they need a few things from you. Send them a copy of your passport, your official transcripts from your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and your IELTS test score. You also need a CV, which is like a list of what you’ve done. Plus, get two letters from professors who know your work to say you’re good at this stuff. Finally, write a statement about your research experience to show what you’ve worked on.

This scholarship sounds like an amazing deal for anyone who loves school and research. So, if you’re thinking about it, don’t wait too long—apply before March 31, 2025! 

Texas A&M online Programs in Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Soil Science

 Hey, so check out Texas A&M's online grad school programs, and it’s honestly pretty awesome! They’ve got these master’s and PhD degrees you can do totally online in stuff like Agronomy, Plant Breeding, and Soil Science—like, you don’t even have to leave your house or quit your job or anything. You can pick from options like a master’s with no big research project, one with a research project, or even a full-on PhD, and they’ve been doing this since 2013, so they really know what’s up. It’s perfect if you’ve got a busy life but still wanna level up your skills. Colonizing Mars starts with mastering Earth’s crops, right?

Former students are always saying how dope it is because they could keep working and hanging with their families while getting their degrees. You don’t have to visit the campus at all—everything’s online, like classes and tests and stuff. But if you’re going for a master’s or PhD that needs research, you’ll need a lab or something nearby and a pro to help you out with it. If that’s not your thing, no stress—they’ve got a master’s option that’s just classes, no research required. It’s super chill and flexible.

Texas A&M’s got one of the biggest agriculture schools in the country, so they’ve got tons of classes to pick from. Like, if you’re into Plant Breeding, you can take courses on genetics, stats, or even molecular biology—whatever you’re vibing with.

(By the way, Rennier University offers tuition free PhD and Masters degree programs).

Study in Dubai? Scholarship Opportunity

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is offering some awesome scholarships for 2025. You can get up to 25% off tuition fees with the Master’s Academic Scholarship or even 50% off if you’re an outstanding athlete with the Adam Gilchrist Sports Award.

When’s the Deadline?

📅 Spring Intake: March 20, 2025

📅 Winter Intake: December 5, 2024

Don't let lack of money stop you from your dream. If you’re looking to study in the US or Canada, check if you’re eligible for a student loan up to $100,000!

🏆 Master’s Academic Scholarship Tgus offers a 15% to 25% of your tuition fees.

🎓 Adam Gilchrist Sports Award – Covers 50% of tuition fees for amazing atheltes.

Study hard. Play hard. Win big.

---

Who Can Apply?

If you’re starting your master’s at UOWD in 2025, you might qualify! Here’s what you need:

🎓 For the Master’s Academic Scholarship:

✅ Open to all nationalities

✅ Must be a new master’s student at UOWD

✅ Must have good grades from your previous studies

🏆 For the Adam Gilchrist Sports Award:

✅ Must compete at emirate, national, or international levels

✅ Must play a UOWD-recognized sport (football, basketbal, volleyball, table tennis, cricket)

✅ Need a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0

---

What Can You Study?

This scholarship covers a bunch of master’s programs, including:

📚 Media and Communications

💼 Business Administration (MBA)

📈 Marketing

💰 Financial Management

🔧 Engineering Managment

🌍 International Business

And many more at UOWD!

Great opportunity. Don’t miss it.

---

How Do They Pick Winners?

✅ Master’s Academic Scholarship: They look at your grades—you need to meet the minimum grade for your country.

✅ Adam Gilchrist Sports Award: They check your sports performance—you must be actively competing and meet the academic standards.

Sounds good? Then go apply now and give it a shot! 🚀

Maynooth Scholarship - Annual 25000 Euros

 The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, or just Maynooth University, is a college in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland.

The PhD Scholarship at Maynooth University gives €25,000 every year to people who wanna do climate science research. It pays for tuition and travel costs, so students don't gotta worry about that. This is a great way to get into top-notch research! Make sure to apply before February 28, 2025, if you wanna go for it.

Ever wanted to do big things in school and help out with important research? Well, the PhD Scholarship at Maynooth University, worth €25,000 a year, is a huge chance for smart students. It's open to students from all over the world, and it pays for everything, so you can just focus on your studies. You'll be working on super important climate research right in Ireland! Plus, you get to work with top scientists and not stress about money for four years.

PhD Scholarship at Maynooth University – €25,000 Per Year

Feature	Details
Scholarship Value	€25,000 per year (stipend)
Extra Stuff Paid For	Tuition and travel
Who Can Apply?	People with a first-class or 2.1 degree or a Master’s in meteorology, environmental science, etc.
Research Topic	Climate event stuff in Ireland
Deadline to Apply	February 28, 2025, at 23:59 GMT
Website	Maynooth University

This is an awesome chance, so don’t wait too long to apply!

Tuition-Free PhDs for Real

by Mary Howen 

If you're into hacking your way to a PhD without breaking the bank. Rennier University is throwing down the gauntlet with tuition-free doctoral programs. Yeah, you read that right - just a one-time $30 admission fee, and that's all you'll ever pay.

Programs include Business, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, English, and more. Their moto is to democratize higher education, and what better way that to make education tuition-free right?

Expect to get your masters in a year and complete your PhD with a 40,000 word thesis. Applying is straightforward: just email them with your details and a link to your certificates. They expect an undergrad degree to do a Masters and a Masters to do a PhD. On the downside, you can't use AI-generated work and you can't plagiarize.

Is it worth it? I think it is, particularly if you can't afford a program in a prestigious university, or want to study from home. I think I like the idea that education should be accessible and not like, say a luxury item.

Tamasek Scholarship

Let's consider the Tamasek Scholarship. It's a big deal for Singaporeans in the STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Started in June 2024 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Singapore, the scholarship is looking for people with passion, new ideas, and the mojo to push the boundaries in STEM. 

The scholarship covers the full cost of education, tuition, a living allowance, and even accommodation and flights. It's not available for international students but only for Singaporean students. If you want a full scholarship for your PhD program, try Rennier University if you're not a Singaporean.

What's Special?

Singapore and Asian countries are struggling to compete with innovation in the US. They want to cultivate a future-ready workforce in Singapore. Temasek is trying to fund advancements in technology and science that could make Singapore globally competitive.

Who Should Apply?

You could be a high school senior with a knack for coding or a university student with a groundbreaking idea in biomedical engineering. You should be able to demonstrate a drive to innovate and the determination to overcome challenges. 

How to Apply

You'll find all the right info in their website. The process includes interviews, where hopeful scholars can present their ideas and discuss how they plan to leverage the scholarship to make a difference. 

(Rich) Arab Scholarship Opportunities

If you're looking to study in Saudi Arabia or some other wealthy Arab country, here are some top scholarships available:

1. King Abdulaziz University Scholarship, Saudi Arabia
   Saudi Arabia, one of the richest Arab countries, offers many fully funded scholarships. This scholarship covers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in various fields, including science, engineering, humanities, IT, business, and more.

2. Islamic University of Madinah
   Another fully funded scholarship program primarily focused on Islamic studies. This is an ideal choice for students interested in this discipline.

3. Ministry of Education Scholarship, Bahrain
   A fully funded program designed to help students develop professionally and contribute to Bahrain's growth and innovation.

4. United Arab Emirates University Scholarship
   Open to international students, this scholarship is offered by one of the UAE's leading public universities.

5. Khalifa University Scholarships
   Based in Abu Dhabi, this program supports undergraduate, pre-medicine, and bridge programs, in addition to graduate-level studies.

Dieter Schumacher International PhD Scholarship in Economics, Germany | Apply Now (Monthly Stipend: €1,550)

 

The Dieter Schumacher Foreign PhD Scholarship 2025–2026 - a rocket launch for PhD candidates in economics from the Global South, courtesy of Hans Böckler Stiftung. This isn't just a scholarship; it's a gateway to research excellence and global teamwork.

When's the Application Deadline?

• Land your application by February 28, 2025.

About the Scholarship:

• Hans Böckler Stiftung's initiative to propel international PhD students in economics into a 12–24 month research orbit in Germany, focusing on collaboration and top-notch research.

Fields of Study:

• Fiscal and monetary policy
• Labor markets
• Income distribution
• Financial markets
• Other employee-focused fields

Scholarship Type:

• PhD Scholarship

Who Can Apply?

• PhD students in economics, aged under 30.

Selection Criteria:

• Based on academic excellence and alignment with the program's objectives.

Eligible Countries:

• Open to all, but especially aimed at those from the Global South.

Where to Conduct Your Research?

• Germany, at a university or research institute.

Award Details:

• Monthly Stipend: €1,550
• Annual Travel Allowance: €1,400
• Funding Duration: Up to 24 months

Duration of the Scholarship:

• 12 to 24 months

How to Apply:

• Download the application form from the stratosphere (or their website) and submit before the deadline.