Research Degrees
Staff fee waiver
What this form is for
Who should complete it
How it should be
submitted
To authorise a full or part waiver of a student’s research degree fees because
they are a member of Open University staff, including associate lecturers.
If you have received a letter offering you registration for an Open University research
degree, and your line manager / Head of Unit has agreed to pay all or some of your
fees, you should complete this form and pass it to them to complete.
The form can be completed electronically by clicking on the grey boxes, but your line
manager / Head of Unit must sign a hard copy for you to send to the Research
Degrees Office, together with your Acceptance form, or as soon as possible after
your appointment as a member of staff makes you eligible for a staff fee waiver.
Send your signed documents to: The Research Degrees Office, Research School,
Charles Pinfold Building, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Policy
1
Your details and
declaration
Members of Open University staff, including associate lecturers, who are registered
for a part-time Open University research degree are entitled to apply to have their
fees waived subject to the general conditions outlined below. Staff fee waivers for
associate lecturers are subject to an annual maximum amount, unless their research
degree study is approved by their line manager (staff tutor / regional manager) for the
purpose of professional development relevant to their role as an associate lecturer.

You must be employed by the University when part-time research degree fee
liability is incurred. If you leave the employment of the University part-way
through your research degree, you will not be entitled to continue studying with
a staff fee waiver, even if the waiver was originally approved for your entire
degree.

You must inform the Research Degrees Office (email research-degreesofffice@open.ac.uk) if you cease to be a member of staff or an associate
lecturer.

If you are an Associate Lecturer and your proposed research is related to your
work at The Open University, you can apply for a staff fee waiver to cover your
fees in full. If your research is not related to your work at the OU, waivers for
research degrees are subject to a maximum limit as described at
http://intranet.open.ac.uk/studentservices/info-exchange/pages/staff-feewaivers.php
Your full name:
Your personal identifier:
Unit / Department / Regional/National Centre:
Position / job title:
http://www.open.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/forms-and-guidance-notes.php
Staff reference number:
Extension number:
Email address:
Registration start date:
DECLARATION
I am applying for a staff fee waiver for my part-time research degree fees. I have
read and agree to abide by the conditions described below.
Your signature: ………………………………………………Date:…………………….
Now pass this form to your line manager / Head of Unit to sign either
section 2 or section 3.
2
Salaried staff
certification
CONFIRMATION OF STATUS
I confirm the person named above is a member of salaried Open University staff
employed in my unit. I will inform the Research Degrees Office if these
circumstances change.
Signature:……………………………………………………………………………………
Print name:…………………………………………………………………………………..
Position:……………………………………Date:………………………………..............
3. Associate lecturer
certification
CONFIRMATION OF STATUS
This associate lecturer’s research degree study HAS / HAS NOT (delete as
appropriate) been approved by the line manager (staff tutor / regional manager)
for the purpose of professional development relevant to his / her associate
lecturer role.
A full fee waiver is approved / A partial fee waiver of £
is approved
(please delete as appropriate)
Signature (line manager): …………………………………………………………………
Print name:…………………………………………………………………………………..
Position:………………………………………… Date: …………………………..............
I confirm that the person named above is an Open University associate lecturer
employed in my region / nation. I will inform the Research Degrees office if these
circumstances change.
Signature (Regional /National director): ………………………………………………
http://www.open.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/offer-packs.php 2
Print name:…………………………………………………………………………………..
Position:……………………………………… Date: ……………………........................
http://www.open.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/offer-packs.php 3