Cost and Financing in Open Schooling/Costing a New Course or Programme

Introduction
As discussed in Unit 2, the cost structure of open and distance learning differs from that of conventional education. ODL institutions incur considerable fixed costs for the development of study materials even before any students have enrolled for their courses. Careful planning for course/materials development is central to managing this aspect of institutional expenditure and ensuring the cost-effectiveness of the process.

This unit presents some tools for costing course/materials development and looks at ways of comparing the costs of different modes of course delivery.