Study an Illustration degree with OCA
Illustration has the power to take someone on a journey through the use of imagery. Make sense of the world and communicating information through creativity and visual storytelling. If you’re ready to learn new skills and enhance your ability, practice and confidence as an illustrator, then this is the online illustration course for you!
Our BA (Hons) Illustration degree introduces you to all different types of drawing and image-making like magazine and book illustration, editorial and commercial briefs, collage, mixed media, comics and graphic novels.
The online illustration course provides the opportunity for you to sketch, draw and create captivating imagery, interpret a brief, experiment and communicate your ideas using your own personal, visual language. You’ll become a creative problem solver, learning how to generate ideas, create narratives, undertake your own visual research and develop a fluency in all illustrative contexts.
You’ll be challenged and encouraged to expand your definition of illustration both on and offline. Throughout your online illustration course, your specialist tutor will support you and your work, enabling you to work independently, ready for the world of visual creativity.
Apply NowWhat is a BA (Hons) Illustration degree?
OCA’s distance learning illustration degree is open to anyone with a keen interest in illustration, regardless of previous experience or qualifications. It’s an ideal online illustration course for anyone wanting to pursue a career in illustration, graphic design, and a range of creative fields from marketing to web design. It’s also a wonderful choice if you’re simply looking to deepen your illustration skills and knowledge for your own personal development.
Distance learning online illustration courses allow you to learn at your own pace and complete an illustration degree within a flexible timeframe. This means you’ll have the time to build your artistic and creative skills in balance with your personal and professional life.
Looking for online illustration degrees? Begin your journey today with one of OCA’s online illustration courses!
Apply NowCourse Structure
The degree is split into eight units; three at Level 1 (HE4), two at Level 2 (HE5), and three at Level 3 (HE6). There are some core units that all students take, many more optional units, and some prerequisites for units at higher levels.
As a flexible degree, you can complete the programme in up to 9 years, with a maximum of three years to complete each level of the course.
Core Units
At level 1 (HE4) you will undertake one mandatory unit, Illustration 1: Key Steps in Illustration.
Study at Level 2 (HE5) is underpinned by two core units, Illustration 2: Responding to a Brief and Visual Skills 2: Visual Exploration.
Level 3 (HE6) provides a framework for you to contextualise your practice, and develop a specialist understanding of Illustration through a body of written and visual research. This is through two units taken together Illustration 3: Visual Research, and a self-directed major project Illustration 3: Advanced Practice. You will then culminate your work in an exhibition showcasing your voice in Illustration 3: Sustaining your Practice.
Optional Units
Alongside the core unit at Level 1 in Illustration you can choose to study two of the following:
- Illustration 1: Illustration Sketchbooks
- Visual Communication 1: Graphic Fiction (Comics and Graphic Novels)
- Book Design 1: Creative Book Design
- Drawing 1: Drawing Skills
- Graphic Design 1: Core Concepts
- Painting 1: Understanding Painting Media
- Printmaking 1: Introduction to Printmaking
- Visual Studies 1: Creative Arts Today (available to enrol to until Sept 2021)
We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available units – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which OCA might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 14 December 2022.
Programme Specification 2023/24 New Curriculum
This Programme Specification is for all units on the new curriculum.
Review Programme Specification hereProgramme Specification 2023/24 Running Out Curriculum
This Programme Specification details the units and learning outcomes that are being taught out.
Review Programme Specification hereIllustration Accessibility Statements
Accessibility statements give an indication of the type and format of content, teaching, and learning activities on the course, and how these are ordinarily delivered.
Review Accessibility Statements hereFoundations
£1025
Per course
Level 1 (HE4)
£4,950
For the level
Level 2 (HE5)
£4,950
For the level
Level 3 (HE6)
£4,950
For the level
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
£1,650 Per course unit (4o credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £495 followed by 6 monthly instalments of £192.50. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£2,475 Per course unit (6o credits) |
Some of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessarry 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £550 followed by 10 monthly instalments of £192.50. |
Level 3 (HE6) |
£4,950 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given Open degree pathway. |
Foundations
£1,175
Per course
Level 1 (HE4)
£5,670
For the level
Level 2 (HE5)
£5,670
For the level
Level 3 (HE6)
£5,670
For the level
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
1,890 Per course unit (40 credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £567.50 followed by 6 monthly instalments of £220.50. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£2,835 Per course unit (60 credits) |
Some of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £630 followed by 10 monthly instalments of £220.50.
|
Level 3 (HE6) |
£5,670 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given degree pathway, and therefore are varied in cost. For individual pricing, please see the individual course unit pages on this website. |
More Information
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With the OCA, you can study a BA (Hons) degree in our flexible online learning model at approximately one third the cost of a degree at a traditional physical university.
Students study and pay for the course on a unit-by-unit basis, so you only pay for the course as you enrol to each unit.
This course is eligible for a part-time tuition fee loan from Student Finance England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or you can self-fund the course and break down costs even further through the deposit and instalment option. Find out more about your funding options here.
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You will require regular use of a computer or laptop and internet access. Most essential reading materials can be accessed through the digital library services and eBooks.
Students are responsible for sourcing and, where necessary, purchasing any additional software and resources specified. These can be around £400 at Level 1, £500 at Level 2, and £550 at Level 3. Where possible, open or freeware equivalents will be discussed alongside industry standard options.
You may be eligible for any student discounts on computer equipment and software by using your student email, and you can find out more information about student discounts here.
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Illustration is an open access degree; this means that there are no formal qualifications or experience required to join the course. All you need is a passion for the arts, and willingness to learn.
All OCA courses require students to be IT literate, have a good internet connection, and have a good standard of English equivalent to CEFR B2. You can review the study requirements here so you’re prepared for online study at higher education.
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Our part-time degree courses are completed on average between 6 and 9 years. The degree is structured into three levels (instead of three years) so you’re able manage study around other commitments.
Once enrolled, you’ll have a maximum of 12 years to complete your degree course. There are unit and level timeframes within the overall degree time frame, and you’ll need a minimum of 10 study hours per week to keep on track. To find out more about course duration and managing your time, click here.
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Your course materials are accessible online through the virtual learning environment, OCA Learn, where you’ll also have access to student forums, a subject space, the student handbook and the online library. You’ll work primarily from a set text of course materials and resources, but can also sign up to webinars, workshops and study groups in addition to your core learning.
Once you’ve completed the required assignments within a course unit and received tutor feedback, you’ll submit a portfolio of work to an assessment event. This gives you the opportunity to develop your work before you have it formally assessed to achieve credits towards your degree.
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Upon completing the BA (Hons) Illustration degree, you’ll be set with skills to help you navigate the workplace. You could use your practice as a professional illustrator, graphic designer or digital designer – the possibilities are endless. Prospects can help you with a variety of options of where your degree could take you.
While you’re pursuing your dream of being a professional illustrator, you can find a range of options to support your work. You could use your creative and research skills to work in visual communications, marketing, and many more roles.
In May 2022 the Department for Culture, Media, & Sport estimated there were some 2.3 million jobs in the UK creative industries, and post pandemic the Creative Industries are growing faster than the UK economy as a whole.
Creativity is a sought-after skill in today’s job market. Learning this as part of your degree could set you apart from the rest of the pack.
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The Academic Regulatory Framework (ARF) regulations are applicable to all taught courses offered by the Open College of the Arts (OCA). As of January 2024, this will lead to an undergraduate award of The Open University (OU).
You can review the ARF through the link below:
To Join
Want to join a thriving community of creatives? Enrol here, today!