Online learning at the Open College of the Arts provides a significant degree of flexibility in how and when you study the arts. Instead of being tied to a physical campus or rigid timetables, your learning happens where you are – whether that’s your home, studio, or any comfortable space – and you can access your course materials whenever best suits your personal schedule, allowing you to create a study plan that integrates with your existing commitments. Each 40-credit unit has a 12-month timeframe for completion (including an initial induction period) to ensure a focused and progressive learning experience. You’ll also join a diverse and inspiring global community of students, and gain access to a dedicated department space where you can engage with webinars and workshops in addition to your core learning materials.

Our online student platform, OCA Learn, becomes your central hub after registration, providing all your course materials and a space to connect with others. Through OCA Learn, you’ll conveniently submit your completed assignments online. Throughout your studies, you’ll receive expert guidance from a dedicated tutor, a practicing artist, who will offer constructive feedback on your submitted work. This feedback is designed to help you grow, highlighting what you’re doing well and  areas for improvement, often delivered through a mix of detailed written notes directly on your digital submissions within OCA Learn, and the chance to connect with tutors via video.

Stage 1 comprises three 40-credit units that must be studied in order.

1.1: Exploring Principles and Theories

The first unit will help you learn the practical skills used in interior design while you also develop your understanding of the theories around it. You’ll study real-world examples of interior design, both old and new, and consider what elements make up an “interior”. You’ll learn to analyse how people use their built environments, and observe the different spatial and material qualities within an interior to understand how they affect the way it is inhabited.

To move on to Unit 1.2, you’ll first need to successfully pass the assessment for Unit 1.1. Please be aware that this initial progression step might involve a slightly longer gap between unit enrolments compared to the transition between subsequent units. 

1.2: Exploration through Experimentation

Using playful and creative techniques you will explore, and experiment with designing spaces in two and three dimensions. Alongside this you will learn how to present your design ideas in a professional way, using drawings that meet industry standards. You will broaden your knowledge and improve your own design skills by researching the work of other designers, and you’ll learn to connect these findings to your own work. Developing an understanding of how these fit together will help your own unique design style to emerge through drawing, visual presentation and communication, and critical self reflection.

1.3: Exploring Creative Practice

This unit will guide you through the diverse world of Interior Design. You’ll explore different career pathways, from specialised niches to interdisciplinary approaches, and learn how to identify and develop your own unique skill set as a designer. You’ll investigate the importance of collaboration and explore how historical, political, and cultural contexts influence design practice. The course will culminate in a project where you apply your learnings by designing a narrative exhibition and a complementary space, demonstrating your understanding of a specific design niche and the principles of effective design within that context. 

Stage 2 comprises three 40-credit units that must be studied in order.

2.1: Small – Detailed Spatial Understanding

The first unit of Stage Two delves into the intricate details of spatial design. You’ll explore construction methods and techniques, focusing on how different elements and materials fit and fix together to create three dimensional spatial interventions. By examining the work of contemporary and historical designers, you’ll develop a clearer understanding of how spatial and architectural objects are constructed, and how to shape physical interventions within an interior space. You’ll explore concepts such as tangibility and materiality, and use these exploratory investigations to inform your design proposals.

2.2: Medium- Design at a Human Scale

You’ll begin by re-examining the concept of scale and its impact on the human experience of an interior space. There is an exploration of design strategy looking at the importance of reuse and repurposing, considering environmental and social sustainability. The unit also explores the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, and the significance of “liminal” spaces. You’ll analyse how people interact with their domestic living spaces and explore the concept of adaptive reuse in a hybrid work/live context. Throughout the unit, you’ll develop your own design brief and work towards a final design proposal, considering sustainability at every stage and ensuring the practicality and feasibility of your creative and spatial interior design ideas. You’ll present your work through technical drawings, visuals, and a comprehensive portfolio that showcases your entire design process.

2.3: Large- Expanding Horizons

This unit explores the broader contexts that shape interior spatial designing and starts by re-examining the concept of scale once again, considering the impact it has on the design decisions that you make. You will investigate how interior spaces relate to their surrounding environments, bearing in mind factors such as site and location, alongside the historical, cultural, and social context of that site. You’ll explore your own ‘location’ within the field of interior design and develop ways to effectively communicate your design ideas within a broader context. The unit culminates in a major design project, where you will conduct in-depth site analysis, develop your conceptual approach, and then propose a comprehensive design that addresses all parts of the project’s specific brief.

Stage 3 comprises three 40-credit units that must be studied in order.

3.1: Critical Research

At Stage 3 you are encouraged to develop an independent and professional approach to your design practice. You’ll initiate and articulate your own creative projects, conduct relevant research, and refine your critical thinking skills. By integrating research and practice, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your creative voice and explore new ideas within the broader context of interior design. The unit emphasises self-directed learning, encouraging you to develop your own projects, critically evaluate your work, and explore contemporary design contexts. You’ll demonstrate your learning through a portfolio of self-directed projects, a reflective online log, and a chosen presentation format, such as essays, talks, or workshops.

3.2: Final Major Project

You will start to engage with the world beyond your studies by developing and undertaking external projects that connect your creative practice with real-world contexts. Building on your previous research, you’ll explore how your work relates to contemporary practices and how to effectively communicate your ideas to others. This could involve collaborating with others, developing a professional network, seeking funding, or presenting your work to the public. You’ll also complete a written assignment or presentation, such as a dissertation or case studies, to support your external activities. This unit aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge to sustain your creative practice beyond your studies, whether through professional work, further education, or other meaningful engagements.

3.3: Sustaining Your Practice

You will showcase your learning by undertaking a significant, self-directed project. You’ll delve into a specific area of interest, developing your creative practice and exploring new avenues for presenting your work. This might involve exhibitions, publications, performances, or other professional contexts. You’ll also create self-promotional materials and continue to develop your professional skills. Throughout the project, you’ll document your process in an online learning log and create a reflective presentation to summarise your learning journey.

When you complete a unit, you are invited to submit a portfolio of work and critical essays to the next available assessment event. There are three undergraduate assessment events held each year, and when you complete your unit decides which assessment event you submit to. In some instances, you will require your assessment results before progressing onto your next unit.

You have a total of 12 months to complete each 40-credit unit, starting with a two-week induction.

You will arrange your assignment submission dates with your tutor directly so you can study at your own pace within the unit timeframe (although it’s important to note that full-time study is not available). This means that the course completion time varies depending on the study hours dedicated, and when you submit to assessment.

After successfully finishing a unit, you have a six-month window to enrol for your subsequent unit of study. This six-month period begins from the date you receive your assessment results.

Programme Specification

Programme Specification

Accessibility Guides

Accessibility guides 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 Guides Here

Curriculum changes

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.

The Academic Regulations for Subsidiary Institutions of The Open University are applicable to all taught courses offered by the Open College of the Arts (OCA).

Academic Regulatory Framework

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:

Academic Framework

Enjoy a flexible approach to both learning and financing. Our undergraduate degrees are delivered and paid for on a unit-by-unit basis. You only pay for the specific unit you are registered to study at the time. You’ll typically study one or two 40-credit units per year, depending on your study pace. Our 60-credit units are specific to Teach Out programmes for historic pathways.

While our fees are reviewed annually—meaning the total cost of a degree may fluctuate slightly over time—we are committed to keeping any adjustments to a minimum and always in line with our Student Fees Policy.

Based on 2025/2026 academic year fees, the approximate cost of a BA (HONS) is:

• £20,412 for UK based students
• £23,382 for international students.

Students pay for one unit at a time. UK students pay £2,268 per 40-credit unit, and international students pay £2,598 per 40-credit unit.

Unit fees are reviewed annually therefore the total cost of a degree will vary and may increase over time, however we aim to keep any increases to a minimum where possible and in line with our Student Fees Policy.

[Updated 23/04/25]

Other costs you may encounter will include software subscription, books, materials and equipment. These can be around £400 – £600 per stage of study, though costs will vary depending on your choice of medium and whether books are bought or loaned from a library. Most reading materials can be accessed through the digital library services and eBooks, or sent to you in the post if included within the course materials, and degree students also have access to The Open University online library.