Study a distance Music degree with OCA

Our BA(Hons) Music degree is the only programme of its kind in the world.

The OCA Music Degree is unlike anything else you’ll have experienced before. A practical development of musical skills, guided by specialist tutors who are composers and performing artists in their own right. Our Music degree is designed as an online course, with one-to-one and group tuition to help you grow as a musician.

If you are new to music, have a look at our Open Foundations Music course!

 

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Course Structure

Our course is formed of 9 40-credit units, studied consecutively, with 3 units at each of the 3 academic stages. Each unit takes up to a year to complete, with students working independently at their own pace under the guidance of a tutor.

Stage 1 (HE4)

Stage 1 begins with a general grounding in music and an introduction to the practical disciplines of the degree.

1.1 Understanding Music – an introduction to the 4 pathways of the OCA Music degree, and a chance to develop your awareness of composers working today and in the recent past

1.2 Exploring Contexts – an exploration of music history and the further development of practical skills

1.3 Exploring Style and Structure – here you will learn more about the different musical styles that emerged through history and gain an understanding of how different pieces of music are structured for use within your own practice.

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Stage 2 (HE5)

At Stage 2, you will choose two main practical pathways to focus on, from performance, composition, orchestration & arrangement and musicology. You will gain experience and support in collaboration, and develop your creative voices through plenty of practical experience.

2.1 Developing Specialisms – here you will begin focussed work on the two pathways of your choice, combining practical work with an overview of research skills
2.2 Experimental Encounters – this is our flagship unit which focusses on collaboration, providing you opportunities for risk-taking in your creative work, alongside other students from the Music and Fine Art departments.
2.3 Expanding Practice – here you return to your two chosen pathways to further develop your creative work, supported by contextual academic work.

Image by Andrew Martin

Stage 3 (HE6)

Stage 3 opens up possibilities for independent study, supported by tutors aligned to your individual interests. You will devise, plan and execute your own projects, enabling you to develop an individual programme of study which helps you to develop your skills with a view to your ambitions post-graduation. A monthly Stage 3 meeting creates a supportive environment for students at this stage of the degree to discuss progress, find solutions to challenges and gain peer feedback on their work.

Image by Lubos Houska

The OCA Experience

Extracurricular activities

The degree and foundations units are supported by a programme of regular extracurricular activities which take place within the department space, which are open to all students across levels. These currently include listening groups, performance classes, informal drop-in sessions and a range of other sessions based on different musical topics. We also have student- and staff-led creative challenges which everyone is welcome to join in with, and an active online forum for music-related discussions of all kinds.

Our Students

Our students come from all walks of life and are all ages, from 18 to 92. They come to us for first degrees, career changes or for personal development.

OCA courses are adaptive, allowing you to shape your study around what you have going on. If you work full-time, have caring responsibilities, or have a disability for example, OCA courses can work for you.

OCA is an open-access provider, so apart from needing to be able to read music (to Grade 5 Music Theory standard or equivalent), you don’t need any other formal qualifications or past experience to join. Our courses are designed for beginners and established artists alike, building your academic experience from the ground up.

Understanding Music

The music degree at OCA is centred around the development of practical skills and enables you to concentrate on two practical areas of your choice. No previous experience is required, other than being able to read music to approximately ABRSM Grade 5 theory level. For anyone needing some initial grounding or a refresher before embarking on degree level study, our Foundations Music is often a great starting point.

Composition 

From your first steps in composition to creating large-scale ensemble works, this pathway guides you through everything you need to know. You’ll explore rhythm, harmony, structure, solo instrumental works and much more. You will learn to produce type-set scores to a high level of quality, suitable for the profession. The course is designed around writing concert music for instrumentalists and singers, but there are opportunities to explore a wider range of compositional approaches as part of your independent study at Stage 3.

Performance

Building on your developing instrumental or vocal skills, this pathway is a unique offer within the online learning environment. You will explore concepts such as interpretation and performance practice, gain the relevant research skills to help you make artistic choices as you develop your creative voice as a performer, and develop approaches to practising and preparing works for performance. Monthly online performance classes provide opportunities to perform in front of your peers, gain specialised feedback and discuss performance-related issues such as performance anxiety, preparation, performance psychology, interpretation and the effective communication of ideas.

Orchestration/Arrangement

Designed to enhance your knowledge of instruments and how they can be combined in different ways, this pathway provides ample opportunity to explore different instrumental groupings in a range of styles. From your first steps in orchestration, combining small groups of instruments, to full orchestral scores, you will gain independence in your choice of works and learn to reflect upon the decisions you make which help to define your personality as an orchestrator. Ideal for composers wanting to learn more about how instruments work together, as well as for community musicians or those with a special interest in particular instrumental groupings (eg flute choirs, brass ensembles, string quartets etc). The pathway is also ideal preparation for postgraduate studies in music for film and media, where orchestration is a recognised discipline within its own right.

Musicology

Like the other pathways at OCA, our Musicology pathway is centred on practice. In this case, your practice is research, and you will explore a range of topics from the history of notation to ecomusicology, with plenty of scope to develop your own projects as well. Practical projects might include creating critical editions of musical scores, reconstructing scores (for example historical manuscripts or contemporary works) or creating realisations of performance materials. This pathway brings together academic knowledge and practical skills in a fascinating and hands-on way.

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 here

Programme Specification 2023/24 Running Out Curriculum

This Programme Specification details the units and learning outcomes that are being taught out.

Review Programme Specification here

Music 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 Here

Foundations

£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

Total approximate undergraduate fees

Breakdown of costs...

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

Total approximate undergraduate fees

Breakdown of costs...

More Information
  • 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.

  • 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.

    On this course students will need access to Sibelius or Dorico software.

    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.

  • Students wishing to study the Music degree must have ABRSM Grade 5 Theory, or you can take OCA’s Music Foundation which is equivalent. Apart from that 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.

  • We accept enrolments for our BA (HONS) courses in monthly intakes throughout the year.

    Review the key enrolment deadlines on the link below.



  • 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 per week to keep on track. To find out more about course duration and managing your time, click here.

  • 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.

  • Upon completing the BA (Hons) Music degree at OCA you’ll have the skills you need to work in the music industry. Where you take those skills is up to you, and you’ve got no shortage of options to choose from.

    With the skills you’ll have you could be a composer, orchestrator/arranger or musicologist, and will be equipped for a portfolio career as a musician. You could create your own works, collaborate with other musicians and artists, and/or explore many other aspects of the music industry, such as music publishing, music administration, events organisation, become an artist agent or music journalist. The course also provides you will the necessary skills to be eligible for further specialist study at Postgraduate level, including courses in writing music for film and TV, music-related research and much more.

    Whatever option you choose, Prospects have some great advice to help you on your way.

  • 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).

    You can review the Academic Regulations on our policy page.

     

To Join

Sound like an opportunity you want to make use of? Enrol here, today!