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.

Unit 1.1 Introducing Textile Practice develops practical skills, such as mark-marking and sketches, surface and stitch and exploring colour, through a playful and exploratory approach to textiles, and be introduced to theory based skills to help you reflect on your learning. 

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. 

Unit 1.2 Investigating Textile Materials and Methods broadens your understanding of textile practice with unconventional materials and methods, experimenting with both familiar and unfamiliar materials to build practical skills. You’ll deepen your understanding of contemporary textile approaches and develop your knowledge of research by reviewing relevant practitioners. 

Unit 1.3 Textile Ideas and Contexts explores how artists and designers use resources, create visual research and record information for creative ideas. You will be asked to create a body of experimental and exploratory primary arts-based research through methods of mark-making, loose observational drawing and simple sample making.

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

Unit 2.1 Contemporary Textile Crafts explores traditional and varied craft based textiles, and develop your knowledge and skills by examining contemporary and historical practices and practitioners. Exercises are based on experimental sample development, using both conventional and unconventional textile materials, underpinned by research methodologies.

Unit 2.2 Future Focused Textile Practice develops your knowledge of the impact textile materials and methods have environmentally and socially. You will be introduced to techniques and debates that encourage a more thoughtful, sustainable and ethical approach to textile practice. The projects encourage you to develop a personal style and relationship to textile techniques and materials. You will explore current thinking and innovative practices, with the opportunity to test your own ideas.

Unit 2.3 Communication Through Textiles continues to develop your knowledge of the way’s textile practices have been used in the past and in contemporary times to inform, agitate and bring people together. The unit’s focus is on contemporary political, ethical and social themes including activism and responsibility, and supports you in developing personal project work, for example community engagement, textile performance or protest movement.

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

Unit 3.1 Practice and Research expands on your studies at Stage 2 this unit aims to synthesise your creative practice and research interests across a self-directed body of work and critical thinking assignment. You will develop your emerging creative practice by examining and testing ideas. This will include selecting and exploring materials and techniques through textile sample making. The unit provides a framework that enables you to foster an increasingly autonomous and professional approach to your studies. 

Unit 3.2 External Projects builds on Textiles 3.1: Practice and Research, this unit provides a framework to identify outward facing projects and opportunities to test, develop, and present your work and ideas. Through this process you will be asked to consider the relationship between your work and other people. How contemporary practices and debates might shape your creative approach and how you can effectively propose, develop, and communicate intentions, ideas, and outcomes.

Unit 3.3 Major Project provides the opportunity to demonstrate all that you have learned over the previous units and levels by undertaking a self-directed project and reflecting on your experiences through the presentation of your work.

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 Specifications

Programme Specification

The BA (Hons) Textiles course was updated in 2021. Students who enrolled before the update will continue with the previous version (the “Teach Out” programme) until they progress to a new stage of their studies. At that point, they will switch to the updated course.

Teaching Out Programme Specification

New students cannot enrol to the Teach Out programme.

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.

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

Based on 2024/2025 academic year fees, the approximate cost of a BA (HONS) is:

• £18,558 for UK based students
• £21,258 for international students.

Students pay for one unit at a time. UK students pay £2,062 per 40-credit unit, and international students pay £2,362 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.

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.