Study Flexible, Creative Online Art Degrees with OCA
Study any time, anywhere, at the pace that suits you!
With the OCA, you can study a full BA (Hons) degree in our flexible distance learning model at approximately one third the cost of a degree at a traditional physical university. An online art degree means you can enrol and begin your course at any time during the year, and earn your qualification over the course of four to nine years from wherever you are in the world.
We have a range of online art courses available, so you can choose from our subject-specific arts degrees if you have a particular discipline you’re passionate about. Alternatively, the OCA BA (Hons) Creative Arts degree route provides an exciting opportunity if you’re looking to explore more than two or more creative arts practices.
We also offer a part-time, two year MA course for Fine Art and Graphic Design. Click on the links provided to find out more about our postgraduate courses.
How it Works
Our courses are designed with open access in mind, meaning you don’t need specific subject qualifications to enrol. You can review the minimum entry requirements here so you’re prepared for online study at higher education. We accept enrolment for our BA (HONS) courses all year round, so you can start at a time that suits you. You don’t need to wait for a specific intake month, simply complete the online enrolment form and indicate your preferred start date.
Our part-time degree courses are completed on average between 4 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.
Students enrol and study on a unit by unit basis, so this is how you pay for the course too!
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.
“OCA offers flexible study conditions, a wealth of learning resources and the supportive one-to-one relationship with a tutor. The OCA has an excellent balance between theoretical content and practical application.”
Lina Homer, Visual Communications Student
BA (Hons) Creative Arts
Explore our truly multidisciplinary creative arts degree for an exciting journey through diverse artistic forms.
BA (Hons) Fine Art
An online fine art degree sees you acknowledge and learn from tradition whole pushing forward in contemporary practice.
MA Fine Art
The only online Master’s degree for fine art available in Europe, studied as a two-year part-time course.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Explore the creative world around you on our graphic design degree, and develop your unique graphic design practice.
MA Graphic Design
Our online Master’s degree in graphic design is available as a two-year part-time course, working on your chosen medium.
BA (Hons) Photography
Our highly popular online photography degree will help you advance in (or even begin!) your photographic journey today.
BA (Hons) Creative Writing
Discover your voice as a writer and learn the tools to craft the works you’ve always wanted to create – whatever the genre.
BA (Hons) Drawing
Question your ideas of what drawing can be on our online drawing degree, and discover your creative potential.
BA (Hons) Illustration
Explore book, editorial, commercial and graphic novel illustration – and beyond! – on our broad-ranging illustration degree.
BA (Hons) Music
The only online music degree programme of its kind in the world, delivered through distance learning with OCA.
BA (Hons) Painting
Our online painting degree helps you develop your core skills, methods and approaches in the many practices of painting.
BA (Hons) Textiles
An online textiles degree with OCA offers a rich exploration of surface, pattern, texture and materials in many forms.
BA (Hons) Visual Communications
An online visual communications degree will give you the skills and tools to communicate with any given audience.
BA (Hons) Interior Design
Study an online interior design degree with OCA to explore how you can discover the full potential of different spaces.
The OCA’s Undergraduate degree structure
Through accreditation of previous study or of a portfolio of work it may be possible to gain credits which provide exemption from some Level 1 and 2 course units. The MA programme follows a different structure - please view the MA Fine Art page for more details.
