December: The Month Ahead

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from Student Services! This newsletter will highlight important information, such as upcoming deadlines and events, to help you plan your studies.

Upcoming Deadlines

No December 2024 intake

For Undergraduate, Foundation and Personal Development students

OCA has no enrolment intake in December, and the 6th January 2025 intake deadline has closed. You can still submit an enrolment form to begin 3rd February 2025, and the deadline for this is 12PM (GMT) Wednesday 15 January 2025.

Festive Digital Card Competition

Our festive competition is open to all students!

The theme this year is ‘Home’. What does ‘home’ mean to you at this time of year? It could be your house decorated for the season’s celebrations, a favourite meal from childhood that brings back fond memories, or the community of people around you. Whatever ‘home’ means to you, we’d love to receive festive messages, visual art, music, or creative writing inspired by your unique perspective on this time of year.

Submissions will be judged on the following categories; originality, technical skill and clarity. The winning entry will be featured on the OCA homepage during the festive period and used as OCA’s official holiday card.

Submissions close on 13th December 2024.

Submit your entry here!

Notices

The January 2025 intake

All students confirmed for this intake have already received email confirmation of their place, and will receive a welcome email and access to the Induction on 6th January 2025. This email may be sent in batches throughout the day to avoid technical difficulties. At the end of the two-week Induction period, students gain access to their unit materials after confirming their enrolment through the Induction process.

If you applied but couldn’t secure funding or meet eligibility criteria in time, your enrolment has been deferred to the February 2025 intake, unless you’ve been notified otherwise.

December Closure

OCA HQ will be closed after Tuesday 24th December 2024 and will reopen on Thursday 2nd January 2025. Some teams may return the week commencing 6th January 2025.

Resources

Winter Wellbeing – OCA Wellbeing App

Get ready to kick off the holiday season with our Wellbeing Advent, starting December 1st! Each day brings a new, uplifting activity designed to help you nurture your wellbeing and stay balanced throughout the festive period. Join us for 25 days of self-care, joy, and mindful moments to make this season brighter and more peaceful.

Don’t forget to check out our online Festive Village which is full of festive activities and feel goods, alongside tips and tricks to help manage your wellbeing over the festive season.

Download the Festive Village here.

Helplines open over Christmas

• Samaritans – Open 24/7 – call 116 123

• SHOUT  – Open 24/7 – Text ‘Shout’ to 85258

• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – Open 17:00 to midnight – Call 0800 58 58 58

• Refuge; National Domestic Abuse helpline – 24/7 – Call 0808 2000 247

If you’re in an emergency or don’t think you can keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E. If you or someone you know needs urgent care but it’s not

Student Events

There are plenty of opportunities in December to get creative and try something new:

• Virtual Life Drawing with 2b or not 2b Collective: 4 December
• Women Artists Through Their Words – 4. Leonora Carrington: 9 December
• OCA North in person study event with tutor Joanne Whittle in Sheffield: 10 December
• The 12: Jonathan Barnbrook, Graphic Designer: 10 December
• Speed Portrait Drawing to Music: 11 December
• Illustrate your Favourite Building with Lucia Vinti:17 December

Review our Frequently Asked Questions here!