Can I really do a degree?m - First of all, you need to answer the question - “why do I want to do a course?” For pleasure or a qualification?

For pleasure?

Most OCA students take courses for pleasure or personal development –"something I’ve always wanted to do!"

If the sheer pleasure of learning a new skill, or developing an existing one, is what you want – then an OCA course should be perfect for you. You don’t need any qualifications to start an OCA course - you can be any age, virtually any state of health and you never need to take an exam.

OCA’s range of courses offers progression from beginner to graduate.

Our courses are graded in difficulty so you can start at the level that suits you (please note that the U.K. credit levels have been reclassified):

• Level 0 being equivalent to pre-university or Foundation study

• Level 1 is equivalent to first year at university (now HE4)

• Level 2 second year at university (now HE5)

• Level 3 third year (now HE6)

The names of OCA courses will still refer to the old classification.

Our Level 0 and 1 courses are designed to cater for all levels of initial expertise. So normally, people studying for pleasure start at Levels 0 or 1 and gradually work their way up. However, if you have a burning desire to go straight onto a Level 2 or even 3 course, though we might not recommend it, our flexible tuition should still be able to accommodate you.

The unique, progressive structure of our courses means that people gradually discover and develop their skills and talents. They then often reach the point when, though they started for pleasure, they realise they could get a qualification and do so.

However, if you are sure that a course for pleasure is what you want – you don’t need to read about qualifications - so go to the course details at OCA Courses.

For a qualification?

If you do want a Degree, Diploma or Certificate then many of our courses are accredited. This means they carry credit (CATS) points which can lead to a qualification purely by study of OCA courses. Generally, OCA Level 1 courses are worth 40 points each* and Level 2 and 3 courses 60 points each.

(* NB Drawing and Drawing in Colour combined are worth 40 points at Level 1).

If you know you want a qualification, then you are best planning your path at the beginning. To gain the necessary points you will need to achieve pass grades, for the required number of courses, by having your work assessed.

Higher Education qualifications structure

This means that at current course prices you could get a degree, working at your own pace and without taking even one exam, for about £4000. But as you only pay for one course at a time, the total cost can be spread over many years.

However, you can decide to go for assessment to get your CATS points after you have started a course, even after finishing it. Many students start OCA courses for pleasure then realise later that they really can meet the standard required for a qualification. Because of the unique flexibility of OCA’s system, they are then able to fill in the ‘gaps’ at each level to gain the necessary total number of points.

Use of prior credit

Prior Certificated Credit or Prior Experiential Credit (APCL/APEL) may be used within the programme in the following ways:

• Normal APCL procedures apply and students can submit documentary evidence of previous achievements.

• Credit may be awarded for prior qualification(s) provided that the prior study is relevant to the aims of the programme. The value and level of credit will normally be determined by reference to the University CAT rating.

Accreditation may be awarded for prior learning achievements which have not been acquired as a result of formally assessed study provided the applicant can demonstrate that the learning is at an appropriate level and is directly relevant to the outcomes of the programme aims. The value and level of the claim is subject to the University’s APEL assessment procedures.