Here you can find information on how to obtain a full BA Hons degree in Creative Arts through the Open College of the Arts. Over 50 courses have been accredited, covering Visual Arts; Photography; Art History; Environmental Design; Creative Writing and  Composing Music.

Key features of the degree

• No entry requirements
• Home study practical courses
• No compulsory summer schools
• No sit-down examinations
• Study from a wide range of creative subjects
• Study when you want
• Enrol at any time of the year
• No accomodation fees

How do I obtain the credits?

Upon successful completion of your course, you have your course formally assessed. You need to obtain a pass mark of 40% or above in order to register for the credits. We will deal with all the administration for you.

How does it work?

The degree is made up of 360 Higher Education credit points spread across 3 levels. You need to obtain 120 credits at each level.

How many courses do I need to take?

OCA Level 1 courses carry 40 credits each.
OCA Level 2 and 3 courses carry 60 credits each.

This diagram shows how many courses you need to obtain credits for the degree.

Which courses shall I do?

Our degree is structured to allow you to decide which option is best for you.
You can decide to focus in one subject area, or you can ‘pick and mix’ from across our range of courses.

You do not have to decide the pathway you will take now, our degree is flexible to allow you pick one course at a time. Pre-requisites do, however, apply when choosing the courses - click here to download an information sheet - on Degree Pathways.

Cost of the degree

The cost of the OCA degree is far lower than at a traditional campus-based university. you can get a degree with OCA for as little as £4000. For more information on the payment options, use the following link to download an information sheet - Degree Costings.

Credit transfer

If you have obtained Higher Education credit points from previous study, you may be able to bring these with you. This is done via a process called Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning (APCL).

You may be able to use credits from your prior learning towards your BA Hons in Creative Arts. Generally for credits to be transferable they have to meet the following 2 criteria:

• They have to be at the same/equivalent academic level
  
• They have to be in the same/similar subject area.

Credits may not always be accepted on a point to point basis. We may accept only a specific number per level towards your degree.

If you feel you meet the above criteria, first download the APCL information sheet using the following link - APCL and then contact us on 0800 731 2116 to receive an APCL application pack.