On Open College of the Arts (OCA)
Provider description
The Open College of the Arts is a vibrant community of painting, drawing, textiles, photography, writing and design students, offering home-study courses to students worldwide. You can study for a BA Hons degree with OCA, or take courses purely for personal development.
Study at your own pace
Start your course at any time
Study at home
Work with an artist, designer or writer as your tutor
No entry requirements
No exams
Study for pleasure, qualification or a degree.
Advantages of studying with Open College of the Arts (OCA)
Get a BA Hons Degree
Study at your own pace
Start your course at any time
Study at home
Work with an artist, designer or writer as your tutor
No entry requirements
No exams
Study for pleasure, qualification or a degree.
Course provider history
OCA was founded by Michael Young, Lord Young of Dartington, to offer distance learning courses in the visual arts, filling what he considered a 'serious gap' in the home-study market. Lord Young was responsible for the original idea of the Open University and was disappointed that it didn't include arts courses. " It was thought impossible to run distance learning arts courses at higher education level ". But the OCA has proved that this is not the case. It has a network of tutors nationwide offering postal and face-to-face tuition.
Its original art and design courses became so popular that bigger premises became essential and in 1989 it moved to Barnsley, and introduced new subjects such as design, photography, creative writing and music.
The OCA is an open access college. No formal qualifications are required and there are no age limits. You can enrol at any time of the year. Since its inception it has enrolled more than 50,000 students worldwide.
Specialises in
Fine Art
Photography
Art History
Creative Writing
Music
Environmental Design
