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Course type: Degree

Degree

Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree.

Internationally respected, universally understood.

An essential requirement for many high-level jobs.

Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts.

Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.
Credits: 360

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

BA (Honours) Creative Arts

: Course code: A01

This online creative arts degree offers an enriching journey that nurtures interdisciplinary talents and skills, inviting you to explore diverse subjects such as time, place, identity, and global perspectives. By honing your creative language and blending multiple disciplines, you will better understand your artistic voice and its connection to contemporary practice and culture. This comprehensive programme provides regular tutor support, online collaboration, and opportunities to showcase your work, fostering personal and professional growth. Our creative arts degree will cultivate your passion for creativity while building a solid foundation for a fulfilling career in the arts, seamlessly blending knowledge and experiences in a coherent and engaging narrative.

This online course is available through our college dedicated to the creative arts, the Open College of the Arts.

Key features

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Key features

Explore a wide range of artistic disciplines, including writing, graphic design, music, photography, contemporary art, drawing, painting, illustration, and textiles
Develop essential skills through the Creative Arts Skills Hub, and build your proficiency in multiple disciplines
Engage with themes like time, place and identity to broaden your artistic perspective and understanding
Discover your unique creative voice through interdisciplinary thinking and practical work
Study at your own pace with the flexibility of our online degree, supported by dedicated tutors and a vibrant student community

Course highlights

This honours degree in creative arts has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

In Stage 1, you'll discover the concept of interdisciplinarity and how it applies to your studies. You'll explore subjects such as time, place, and global and cross-cultural perspectives while using research from various fields to enhance your practical work. Before selecting your creative path, you'll experiment with skills from diverse disciplines. At the end of this stage, you'll showcase your work online as part of a peer-reviewed presentation, which serves as a bridge to Stage 2.

Stage 2 (120 credits)

In Stage 2, you'll deepen your understanding through interdisciplinary thinking. We will nurture the development of your distinct creative voice by encouraging practical work across disciplines. You'll further research your perspective on the world and form relationships with subjects that interest you and are crucial to your development. You'll test your interdisciplinary creative language and be urged to take risks in preparation for Stage 3.

Stage 3 (120 credits)

Stage 3 equips you with a wide range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills needed for various roles in the creative arts. You'll have the opportunity to explore key questions that define the nature of your interdisciplinary practice while articulating your ideas, researching the theory and applying it to your creative work. This stage encourages you to advance your studies, collaborate online, and present your work. You'll also have the chance to establish external projects, allowing you to apply your interdisciplinary studies in professional or personal contexts.

Course type

Degree

Credits

360

How long it takes

Part-time study – 6–9 years

Time limit – 12 years

Study method

Distance learning

Entry requirements

Find out more about Entry requirements

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Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this degree.

If you plan to study music on this degree course, you will need to have prior knowledge of music theory, specifically Grade 5 of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music or equivalent.

Fees and funding

Read the detailed description on the Open College of the Arts website to learn more about this degree's fees and funding options.

How will I study this course?

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

a week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
details of each assignment and their due dates
a tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
online versions of some printed module materials and resources.

If you have additional needs, we can also provide most module materials in alternative formats. Find out more about materials on our accessibility webpage.

Tutor support

You’ll have a tutor for each module, who will introduce themselves before the module begins.

Throughout the module, they will:

mark your assignments and give feedback to help you improve
guide you to learning resources
support you, whether with general study skills or help with a specific topic.

Tutorials

Tutorials usually take place online, and they’re always optional.

Online tutorials are live presentations with module tutors in dedicated online tutorial rooms and are sometimes recorded.

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
If a module has an in-person exam (that you must take at one of our exam centres) or is invigilated online, we’ll make this clear in the module description.

Progressing to a point where I felt more comfortable writing my assignments, and having my scores reflecting that, made me quite happy because it showed the hard work was being rewarded.
Patrick ‘Ricky’ Skene, BSc (Hons) Sport, Fitness and Coaching

Other support and resources

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to our subject-specific Student Support Teams.

They’ll help you with any general questions about your study and updates to your OU account.

To help with your studies, you’ll also have access to:

our online library, with high-quality online resources to support your study
other university libraries in the UK and Ireland
the online Help Centre, which has general information about OU study and support, along with study skills advice
free Microsoft Office 365 software
IT and computing support from our Computing Helpdesk.

Find out more about student support and being a part of the OU community.

Interested in finding out more?

This degree is delivered by The Open University's Open College of the Arts.

To explore this course in detail, including entry requirements, fees and funding options, and how to apply, visit the Open College of the Arts website.

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