The Open University now offers a broad range of qualifications and courses in the creative arts. These online courses are available through our college dedicated to the creative arts, The Open College of the Arts.
Choose from part-time distance learning courses in graphic design, photography, painting, drawing, illustration, interior design, and textiles.
On this page: Undergraduate courses |
Postgraduate courses |
Arts foundation courses |
Short courses |
Contact The Open College of the Arts
From August 2023, all Open College of the Arts honours and masters degrees will be accredited by The Open University.
To learn more about our creative arts courses through The Open College of the Arts, and how to apply, visit the The Open College of the Arts website or click on a course link below.
Undergraduate Creative Arts courses
Choose from our subject-specific art degrees if you have a particular discipline you’re passionate about. Alternatively, The Open College of the Arts BA (Hons) Creative Arts degree provides an exciting opportunity if you’re looking to explore two or more creative arts practices.
Transform your passion for film into practical media production skills through hands-on learning.
Explore the creative world around you with our graphic design degree, and develop your unique graphic design practice.
Explore how you can discover the full potential of different spaces with this online interior design degree.
Our highly popular online photography degree will help you advance in (or even begin!) your photographic journey.
Our online painting degree helps you develop your core skills, methods and approaches in the many practices of painting.
Question your ideas of what drawing can be on our online drawing degree, and discover your creative potential.
Explore book, editorial, commercial and graphic novel illustration – and beyond! – on our broad-ranging illustration degree.
This online textiles degree offers a rich exploration of surface, pattern, texture and materials in many forms.
Explore our interdisciplinary creative arts degree to discover diverse art and design processes to develop your creative identity.
An online fine art degree sees you acknowledge and learn from tradition while pushing forward in contemporary practice.
This online degree will give you the skills and tools to communicate with any given audience.
Postgraduate Creative Arts courses
Find your creative voice with one of The Open College of the Arts two-year online postgraduate courses.
This online fine arts programme focuses on studio practice and developing your skills in your medium of choice.
Working on your chosen medium, this masters degree is available as a two-year part-time course.
Arts foundation courses
If degree study is new to you or you are uncertain where to start, we recommend you consider getting started with one of The Open College of the Arts Art Foundation courses. These courses will provide the building blocks you will need to start on a degree pathway, help to build your confidence, and familiarise you with the study skills you need to study from home.
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Short Courses
Focusing on a single topic, these short courses run for 8–10 weeks. Designed and led by The Open College of the Arts expert tutors, you will go deep into a topic and develop expertise in topical issues.
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