The Open College of the Arts
The Open College of the Arts is a UK-registered charity providing distance learning arts education worldwide. It offers BA (Hons) degrees, MA programs, foundation and short courses across creative disciplines, with all degrees awarded by The Open University.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersWorsbrough Bridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Open College of the Arts does
The Open College of the Arts (OCA) is a UK-registered non-profit educational charity (Charity Number 327446, Company Limited by Guarantee Number 2125674) that provides open and flexible distance learning arts education to a global student community. Headquartered in Barnsley, United Kingdom, OCA became a subsidiary of The Open University in August 2023, with all its degrees awarded under The Open University's academic authority. The institution's charitable purpose is to widen participation in arts education, and it operates without fixed term times, offering multiple intake periods throughout the year to accommodate students balancing work, caring responsibilities, or other commitments.
OCA's product portfolio spans three tiers: twelve BA (Hons) undergraduate degree programs across disciplines including Creative Arts, Creative Writing, Drawing, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Music, Painting, Photography, Textiles, and Visual Communications; two postgraduate MA programs (Fine Art and Graphic Design); a Certificate of Higher Education in Film and Media Production; eight foundation courses; and four short courses in specialized topics. The core technology is a distance learning platform (learn.oca.ac.uk) that delivers course content, assessments, and student-tutor interactions globally, with the defining feature being one-to-one support from professional tutors across all programs.
OCA generates revenue through tuition fees billed on an annual cadence, marketing itself as one of the most affordable routes to a recognized arts degree. Its go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer via the oca.ac.uk website, supported by an active social media presence, a weekly e-Bulletin newsletter, a content blog (#WeAreOCA), and virtual open day events. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees under the Charity Governance Code, with no venture capital or private equity investment, consistent with its charitable status and ownership by The Open University.
The Open College of the Arts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Open College of the Arts
- Legal name
- The Open College of the Arts
- Website
- https://oca.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Open College of the Arts is a UK-registered charity providing distance learning arts education worldwide. It offers BA (Hons) degrees, MA programs, foundation and short courses across creative disciplines, with all degrees awarded by The Open University.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Open College of the Arts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Distance Learning Arts Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW) (EDAGAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Open Assessments & Question Banks (OER-aligned) (EDAGAJAD), Open Accessibility & Inclusive OER (UDL, alt formats) (EDAGAJAJ)
Keywords
Where The Open College of the Arts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Worsbrough Bridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Open College of the Arts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: OCA generates revenue through course fees charged to students for degree-level, foundation, and short courses in creative arts disciplines. The organization states its courses are one of the most affordable ways to gain a degree while providing high-quality academic services and materials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Affordable degree-level and foundation courses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Open College of the Arts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OCA is a non-profit educational charity offering flexible, part-time distance learning arts education delivered entirely online. Its portfolio spans undergraduate BA (Hons) degrees, postgraduate MA degrees, foundation courses, and short courses across creative disciplines including painting, drawing, photography, graphic design, illustration, fine art, textiles, music, interior design, and creative writing. All degrees are awarded by The Open University, and every student receives one-to-one professional tutor support, with multiple intake periods throughout the year and self-paced study with no fixed term times.
Product overview
The Open College of the Arts (OCA) is a non-profit educational charity offering open and flexible distance learning arts education. The institution provides a comprehensive portfolio of programs structured across three main levels: undergraduate degree courses (BA Hons programs in Creative Arts, Creative Writing, Drawing, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Music, Painting, Photography, Textiles, and Visual Communications, plus a Certificate of Higher Education in Film and Media Production), postgraduate degrees (MA Fine Art and MA Graphic Design), and foundation/short courses for introductory and professional development purposes. OCA joined The Open University in August 2023, and its degrees are awarded by The Open University. All programs feature flexible self-paced study schedules, one-to-one tutor support, and multiple intake opportunities throughout the year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BA (Hons) Creative Arts An undergraduate honours degree programme in creative arts providing flexible distance learning across multiple creative disciplines.
- BA (Hons) Creative Writing An undergraduate honours degree focusing on creative writing skills and literary development delivered through distance learning.
- BA (Hons) Drawing An undergraduate honours degree in drawing providing comprehensive distance learning education in drawing techniques and practice.
- BA (Hons) Fine Art An undergraduate honours degree in fine art offering distance learning education in fine art practices and theory.
- BA (Hons) Graphic Design An undergraduate honours degree in graphic design delivered through flexible distance learning with one-to-one tutor support.
- BA (Hons) Illustration An undergraduate honours degree in illustration providing distance learning education in illustration techniques and professional practice.
- BA (Hons) Interior Design An undergraduate honours degree in interior design offered through flexible distance learning with comprehensive tutor support.
- BA (Hons) Music An undergraduate honours degree in music delivered through distance learning with flexible study schedules.
- BA (Hons) Painting An undergraduate honours degree in painting providing distance learning education in painting practices and visual arts.
- BA (Hons) Photography An undergraduate honours degree in photography offered through flexible distance learning with professional tutor guidance.
- BA (Hons) Textiles An undergraduate honours degree in textiles providing distance learning education in textile design and practice.
- BA (Hons) Visual Communications An undergraduate honours degree in visual communications delivered through distance learning with focus on design thinking and visual literacy.
- Certificate of Higher Education in Film and Media Production A Certificate of Higher Education introducing students to the world of film and media production through flexible distance learning.
- MA Fine Art An award-winning online Master of Arts in Fine Art providing postgraduate distance learning education with comprehensive support.
- MA Graphic Design A Master of Arts in Graphic Design offered through distance learning for postgraduate students seeking advanced design education.
- Foundation Creative Writing A foundation course in creative writing providing introductory level education for students new to the discipline.
- Foundation Drawing A foundation course in drawing for students seeking to develop fundamental drawing skills and techniques.
- Foundation Drawing for Textile Art, Design and Fashion A specialised foundation course combining drawing skills with focus on textile art, design and fashion applications.
- Foundation Interior Design A foundation course introducing students to interior design principles and practices.
- Foundation Music A foundation course in music for students beginning their journey in music education.
- Foundation Painting A foundation course in painting providing introductory education in painting techniques and visual arts.
- Foundation Photography A foundation course in photography for students developing fundamental photography skills.
- Foundation Textiles A foundation course in textiles introducing students to textile design and materials.
- Photography as Language A short course exploring photography as a visual language and communication medium.
- Investigating Place with Psychogeography A short course examining the relationship between geography, environment, and human experience through psychogeography.
- Creative Education A short course focusing on creative approaches to education and teaching methodologies.
- Games Designer's Mindset A short course exploring the creative and analytical mindset required for game design.
Companies that use The Open College of the Arts
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Open College of the Arts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Open College of the Arts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Open UniversitycoreOCA joined The Open University in August 2023 as a subsidiary. OCA degrees are awarded by The Open University. This partnership provides OCA with the academic validation and institutional backing of one of the UK's leading distance learning universities while OCA maintains its specialized focus on arts education.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Open College of the Arts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Open University: OCA's parent organization and the UK's largest distance learning university. Direct overlap in distance learning model and degree-granting authority, but OU operates at vastly broader scale across all academic disciplines while OCA specializes exclusively in creative arts.
- Coursera: Major MOOC platform offering creative arts specializations and degrees from accredited universities including arts institutions. Represents broader incumbent competition in online credentials, with superior scale and employer-brand recognition.
- University of the Arts London: UK's largest specialist arts university encompassing six colleges (Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, etc.). Competes for the same creative arts students but operates primarily through prestigious on-campus delivery at much higher price points.
- Udemy: Global online learning marketplace with substantial creative arts content at low price points. Competes for the entry-level and casual creative learner segment, though lacks accreditation and tutor support models.
- Glasgow School of Art: Prestigious Scottish art school offering degrees in fine art, design, and architecture. Competes for the same creative arts students through traditional on-campus delivery, with established brand that OCA's distance model must differentiate against.
Direct peers
- Domestika: Global online creative arts learning platform offering courses in illustration, design, photography, and craft taught by working professionals. Directly competes for the same target learner—adults seeking creative skill development online—though Domestika offers non-accredited short courses rather than degrees.
- Falmouth University: UK arts university offering flexible and online learning programs in creative disciplines including fine art, graphic design, writing, and photography. Direct competitor in accredited online creative arts degrees with similar flexible/part-time study ethos.
- Royal Drawing School: UK non-profit art school focused on drawing and contemporary art practice with short courses and postgraduate programs. Shares OCA's charitable status and adult-learner focus, though delivers primarily in-person London tuition.
- Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning platform with substantial creative arts content in illustration, design, photography, and fine art. Competes for the same aspiring creative professionals through project-based video courses, though without accredited credentials or tutor support.
Regional players
- London College of Communication: Constituent college of University of the Arts London specializing in design, media, and communication disciplines. Direct subject-area overlap with OCA's graphic design, illustration, and visual communications programs, though operates via London on-campus delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Open College of the Arts social profiles
Digital presenceThe Open College of the Arts compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Open College of the Arts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Open College of the Arts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Open College of the Arts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Open College of the Arts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Open College of the Arts
What does The Open College of the Arts do?
OCA is a non-profit educational charity offering flexible, part-time distance learning arts education delivered entirely online. Its portfolio spans undergraduate BA (Hons) degrees, postgraduate MA degrees, foundation courses, and short courses across creative disciplines including painting, drawing, photography, graphic design, illustration, fine art, textiles, music, interior design, and creative writing. All degrees are awarded by The Open University, and every student receives one-to-one professional tutor support, with multiple intake periods throughout the year and self-paced study with no fixed term times.
Is The Open College of the Arts a public or private company?
The Open College of the Arts is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Open College of the Arts founded?
The Open College of the Arts was founded in 1987. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Open College of the Arts based?
The Open College of the Arts is headquartered in Worsbrough Bridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Open College of the Arts make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition Fees.
Who are The Open College of the Arts's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Open University, Coursera, University of the Arts London, Udemy and Glasgow School of Art. Direct peers are Domestika, Falmouth University, Royal Drawing School and Skillshare. London College of Communication is listed as a regional player.
Does The Open College of the Arts have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Open College of the Arts.
What industry is The Open College of the Arts in?
The Open College of the Arts's product category is Distance Learning Arts Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAJAB, Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW), with a secondary code of EDAGAJAD, Open Assessments & Question Banks (OER-aligned). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8200.