Studying the Arts with The Open University

Faculty of Arts

Studying the Arts

Choosing your first Arts course

Many people study Arts subjects in order to gain a particular qualification, perhaps to advance or change their career. Others study out of deep personal interest in a subject. Whatever your motivation, the Faculty of Arts will help you get the most from your studies.

We strongly recommend that all new Arts students begin their studies with an introductory course such as A103 An Introduction to the Humanities. As well as being intrinsically enjoyable, this course will introduce you to the disciplines and kinds of study that will be required to complete an Arts qualification.

Student experience over many years has shown that people do least well when they are poorly prepared for the kind of work that is required. If you are not used to writing essays or to reading and critically analysing texts, Arts studies may not suit you, despite your interest in Arts issues and topics.

New students may be unfamiliar with the structure of our courses and the process for gaining qualifications with the Open University and can find out more here.
More

Choosing your first Arts course
How courses can count towards qualifications
What do we mean by the Arts and Humanities?
Why study the Arts?
What qualifications can I achieve?
What is Arts study like?
Next steps
What Arts students say