Studying the Arts with The Open University

Faculty of Arts

Studying the Arts

What is Arts study like?

The Faculty will provide you with high quality course materials and access to a tutor who can assess your work and advise you on your study needs.

To get a taste of what studying an Arts course is like, follow the link at the bottom of this page to read what Arts students say.

Most Open University students have to make time for their studies while still working and managing their family and other commitments. This has consequences for other household members and can take time and effort to arrange successfully.

You may already have the basic skills you need from your school education and work experience but studying with the Open University is very different from study at other universities.

You will need to make time for the considerable amount of reading and research that our courses require and you may need to access computing and other information resources that you don’t have at home.
The courses you take will determine how much time you need to spend studying; courses at Levels 2 and 3 are more demanding. You will also need to allow time to complete essays and assignments and these can require sustained periods of concentration.
You may choose to attend tutorials and other events or meetings if these form part of your course.

Starting your study

Until you actually start studying, you can only really plan ‘in principle’ for the likely impact on other people and parts of your life.

For this reason, among others, we recommend that all new students start their studies with one or more of our Level 1 courses. You have the chance to get used to how we work with you and the time to adjust your domestic arrangements to create the study environment you want.
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