Course description
BA (Hons) Drawing
Bring a willingness to learn and an ambitious curiosity and we will support and challenge you to discover the many worlds drawing inhabits and to develop a personally rewarding creative response. The course provides you with practical knowledge of methods and materials across a wide range of drawing contexts, including drawing as sculpture, narrative drawing, drawing as performance and drawing from observation and invention.
You’ll be encouraged to question and experiment with your ideas of what drawing can be, using research, peer collaboration and creation, deepening your understanding to develop an ambitious personal practice.
The drawing department at OCA is very open to wherever each student journey may lead. We are proud that the diversity of our student body correlates to a diversity of approaches to drawing.
Discover your creative potential with a BA (Hons) Drawing Degree today.
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Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Drawing is an open access degree; this means that there are no formal qualifications or experience required to join the course. All you need is a passion for the arts, and willingness to learn.
All OCA courses require students to be IT literate, have a good internet connection, and have a good standard of English equivalent to CEFR B2.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the institute website.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Final Award Title and Type: BA (Hons) Drawing
Upon successful completion of the course students are able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in a comprehensive range of creative practices and techniques
- Manage the learning process resourcefully and independently and make appropriate use of primary sources and scholarly reviews
- Demonstrate by means of written work and oral presentations a critical understanding of the principles of drawing practice and knowledge of emerging aspects of the discipline and those at the forefront of debate
- Evaluate your own work and that of others critically and objectively.
- Develop an understanding of a personal visual language through an ability to discern the aspects of drawing methodologies that most appeal to you and govern your choices for the development of a body of work
- Through taking a critical approach to your work you will build skills to define your practical work as well as discern your successes and failures.
- Understand the relationship your work has to a wider contemporary visual culture.
Training Course Content
Core Units
At level 1 (HE4) there are two mandatory units for students to complete – Drawing 1: Drawing Skills and Drawing 1: Exploring Drawing Media.
Drawing Skills is the base unit developing fundamental skills used throughout your degree; drawing from observation using line and tone and understanding form, perspective, proportion, and more.
Exploring Drawing Media unpacks the potential of drawing through a variety of experimental and traditional approaches. The course encourages experimental use of collage, and drawing in 3D, with a focus on process over product.
At Level 2 (HE5) there are two mandatory units; Drawing 2: Investigating Drawing and Drawing 2: Personal Approach to Drawing.
Level 2 (HE5) builds on the core skills developed at HE4 and gives you a chance to build a more significant personal relationship with your art-making practice. You’ll also develop a deeper engagement with the contexts within which you are making work both within the arts and beyond. A shared structure of course units at Level 3 (HE6) provides a framework for you to undertake a self-directed artmaking project (Drawing 3: Body of Work) supported by written and visual research through Contextual Studies. Your studies will culminate in an exhibition which showcases your achievements and passions (Drawing 3: Sustaining your Practice).
Optional Units
Alongside the core units at Level 1 (HE4) students can choose an additional unit to study. This can be practical: Painting, Printmaking, or Sculpture or theoretical: Understanding Visual Culture or Creative Arts Today.
Whichever option you choose, you can adapt and design your degree to your liking, and take options that will enhance and improve your drawing practice.
Course delivery details
As a flexible degree, you can complete the programme in 4-9 years so it can fit in around everything else life has going on.
Expenses
UK 2020/21 Fees
- Foundations: £900 per course
- Level 1 (HE4): £4,050 for the level
- Level 2 (HE5): £3,340 for the level
- Level 3 (HE6): £3,340 for the level
Outside of the UK 2020/21 Fees
- Foundations: £1,050 per course
- Level 1 (HE4): £4,500 for the level
- Level 2 (HE5): £3,690 for the level
- Level 3 (HE6): £3,690 for the level
Continuing Studies
Upon completing the BA (Hons) Drawing degree, you’ll be set with skills to help you navigate the workplace. You could use your practice as a professional artist, illustrator, fine artist, the choice is yours. Prospects can help you with a variety of options of where you degree could take you.
While you are pursuing your dream of being a professional artist, you can find a range of options to support your art. You could use your creative and research skills to work in visual communications, marketing, and many more roles.