Art GCSE Online | iGCSE Art and Design Course

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You will also have access to our specialist tutor team who are practising artists and freelance commercial designers with a passion for teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist or designer, our online Art Course gives you the opportunity to extend your technical skills and build confidence in your creative ability. You will be encouraged to explore materials, approaches and techniques towards final outcomes.

The IGCSE Art Course is run over two years as standard, and can be completed in one year through our intensive GCSE art course (see below). In year one (starting at any time) you will gain confidence in drawing, painting and sculpture. You will also make connections between your own work and the work of other artists and designers. In year two you will use your new skills, knowledge and understanding to express yourself in a themed project in preparation for the exam later in the year. You will also be asked to write (Component 3) an essay of 1500 – 2000 words about an artwork or art movement. For students wishing to gain an art GCSE equivalent without exams or essays, try our Level 2 Certificate in Art & Design.

The final grade for the qualification is a summation of two components, a critical and historical assignment (component 3) and a final exam project (component 1). Preparation for these is a key aim of your tuition and a key role of your tutor. Lessons and tuition can be arranged with your tutor at mutually convenient times. Our tutors main goal is to support your art education, so they will work with you to realistically schedule your art study around other courses you may be taking.

Our examination centres will provide you with an exam timetable with the key dates for sending paperwork and information about the exam weekend. They will also send you and your tutor a copy of your GCSE art exam paper. The exam paper will ask you to build an art project around a particular theme over a period of 6 weeks. At the end of the six weeks preparation period you will have 8 hours (4 hours a day x 2 days) to make a final piece that relates to your project. Upon completion your work will be graded, and you will receive your Art IGCSE.

Graduates will have created a specialist portfolio that expresses their personal brand of Art and Design. The completion of the Art IGCSE along with your portfolio enables access to our Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, which will fast track you to top universities and employment as a professional qualified artist or designer.

Entry Requirements

In order to study our online iGSCE Art course, you must meet the following requirements:

Be age 14 years or older
No previous art or design qualifications required.

Please note that this is an online GCSE art course. You must have a computer with broadband connection and basic art materials in order to participate in the course.

Study options

Study online Art and obtain your GCSE in a way that suits you. With a variety of study options to match your lifestyle and time commitments:

Part-time programmes: available all year around – enrolling now
Full-time programmes: start December to January and September to October. Exceptions may apply.
Standard 2 year programme
Intensive 1 year programme

Accreditation and progression

Our online Art IGCSE is fully accredited and leaves graduates with a recognised art qualification. Upon completion, students are perfectly positioned to continue their art education. See the details below:

Accreditation: Cambridge International Examinations Board (CIE) 0400 syllabus. OCAD is not affiliated in any way with CIE - we simply support students with the 0400 syllabus.
Progression: Completing our IGCSE Art gives students everything they need to progress to our Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. The level 3 / 4 course prepares students to study art at degree level.

Additional Course Information

Progression: To Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

Tuition: Face to face, one to one – unlimited

Our online art students receive access to their own online studio where they can work through their course. Units and assignments are listed along with supporting resources, video tutorials for skills development, step-by-step guides and more helpful tools to ensure progress. Photographs of students’ completed art projects and coursework pieces are uploaded to their college e-portfolio for assessment and constructive, friendly written feedback on how to progress.

Additionally, students are invited to LIVE interactive online lessons at timetabled times, where they will learn from qualified teachers and industry professionals. If students can’t make the lessons they can watch them in their own time, so they won’t miss any of the course content. The fully qualified and experienced school art teacher is available for feedback via email and messenger. Students are invited to discuss their progress and receive face to face verbal feedback, encouragement, and support. Students may also benefit from relationships with their fellow online students as they can view profiles and comment on each other's art work if they wish.

Optional LIVE enrichment classes are offered most weeks during term times. These fun classes are enjoyed by students but are not required to complete the course. When purchasing this course you are not paying for these FREE classes – they are a GIFT! The teacher has to strike a balance between providing enrichment and fun for students and supporting them through essential units on their course. This may mean live lessons are postponed from time to time. The teacher reserves the right not to run these optional free lessons.

This exciting course has been designed to ensure you produce a stimulating and rewarding art & design project (s) which allow you to develop your knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence in developing your interests and ideas in an artistic way.

The first part of the course takes you through a programme of developing skills in drawing, painting, mixed media (collage), digital art and 3d (sculpture).

In the second part of the course you will be asked to make an art project that is related to a theme which is of personal interest to you. Previous themes have included: