Has anyone done a distance learning degree course in textiles?

[DuggeesWoggle]

Thinking of doing a course in textiles that's more than just a night class. Specifically a course in textiles with the Open College of the Arts. It's a distance learning degree course that you can do flexibly, around 8 hours a week over 3 years (but can take up to 12 years!) Looking to do something for myself that interests me but also potentially earn from it if what I produce is good enough.

Just wondered if anyone has done this or similar? How does the distance learning aspect work when you are trying to learn practical skills? Do you do night classes etc as part of it or do you just kind of read the course material and get on with it yourself? How do you go about getting specialist equipment and do you have to pay for it all (whereas on a campus course you would use the campus studios etc)?

I will contact the course providers obviously but just wondering if anyone on MN has experience of this and whether they felt it was worth it?

Bit niche I realize but just bumping for the Monday morning crowd just in case!

Yes I do know people who've done City & Guilds courses but not very recently.
Depending on your interests, you might get some help from the local branch of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers. They should have members who've done similar courses.
I'd be interested to know whether this helps.

Thanks Footle any information helps! The problem is I don't really know exactly what I want to focus on - there are still so many things I want to try. I also want to have a go at ceramics but that may need to be a course on the side.

I just know that I could spend years dabbling and doing things at a hobby level which would be absolutely fine but I want a change in career direction (currently admin for local government so not really a career as such) so it would make sense to maybe go a bit deeper with my learning and see what comes of it.

I'll be on maternity leave soon and am toying with the idea of a career break and would like to have something as a focus to get stuck into. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis as I'm rapidly approaching 40 and feel like I've lost myself a bit under children!

Will have a look at the spinners, weavers & dyers.