Program Overview

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University Program Information

The university offers a wide range of programs, including short and online courses, undergraduate, postgraduate, professional, and research programs.

Subject Areas

• Archaeology and anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Certificate of Higher Education
  • English Literature
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Theological Studies
• Architectural history
• Business and management
• Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies and law
• Economics and politics
• Education and study skills
• Environment and sustainability
• History of art
• History, including local and social
• Languages and cultural studies
• Literature, creative writing and film studies
• Medical and health sciences
• Music
• Natural sciences
• Philosophy
• Psychology and counselling
• Religion and theology
• Technology and AI

Course Format

• Day and weekend events
• In-person learning
• Lecture series
• Online learning
• Professional
• Summer schools
• Weekly learning

Undergraduate Programs

Certificates

• Archaeology
• Certificate of Higher Education
• English Literature
• History
• History of Art
• Theological Studies

Diplomas

• Archaeology
• Creative Writing
• English Social and Local History
• History of Art

Advanced Diplomas

• British Archaeology
• IT Systems Analysis and Design (Online)
• Local History (Online)

Pre-Master's

• Advanced Pre-sessional Course for Graduate Students (nine weeks, full-time)
• Foundations of Diplomacy Pre-Master's Course (six months, full-time)

Postgraduate Programs

Certificates

• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Ecological Survey Techniques
• Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Health Research
• Historical Studies
• Nanotechnology
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Psychodynamic Counselling
• Qualitative Health Research Methods
• Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care

Diplomas

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Severe Mental Health Problems
• Health Research
• International Wildlife Conservation Practice
• Psychodynamic Practice

Master of Studies (MSt)

• Creative Writing
• Diplomatic Studies
• Historical Studies
• History of Design
• Literature and Arts
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
• Practical Ethics
• Psychodynamic Practice

Research Degrees (DPhil)

• Archaeology
• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Literature and Arts
• Sustainable Urban Development

Master of Science (MSc)

• Applied Landscape Archaeology
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Evidence-Based Health Care Medical Statistics
• Evidence-Based Health Care Systematic Reviews
• Evidence-Based Health Care Teaching and Education
• Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
• Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care
• Surgical Science and Practice
• Sustainable Urban Development
• Translational Health Sciences

Professional Programs

Continuing Professional Development

• Business and management
• Cultural heritage
• Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies
• Education
• Environment and sustainability
• Medical and health sciences
• Nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• Philosophy and ethics
• Psychology and counselling
• Research methods and skills
• Technology and AI
• Urban studies

Research Programs

Research Community

Research at Oxford Lifelong Learning extends across the disciplines and is supported by a research culture that encourages interdisciplinary initiatives.

Graduate School

The Graduate School offers a supportive and stimulating environment for both internal and external postgraduate students and researchers.

Research Forums

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Steering Group
• Lifelong Learning Pedagogies forum
• Research Ethics Colloquium
• The Vice-Chancellors Colloquium

Insect Taxonomy and Field Sampling Skills Course

Overview

A fully-funded residential summer school in Oxford for PhD students or early career researchers.

Programme Details

Online Introduction Sessions

In preparation for the in-person week, two online synchronous introductory lectures will be held in advance.

In-Person Timetable

Expected schedule for Monday 14 - Friday 18 July 2025:

• Monday 14 July classroom and field: Welcome and overview of the course and the most common field sampling techniques including a practical insect sampling session.
• Tuesday 15 July classroom and laboratory: Overview of the value of natural history collections for research and the value of museum collections; introduction to the taxonomy of the main insect orders.
• Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July laboratory: Practical skills in identifying the most common British pollinators.
• Friday 18 July laboratory: You will have the choice to further focus on either bees or hover flies.

Locations

The in-person week will take place at the following venues:

• Oxford University Museum of Natural History
• Wytham Woods
• Rewley House, Department for Continuing Education

Course Team

• Tutor: Steven Falk, Entomologist and expert on bees and hoverflies
• Tutor: Dr Liam Crowley, Postdoctoral Research Assistant and expert on traditional and DNA surveying methods
• Project lead: Dr Thomas Hesselberg, Departmental Lecturer and Director of Studies in Biological Sciences
• Co-Project lead: Zoë Simmons, Head of Life Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Certification

Students who attend this course will receive a certificate of attendance.

Fees

Course fees are covered by NERC. There is no charge to the course participants.

Funding

If you have caring responsibilities or have caring or assistance needs, please get in touch as we may be able to provide a grant to help with paying for outside care or accommodation in Oxford for an accompanying person.

Learning Outcomes

This five-day postgraduate training course aims to build confidence and provide training excellence for early-career researchers needing to identify insects and design their own survey protocols and methodologies.

Application

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting completed applications is Friday 9 May 2025.

Priority Applicants

NERC-funded DPhil/PhD students will be prioritised for this course, but other PhD students or early career researchers will also be considered if we do not receive sufficient numbers of suitable NERC-funded students.

Supporting Documents

• Personal statement demonstrating that you meet the criteria for the course
• Current CV
• Supporting letter from your supervisor (or line manager if not currently a PhD student)

Selection Criteria

Entry Requirements

Applications will be assessed for evidence of how you meet the following criteria:

• Relevance of the training to your own research project
• Existing research experience or year of PhD study
• Demonstrable impact of the course in chosen career path
• An evidenced interest in entomology and/or museums.

Supporting Statement

Your supporting statement should demonstrate your suitability for this course, based on the entry requirements listed above.

Supporting Reference

Your supporting reference should be submitted by your supervisor if a current student; or your line manager if not a current student.