Program Overview

---

University Program Information

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

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 Formats

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

Academic Credit

Many courses can be studied for academic credit, which means they can count towards a recognised qualification.

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

Research Community

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

Research Areas

• Academic staff profiles
• Part-time DPhil programmes
• Research areas
• Research students

Research Forums

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

Medieval Oxford Course

Overview

The city of Oxford grew up at the meeting point of four rivers. It became a centre of trade and government encircled by royal castles, manors and forests. Kings, Queens and bishops sponsored the University and founded colleges. The scholars built splendid buildings, and collected books and treasures. The course will explore creative tensions between the townspeople and the scholars which promoted the growth of the city.

Programme Details

• Week 1: Setting the Scene: Town and Gown, the origins and growth of the City of Oxford
• Week 2: The rise of the University of Oxford and its Colleges
• Week 3: Town and Townspeople: urban government, trade and everyday life
• Week 4: Class Visit: The Architecture of Oxford, college buildings and historic libraries
• Week 5: The Later Middle Ages: Reformation and Renewal

Recommended Reading

• Arks of Learning: a short history of Oxford library buildings / Barber, Giles
• English University Life in the Middle Ages / Cobban, Alan
• Cows and Curates: the story of the Land and Livings of Christ Church, Oxford / Curthoys, Judith
• Oxford: An Architectural Guide / Geoffrey Tyacko
• A History of Oxford University / Green, V. H. H.

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford.

Fees

• Course fee: Ł180.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Tutor

• Dr Virginia Bainbridge

Course Aims

Medieval Oxford was a city of scholars and merchants. The course will introduce participants to the origins of the city and the growth of the university and the colleges. It will also explore the everyday life of merchant and artisan families. The changing city will be studied through records and maps, and there will be a visit to a historic building.

Teaching Methods

The course will consist of 4 class topics and 1 visit. A detailed bibliography, including the titles on the reading list, more references to journal articles, and relevant extracts from original source material will be presented to the students at the first session.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will have gained an overview of the history of Oxford. They will understand the origins of the city and its social structure. They will be able to demonstrate a general knowledge of the history of the university and the colleges. They will have explored primary and secondary sources, and also buildings and visual evidence. The course will provide a deeper understanding of the place of education in medieval and renaissance society.

Assessment Methods

This course is non-accredited, so there are no assessments.

Level and Demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.