Program Overview

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University Programs

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

Summer Schools

• Oxford University Summer School for Adults

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

Linear Algebra: Introduction

Course Details

• Code: O25P770MAZ
• Credit: 10 CATS points
• Fees: Ł360.00
• Dates: Thu 16 Apr 2026 - Thu 25 Jun 2026
• Time: 6:30-7:30pm (UK)
• Location: Online (Live)

Programme Details

• Week 1: Solving linear equations: Gaussian Elimination
• Week 2: Matrix algebra
• Week 3: Vector spaces
• Week 4: LU Decomposition and related algorithms
• Week 5: Numerical solution to systems of equations: Gauss-Jacobi and Gauss-Seidel techniques with possible coding
• Week 6: Determinants, Cramer's rule
• Week 7: Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors with applications
• Week 8: Applications of matrices to Computing and other disciplines
• Week 9: Solution to ODEs using a matrix approach. Use of eigenvalues and eigenvectors
• Week 10: Symmetric, Skew-Symmetric, and Orthogonal Matrices, Eigenbases. Diagonalization. Quadratic Forms

Recommended Reading

• Algebra Essentials Practice Workbook with Answers: Linear & Quadratic Equations, / Chris McMullen

Certification

• Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points
• Digital credentials

Fees

• Course Fee: Ł360.00

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 Niccolň Salvatori

Course Aims

• Comfort with the language and notations of linear algebra
• Comprehensive understanding of linear equations and their solutions
• Mastery of basic matrix algebra
• Knowledge of vector space basics: linear combinations, spanning, bases
• Ability to find the matrix which represents a given linear transformation with respect to a given basis

Teaching Methods

This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

• know how to solve linear equations in unknowns and what the set of all solutions 'looks' like
• be skilled at matrix arithmetic
• be able to work out non-exotic examples and invoke appropriately, the standard theorems of basic linear algebra

Assessment Methods

You will be set independent formative and summative work for this course. Formative work will be submitted for informal assessment and feedback from your tutor, but has no impact on your final grade. The summative work will be formally assessed as pass or fail.

Level and Demands

Although this meaty course is far more substantial than the first course in algebra taught in the schools, school algebra is an adequate prerequisite. Attending this course, prospective students should know:

• how to graph = 3 - 2
• how to add, subtract, and multiply polynomials

This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website.

IT Requirements

Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.