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
  • 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
  • English Social and Local History
• Languages and cultural studies
• Literature, creative writing and film studies
  • English Literature
  • Creative Writing
• Medical and health sciences
  • Medical and health sciences
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Health Research
  • Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
  • Psychodynamic Counselling
• Music
• Natural sciences
  • Applied Landscape Archaeology
  • Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
  • Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care
  • Surgical Science and Practice
  • Translational Health Sciences
• Philosophy
  • Practical Ethics
• Psychology and counselling
  • Psychology and counselling
• Religion and theology
• Technology and AI
  • IT Systems Analysis and Design (Online)

Course Formats

• 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

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

Course Details

Course Overview

We will embark on a journey through time as we follow the trail of discovery forged by some of the greatest minds in physics. Over the past 130 years, explorers of the subatomic world have reshaped our understanding of matter, energy, and the universe.

Programme Details

Seminars

Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.

Sunday

• Seminar 1: Radioactivity
• Seminar 2: Early models of the atom, including the work of J. J. Thomson and Rutherford.

Monday

• Seminar 3: Detecting particles
• Seminar 4: The confirmation of the neutron by James Chadwick and Fermis proposition of the neutrino.

Tuesday

• Seminar 5: The beginning of Quantum Theory
• Seminar 6: Fission and Fusion

Wednesday

• Seminar 7: The Particle Zoo
• Seminar 8: Particle Accelerators

Thursday

• Seminar 9: The Standard Model
• Seminar 10: Particle Interactions and Feynman Diagrams

Friday

• Seminar 11: Student Presentations
• Seminar 12: Current Experiments

Programme Timetable

The daily timetable will normally be as follows:

Saturday

• 14.0016.30: Registration
• 16.3017.00: Orientation meeting
• 17.0017.30: Classroom orientation for tutor and students
• 17.3018.00: Drinks reception
• 18.0020.00: Welcome dinner

Sunday Friday

• 09.0010.30: Seminar
• 10.3011.00: Tea/coffee break
• 11.0012.30: Seminar
• 12.3013.30: Lunch
• 13.3018.00: Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.
• 18.0019.00: Dinner

Fees

• Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals): Ł2205.00
• Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person: Ł2310.00
• Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person: Ł1850.00
• Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner): Ł1375.00

Funding

Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Tutor

Susan Bigge has taught physics on both sides of the Atlantic for 30 years.

Course Aims

This course aims to introduce nuclear and particle physics following a historical timeline, examining the people and concepts that have shaped our understanding of the universe.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods used during this course may include:

• Short lectures/presentations
• Physical handouts
• Seminars/group discussions
• Student presentations
• Video recordings

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will have been given the opportunity to understand:

• Early models of the atom
• Alpha, beta and gamma decay
• The processes of nuclear fission and fusion.
• Classification of particles including leptons, quarks, bosons, hadrons (baryons and mesons)
• Methods of experimentation and detection in particle physics

Assessment Methods

Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words.

Certification

All participants who complete the course will receive a physical Certificate of Attendance and an official digital badge of attendance.

Academic Credit

OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4.