Architectural history
Study part-time with Oxford University
Short courses for beginners and professionals
Learn to ‘read’ architecture in a critically informed way, and to recognise and differentiate between major architectural styles with a short course in Oxford or online.
We also offer a programme of courses and workshops providing expert training for professionals in the historic environment, archaeology, museums and heritage sectors.
Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
Many of our short courses, including short online courses (live and flexible), weekly classes in Oxford, and some summer schools, can be studied for credit, which means they can count towards a recognised qualification such as our Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.
We also offer two part-time postgraduate programmes in architectural history:
Upcoming courses
Online - flexible • Short courses
This course is designed to enable you to 'read' the architecture of the Western world in a critically informed way.
- Wed 21 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
In-person weekly • Short courses
Flowering after 1300 with the ogee arch and glorious flowing window tracery, the Decorated style not only operated as a distinct form unique to medieval England, but was later regarded by Pugin as his favoured style for the Gothic revival of the 1800s.
- Wed 21 Jan 2026 – Wed 25 Mar 2026
- 10 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
Join us to take an imaginary journey up the Thames, from the mouth between Essex and Kent, to its sources amid the rolling countryside of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire whilst passing numerous interesting buildings on the way.
- Thu 22 Jan 2026 – Thu 26 Mar 2026
- 10 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
Online - flexible • Short courses
This course is the ideal introduction to English garden history. It provides an overview of five centuries of development, from baroque formalism through the naturalistic landscape style, right up to contemporary cutting-edge planting style.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Online - flexible • Short courses
Explore the culture of the English country house from its architectural form, social manners and distinctions to the furnishings and artistic manifestations of taste, as an expression of power and influence in a changing society.
- Wed 28 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Online - live • Short courses • Professional development • Hybrid - in person or online
The degree of harm caused to heritage assets has become a key issue in guiding development decisions. Join our expert workshop to explore the meaning of 'harm' and how it is being interpreted in practice today.
- Thu 29 Jan 2026
- 1 meetings
- 09:45-16:00
Related courses and spotlights
Cultural heritage training
Expert CPD tuition for those with a keen interest, professional or personal, in archaeology, historic buildings and cultural heritage.Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education
A flexible, part-time route to an Oxford University qualification. Gain credit from flexible short online courses, weekly classes, and the Oxford University Summer School for Adults. Explore a wide range of subjects in this multidisciplinary programme.Postgraduate Certificate in Architectural History
This 11-month part-time course covers English architectural history from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day. The course consists of three taught units and a dissertation.DPhil in Architectural History
The programme is defined broadly to include the built and designed landscape, and aspects of interior design and is designed to enable students to undertake individual research.Student spotlights
View all student spotlights for this subject area