History including local and social history
Step into the past — uncover the lives, choices and events that shaped the world.
Short courses for adult learners
Whether you're eager to explore a new interest or delve deeper into a historical time period, our short courses are designed for adult learners seeking intellectual enrichment. Taught in person or online, with some courses offered in both formats, so you can choose the study option that best suits you.
► View all short courses in history
► Ways to study: how our short courses work
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate Oxford University qualifications
Part-time qualifications in history
Part-time qualifications in history
Our part-time undergraduate courses and postgraduate degree programmes in history are designed for adult learners with busy lives.
Part-time qualifications in local history
Part-time qualifications in local history
Our part-time local and social history courses concentrate on cultural and social aspects of local communities throughout history.
Upcoming courses
In-person weekly • Short courses
Oliver Cromwell is blamed for many things, including cancelling Christmas and banning fun – but what was life really like when he was the Lord Protector of England? Join this short course in Oxford to assess the legacy of Cromwell.
- Thu 28 May 2026 – Thu 25 Jun 2026
- 5 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
Oxford's WWII history is little known but quite extraordinary. The city and the University both had key roles in helping Britain to win the war, though much of what they did was secret. This walking tour examines Oxford's contribution to winning the war.
- Sun 07 Jun 2026
- 10:15am – 1:45pm
Summer schools • Short courses
Explore the wit, life and legacy of P G Wodehouse in this engaging summer course on his fiction, humour and wartime controversies. Discover how the creator of 'Jeeves and Wooster' shaped British comedy and the idea of the English gentleman.
- Sun 05 Jul 2026 – 11 Jul 2026
Summer schools • Short courses
Explore the many lives of Sir Walter Ralegh – poet, courtier, explorer and visionary. This course delves into his writings, politics and legacy, revealing how his bold ideas and turbulent fate illuminate the drama of the Elizabethan and Jacobean age.
- Sun 05 Jul 2026 – 11 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:55pm
Summer schools • Short courses
Exploring the shifting culture, ideologies and politics of the class system in modern English history from 1650 to the present day.
- Sat 11 Jul 2026 – 18 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:30pm
Summer schools • Short courses
Trace Russia’s transformation from the fall of the Romanovs to the rise and aftermath of Stalin. This course explores revolution, dictatorship and cultural change through history, art and firsthand accounts of a world remade by upheaval.
- Sun 12 Jul 2026 – 18 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:55pm
Part-time Oxford qualifications
Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in history and local history.
Your guide to history at Oxford Lifelong Learning
If you're thinking about studying history part-time at Oxford but you're not sure which course is the right fit for you, then this is the place to start. Hear from the Course Directors of our undergraduate and postgraduate history programmes.Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education
Study your passion and discover new ideas with Oxford’s flexible, part-time Certificate of Higher Education – designed for learners who want to learn widely, deeply, and on their own terms.Undergraduate Certificate in History
Equivalent to the first year of a full-time undergraduate history degree at Oxford University, this two-year part-time course introduces key historical periods and builds a strong foundation for further study.Undergraduate Diploma in English Social and Local History
Equivalent to second-year undergraduate study, this two-year part-time course explores English society from the early medieval era to the twentieth century, tracing how religion, reform, empire and industry shaped everyday life.Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Local History
Equivalent to third-year undergraduate study, this one-year part-time online Advanced Diploma helps you develop your skills and methodology in researching local, regional and social history.Postgraduate Certificate in Historical Studies
Equivalent to first-year postgraduate study, this course offers an exciting opening for graduates of all disciplines to pursue a taught postgraduate qualification in historical studies.MSt in Historical Studies
One-year part-time course combining focused study of key historical themes and concepts in British and Western European history.MSt in Literature and Arts
An interdisciplinary programme which encompasses literature, history, art, architectural history, political thought and the history of ideas.MSc in English Local History
The MSc programme draws on knowledge and skills acquired in many years of providing specialist classes in local history.DPhil in English Local History
Drawing on knowledge and skills acquired in many years of providing specialist classes in local history.