Literature, creative writing and film studies
Read deeply and write boldly
Join us for a short course – in Oxford or online
Start (or finish) your own novel, poem or play; produce critical analyses of classic and contemporary literature; or explore the cinematic works of a country, genre or director.
- View all short courses in literature, creative writing and film
- Ways to study: how our short courses work
Gain credit from short courses
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.
Part-time Oxford University qualifications
From undergraduate level study to advanced postgraduate courses.
- Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education – gain credit from short courses and create your own bespoke Oxford University qualification
- Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature – choose from two study options, including one mostly online
- Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing – choose from two study options, including one mostly online
- MSt in Creative Writing – formed of short residencies and a research placement
- MSt in Literature and Arts – formed of online modules and short residencies
- DPhil in Literature and Arts
Upcoming courses
In-person weekly • Short courses
Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain poet and Julian of Norwich. Rich in texture and meaning, Middle English literature offers new and surprising perspectives on the medieval world. No prior knowledge of Middle English is expected.
- Thu 28 May 2026 – Thu 25 Jun 2026
- 5 meetings
- 7:00 – 9:00pm
Summer schools • Short courses
Explore the evolution of British crime fiction and film – from Agatha Christie’s classic puzzles to modern reimaginings. Discover how detectives, crimes and settings reflect changing societies, ethics and cultural fears in this lively, critical course.
- Sun 05 Jul 2026 – 11 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:55pm
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
Discover how to 'read' films, not just watch them. Learn how editing, sound, lighting and framing create meaning, and explore how critics decode cinema’s hidden language in this engaging, hands-on introduction to film theory and analysis.
- Sun 05 Jul 2026 – 11 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:55pm
Summer schools • Short courses
Study the development of British detective fiction and literary representations of Oxford, ranging from Sherlock Holmes to Inspector Morse, and taking in the ‘Golden Age’ of the whodunit with authors including Dorothy L Sayers and Edmund Crispin.
- Sun 12 Jul 2026 – 18 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:55pm
Summer schools • Short courses
Examine Hitchcock’s impact on film language in this one-week course. Through screenings and critical discussion, study how his use of editing, sound, colour and narrative design shaped modern cinema and established new aesthetics of suspense.
- Sun 12 Jul 2026 – 18 Jul 2026
- 9:00am – 12:55pm
Part-time qualifications
Part-time undergraduate and postgradute 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 English Literature
A two-year part-time course, equivalent to the first year of a full-time undergraduate English degree. Two study options are available, including a mostly online option.Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing
For aspiring writers, the Diploma offers involvement in a wide range of literary projects over two years of focused part-time study. Two study options are available including an online option with a summer school in Oxford.MSt in Creative Writing
A two-year, part-time master's offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation, and critical and creative breadth.MSt in Literature and Arts
An interdisciplinary programme which encompasses literature, history, art, architectural history, political thought and the history of ideas.Student spotlights
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