Undergraduate Diploma in English Social and Local History

Course details

This is history as it was lived – follow how individuals and communities experienced England’s transformation over centuries. 

This Oxford University Diploma introduces you to English social and local history from the early medieval period to the late twentieth century. Taught at second-year undergraduate level, it is for anyone with a passion for history who wants to explore how the lives of ordinary people were shaped by the same forces that transformed nations. 

Across the course you will study two topics in depth, either focusing on a particular period or following a theme across several centuries. The Diploma combines social history, examining how politics, religion, industry and reform shaped English society, with local history, which considers how those same forces impacted particular places. By looking at the lives of everyday people, you will see how wider events left their mark on daily life. At the same time, you will develop skills in critical interpretation, independent research and historical analysis. 

Teaching is delivered through six Oxford-based residential weekends each year, combining lectures, seminars and visits. Each session is taught by a subject specialist, giving you the chance to learn directly from a leading historian in that field. The weekends introduce you to a range of topics within broader periods and you can explore further what interests you most.  

As a student, you will also have access to the Bodleian Libraries, the History Faculty Library and University lectures and talks, giving you opportunities to deepen your knowledge and pursue your own historical interests. 

Discover more about the course from the Course Director

Online info session: Friday 17 October, 12:00-12:45 BST

Join us online for 45 minutes to learn more about our Diploma in English Social and Local History. Led by Course Director, Dr Jonathan Healey, this will be your chance to learn more about the programme and have your questions answered by our friendly team.

► Register your place

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Who is this history course for?

The Diploma is for anyone with a strong passion in social and local history and the commitment to study over two years. While previous study of history is helpful, no formal qualifications are required. If you have little or no recent experience of study or exams, you’ll be supported with guidance throughout the course. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from acting to banking, retail to social work, united by a shared enthusiasm for the past.

How you will study

Per year, the Diploma in English Social and Local History is usually taught through:

  • six residential weekends in Oxford (12 hours each)
  • one field trip (for example to Winchester, or Bath)
  • three online chat tutorials.

Most of the teaching is undertaken by the Course Director and academic staff, with support from additional specialist lecturers.

The course’s two modules (see below) alternate annually, with a new intake of about 12 students each year. This means that students in their first and second years are taught together.

Teaching delivery

This course is expected to be taught in person at Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA. Should circumstances dictate, the teaching can be moved online (either fully or partly).

The course in detail

Course content

The Diploma has two modules, which divide at about the year 1660. Students can take the modules in either order.

  • Module 1: English Social and Local History to c.1660
  • Module 2: English Social and Local History from c.1660

Module 1: English Social and Local History to c.1660

This module covers the period from the later Anglo-Saxons (roughly c.800CE) to the Restoration of the monarchy following the Civil Wars and Republic (1640–60). Its emphasis is on the lives, occupations, beliefs and environments of people and the communities they lived in. It covers such diverse topics as church and religion, monasteries, the changing nature of towns and rural communities, the worlds of work and leisure, migration and population change, and the Black Death. Later parts cover the Reformation, social change under the Tudors and early Stuarts, and the breakdown of English society leading up to and during the Civil Wars. Additional activities usually include a visit to Oxford college chapels and a trip to Winchester. Special subjects currently cover English landscape history 1100-1650, popular politics and rebellion, 1381-1607, and the English Civil War and Republic.

Module 2: English Social and Local History from c.1660

This module covers the period after the Restoration and up to the late 20th century. It looks at how the dramatic social changes of modernity have changed the lives of English people and their communities. Topics range from the vibrancy of Restoration society – the age of Samuel Pepys, the Great Fire of London, coffee houses, William Hogarth, and the East India Company – through the Georgian and Victorian worlds. It covers the impact of enclosure, industrialisation, and the growth of empire, as well as the wealth and poverty of Victorian England. Later topics include the impact of the World Wars, and the drastic social changes brought by the 20th century. Additional activities include a tour of west Oxford, a field trip to Bath, a workshop on sources about crime and poverty, and a workshop on oral history. Special subjects currently cover The Restoration: Society and Politics in England, 1660-1700, Family and Community in Rural England, 1650-1900, and Social Unrest and Popular Politics, 1840-1940.

Assessment

Each year, you will work on:

  • three history essays of 2,500 words: these are traditional, university-style history essays based on a set question. You will have a choice of around six questions per essay, usually one per topic.
  • one source exercise of 3,000 words: these are commentaries based on primary sources (in transcription/translation where appropriate). You will usually have a choice between three topics/sets of sources. These could include, for example, manorial court records, poor law papers or diary extracts. Students will be expected to comment on the usefulness of the sources for historians.
  • one extended essay of 6,000 words: this will be set by special subject tutors. You will have a choice of around six different essay topics.

IT requirements

Students are expected to have some IT skills, and access to a computer and the internet. The computer you use should meet our recommended minimum computer specification. Your course also requires you to engage with the Virtual Learning Environment for course materials and uses the Department’s online assignment submission system.

Teaching staff

The Course Director is Dr Jonathan Healey. 

Along with Dr Jonathan Healey, the teaching panel includes a number of experienced tutors – not only in their subject but in teaching adult students. They understand the learning needs of students returning to education and will be able to advise you on subject-based study skills throughout the course.

The Course Director and tutors will be able to help you with academic advice and support. In addition, there are academic literacy and academic English courses available to help you develop and improve the academic skills needed for effective study. 

Contact information

For general guidance, application and admissions advice, course specific information, or credit transfer: undergraduate@conted.ox.ac.uk, +44 (0)1865 270380. 

If you have a query that is not answered by the information on this page, you may contact the Course Director, jonathan.healey@conted.ox.ac.uk. 

For information about disability support or sources of funding: student.support@conted.ox.ac.uk, +44 (0)1865 280355. 

How to apply

Click the 'Apply' button to request the online application link. We will email you the form and application guidance, usually by the next working day.  

You should allow plenty of time to complete the application form, and upload any supporting documents required. You should also allow sufficient time for your referee(s) to submit their reference by the application deadline. 

You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application: 

  • a written statement of about 200 words stating why you wish to undertake the course.
  • proof of English language ability if a non-native English speaker. Further information on English language requirements can be found here. Please note that candidates are required to have the higher-level score.
  • contact details for one referee.

Application deadlines

  • 12 February 2026, 12:00 GMT 

  • 28 May 2026, 12:00 BST 

Early application is advised. The sooner you submit your application, the sooner your place will be considered.

Referees 

If possible, your referee should be able to comment on your academic ability and background, but where this is not appropriate, please choose a referee who can vouch for your motivation, commitment and potential.  References from family members cannot be accepted.  

Admissions decisions will be based on an assessment of knowledge, relevant experience, academic ability, potential and suitability for a course of study. We welcome applicants who may not hold traditional qualifications but can demonstrate relevant career experience or life skills. 

Selection criteria

Even if a course has no specific academic entry requirements then: (a) assessment of an applicant’s academic ability and suitability for the course of study will still take place and (b) since applications for many courses often significantly exceed places available, each application will be judged against the gathered field of applicants for each course each year.

The University is committed to promoting diversity, equality, inclusion, and widening access, including during the admissions process. We fully endorse the Equality Policy and our admissions procedures are kept under regular review to ensure compliance with this policy.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview.

The final decision on admission to the course rests with the Department.

English language requirements

Please check the information on the specific English language requirements for this course. Applicants are required to have the higher level scores.

Award and credit transfer

An Undergraduate Diploma will be awarded on completion of the course. You will be invited to receive your Diploma at the annual Awards Ceremony of the Department for Continuing Education, held at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre.

Students who successfully complete this two-year course will be awarded an Oxford University Undergraduate Diploma in English Social and Local History. The Diploma carries a Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) rating of 120 points at FHEQ Level 5. Outstanding performance will qualify for a Distinction. 

Opportunities vary for the transfer of credit, so students who are considering taking this course in order to transfer credit are advised to discuss the possibilities with the Course Administrator on undergraduate@conted.ox.ac.uk or student.support@conted.ox.ac.uk. 

Learn more about the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS points).

Fees

Fees for 2026-27 will be £4,095 (Home, Islands, and Republic of Ireland students) or £7,025 (Overseas students). 

Please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. 

Information for applicants from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

On 11 May 2021 the UK Council for International Student Affairs published new regulations and guidance to be used in assessing the fee status of students commencing courses in August 2021 and later. We will be using this guidance to carry out fee status assessments for students commencing courses in 2026/27, including students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. 

If you are an EU national and do not live in the UK then you are likely to be charged Overseas fees. Students with settled and pre-settled status in the UK and some other categories of students who work in the UK can qualify for Home fee status as long as they meet the residence criteria. 

Information on financial support can be found on our website here. 

Financial Declaration

All undergraduate offer-holders are required to complete a Financial Declaration Form (FDF) to demonstrate how they will meet the financial conditions of admission.  If you are offered a place on this course, you will be asked to complete this form. It demonstrates that you can, or are likely to be able to, afford the course, and must be accepted before you can be considered to have met the conditions of your offer.

Pathways

We offer many courses in history, across various study forms and at different levels of study. 

Many students who go on to complete the Diploma can go on to do the Advanced Diploma in Local History, which is equivalent to third-year undergraduate level. 

We also have a variety of postgraduate courses in history, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Historical Studies and the MSc in English Local History 

If you are planning on embarking on a new career as a result of your studies, or hope to progress in your current field, you can access help and advice through the University Careers Service. 

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Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support