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 recognize and differentiate between major architectural styles with a short course in Oxford or online.
We also offer a programme of courses and workshops in the historic environment for professionals whose work involves fieldwork, planning, management, curation and research, and also for members of the public with a keen interest in archaeology and historic buildings.
Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
Many of our short courses, including flexible online courses, weekly classes (both in Oxford and online) 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 graduate programmes in architectural history:
Upcoming courses
In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Professional development
Discover the latest developments in scientific applications in archaeology. Aimed at all archaeologists and historic environment professionals responsible for commissioning, specifying and/or delivering archaeological work programmes.
- Fri 24 Mar 2023
- 1 meetings
- 08:45 - 16:30
In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Professional development
This course aims to give participants an understanding of traditional construction and its defects, and to provide the skills to carry out balanced and informed surveys of historic buildings.
- Wed 29 Mar 2023 – 31 Mar 2023
- 3 meetings
- 9.00am Weds - 5.00pm Fri
Online - live • Short courses
Approaches to managing old buildings change across time and between cultures. This course will give historical and global context to architectural conservation practice, and help students broaden their perspective on change in the historic environment.
- Tue 18 Apr 2023 – 27 Jun 2023
- 10 meetings
- 5:00 – 6:00pm
Online - live • Short courses • Professional development • Hybrid - in person or online
The new National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages the creation of design codes for towns in the UK. This course explains the concept of design codes and gives practical advice about how to create successful codes. Join us online or in Oxford.
- Thu 20 Apr 2023 – 21 Apr 2023
- 2 meetings
- 09:00 Thurs - 16:30 Fri
In-person weekly • Short courses
The mainly stone-built mediaeval churches in the Oxford diocese have over the centuries been rebuilt in a sequence of styles with their fittings, furnishings and memorials reflecting changing uses, beliefs and local priorities.
- Mon 24 Apr 2023 – Mon 10 Jul 2023
- 10 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
Related courses and spotlights
Courses and workshops in the historic environment
Expert tuition for those with a keen interest, professional or personal, in archaeology and historic buildings.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