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 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 postgraduate programmes in architectural history:
Upcoming courses
Short intensive • Short courses • Professional development
Join us in Oxford to master non-destructive techniques for built heritage. Get hands-on experience using a range of equipment for assessing archaeology and standing buildings. Learn good practice for informing management and conservation.
- Wed 16 Apr 2025 – 17 Apr 2025
- 2 meetings
- 9:00am
In-person weekly • Short courses
Architecture on the Tracks, Railway Architecture from the 1830s to the PresentRailways transformed the world and introduced new kinds of buildings; stations, hotels, viaducts and tunnel portals. We will explore this exciting range of new buildings.
- Thu 24 Apr 2025 – Thu 26 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
Short intensive • Short courses • Professional development
Managing nature around historic buildings can be a challenge. But it also presents exciting opportunities for engagement and conservation. This course will introduce new research, policy trends and case studies for nature positive activity.
- Thu 24 Apr 2025
- 9:30am – 5:00pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
Masses, oval shapes, and twisted columns are features of Baroque architecture. The course retraces its origins and look into the best examples of European and English Baroque from Francesco Borromini, Filippo Juvarta to Christopher Wren and James Gibbs.
- Thu 24 Apr 2025 – Thu 26 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 10:30am – 12:30pm
Short intensive • Short courses • Professional development
Create Streets share their extensive knowledge on urban greening strategies. This course will cover the latest research and evidence on the contribution greenery makes to the urban environment, and how to put this into good practice.
- Fri 25 Apr 2025
- 9:30am – 5:00pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
An exploration of Oxford University’s hidden college gardens, past and present. The college gardens current multifaceted role as a retreat and refuge, as a counterpart to the dense urban grain and as a source of college income will be evaluated.
- Sat 26 Apr 2025
- 9:45am – 5:00pm
Related courses and spotlights
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