Courses
Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds, from anywhere in the world. We offer a wide range of opportunities for you: from short courses, day events and summer schools to part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Find out more about the different course types below, or view all upcoming courses.
Open-access short courses
- Day and weekend events run in person or online, with some offered in both formats. Explore a topic in depth over one or two days with multiple speakers or hone your skills in small workshops and hands-on practical sessions.
- Lecture series are a series of 5 or 6 weekly lectures on a given topic, providing a comprehensive introduction to your chosen subject. All can be enjoyed online via a livestream, most can be attended in person in Oxford.
- Weekly learning programmes are studied over one or two terms. These include courses that meet in Oxford, online courses with live-time sessions, and flexible online courses. Most of these courses are taught at undergraduate level, require coursework and may be studied for credit.
Oxford qualifications and professional development
- Undergraduate award courses (certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas) are equivalent to, or taught at, first, second and third-year undergraduate level. Some have online study options and two are taught entirely online.
- Postgraduate programmes (certificates, diplomas, master's degrees and DPhils) are a great way to continue your studies and further your knowledge, progress in your career, or learn for personal enrichment. Some are taught mostly online, some are formed of short residencies in Oxford.
- Professional development programmes (CPD) include short courses and Oxford qualifications and are geared for working professionals in many fields, including the health and medical sciences, technology, business, environment and sustainability.
Summer schools
Join us for a study holiday in Oxford – for personal enrichment, academic progression or professional development. Many summer schools can be taken for credit, others require no coursework and are non-assessed.
Find a course for you
Our search tool allows you to search and filter based on your own preferences.
Upcoming courses
Online - live • Short courses • Hybrid - in person or online
Recent archaeological work ahead of development in/around Wallingford is producing abundant results. We will review new evidence for the prehistoric and Roman landscape and settlement of the area, and for the Saxon and medieval town. Hybrid day school.
- Sat 11 Feb 2023
- 9:30am – 4:45pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
Whether you are new to study or have a problem with some aspect of essay-writing, this workshop will help you to develop a systematic approach to planning, writing and presenting your assignment.
- Sat 18 Feb 2023
- 1 meetings
- 10:00am – 1:00pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
Providing a new understanding of the origins of psychoanalysis in the UK, through an examination of Freud's forgotten British family and the institutions and individuals who really contributed to the dissemination of psychoanalytic ideas in Britain.
- Sat 18 Feb 2023
- 9:45am – 5:00pm
Online - live • Short courses
Explore synergies and discordances between new social innovations and more traditional forms of welfare provision using theoretical, as well as pragmatic, approaches at this one-day online course.
- Sat 18 Feb 2023
- 10:00am – 5:00pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
Where did we come from? Why is the world the way it is? These are basic questions which human beings have always asked. This day school in Oxford will explore answers given by cultures in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Israel.
- Sat 25 Feb 2023
- 9:45am – 5:00pm
Open events
We hold evening and afternoon sessions for a number of our award-bearing programmes. Each session is free and all are invited to attend.
Continuing Education news
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Flexible, short online courses
Flexible and accredited tutor-led online courses of 5, 10 or 20 weeks. Study whenever it suits you, from anywhere in the world.Weekly 'live-time' classes
Classes which meet once per week either online or in Oxford. Most require coursework and are assessed.Lecture series
Weekly lecture series of up to 6 weeks in duration. All can be enjoyed online via a livestream, with the majority being offered in a hybrid format – so you can choose to attend online or in Oxford.Day and weekend events
Join us in Oxford or online to explore a topic in depth over one or two days with multiple speakers or extend your knowledge over several weeks with a lecture series.Summer schools
Study with us this summer in Oxford – for personal enrichment, academic progression or professional development. Explore a favourite topic while you discover the world’s most famous university city.Continuing professional development
Professional development (CPD) with Oxford University. From short courses and training in Oxford and online to flexible graduate programmes and bespoke courses.Gain an Oxford qualification
Requiring one or more years of part-time study, these courses lead to an award from the University of Oxford.