Natural sciences
Explore natural phenomena with Oxford University
Short courses in Oxford and online
Our courses in the natural sciences include biology, physics, astronomy and earth science, with some overlap into the medical and environmental sciences. Courses might be hands-on or philosophical, and might address topics as diverse as climate change, particle physics, animal behaviour, the universe or the brain.
Many of our short courses can be studied for credit, which means they can count towards a recognised qualification such as our Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.
The video below was filmed during a past day school (Animals as Inventors) and is an example of what students can expect from our face-to-face classes. Presented by Dr Thomas Hesselberg, Director of Studies in Biological Sciences at the Department.
Upcoming courses
In-person weekly • Short courses
Our genes control our biological processes, and scientists are decoding their role in disease development to identify new clues for novel therapies. Gene technologies offer a new Personalized Medicine approach of treating patients as individuals.
- Tue 22 Apr 2025 – Tue 24 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 7:00 – 9:00pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
The course will explore the inner workings of cells in organisms that enable them to sense and respond to their environment. Signalling systems that allow communication of an external signal to evoke a cellular response will be examined.
- Tue 22 Apr 2025 – Tue 24 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 10:30am – 12:30pm
Online - flexible • Short courses
Why do animals behave the way they do? In this course we will look at the full range of behaviours found in the animal kingdom, from simple escape behaviours to complex tool use and their evolution.
- Wed 23 Apr 2025 – 04 Jul 2025
Online - live • Short courses
Climate affects the planning of our daily activities. Its variability also inflicts damage on individuals and entire economies and societies. We will explore how climate varies, in the past, present and future, and how this impacts on society.
- Wed 23 Apr 2025 – 25 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 11:30am – 12:30pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
Genome sequencing (Genomics) offer new opportunities for potential applications in healthcare and perhaps suggesting new therapies for diseases that were not treatable before.
- Wed 23 Apr 2025 – Wed 25 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 7:00 – 9:00pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
The course covers the development of the notion of quanta, from its origin as a solution to the problem of radiation emission, to its possible ultimate consequence - the quantisation of space and time.
- Thu 24 Apr 2025 – Thu 26 Jun 2025
- 10 meetings
- 7:00 – 9:00pm
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Environment and sustainability
Courses in the environment, sustainability, urbanism, wildlife conservation and ecology - whether your interest is professional or personal.Ecological survey techniques
Flexible postgraduate and online courses in ecological survey techniques for professionals working in field surveysMedical and health sciences
Postgraduate qualifications, short courses, part-time study and online courses in medical and health sciences