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 day/weekend • Short courses
A celebration of the latest advances in astronomy, with some of the best images from satellites, space probes and ground-based observatories. With world-leading experts, all are welcome at this popular and richly illustrated event.
- Sat 29 Mar 2025 – 30 Mar 2025
- 10.15am Sat - 5.00pm Sun
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
A wide-ranging introduction to extinction from a geological viewpoint. Topics include recent extinctions, mass extinctions and their likely causes, the role of extinction in evolution, plus a chance to study many real fossils in the teaching room.
- Sat 05 Apr 2025
- 9:15am – 5:15pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
A wide-ranging introduction to extinction from a geological viewpoint. Topics include recent extinctions, mass extinctions and their likely causes, the role of extinction in evolution, plus a chance to study many real fossils in the teaching room.
- Sun 06 Apr 2025
- 9:15am – 5:15pm
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
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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