Open-access short courses

Part-time learning at Oxford University – online and in Oxford
Start your learning journey at Oxford Continuing Education, at any time of life! You’ll join a highly diverse learning community: students of all ages, from all backgrounds and from all over the world.
Learn more about the different types of courses we offer below.
- 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.
- 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.
- Lecture series are a series of six weekly lectures on a given topic, providing a comprehensive introduction to your chosen subject. All are held in person in Oxford, with the majority also being livestreamed.
- Summer schools: Join us 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.
Upcoming courses
Online - live • Short courses • Hybrid - in person or online
Introducing a wide variety of different election forecasting methods for UK general elections. As well as pre-election forecasts, the day will cover exit poll methodology and seat prediction from early constituency results.
- Sat 29 Mar 2025
- 1:45 – 5:00pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses
Acclaimed as a wunderkind of theatre and radio, Welles was seemingly destined to dominate 1940s Hollywood. By analysing key movies such as Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons and The Lady of Shanghai, we will chart his fascinating fall from grace.
- Sat 29 Mar 2025
- 10:15am – 5:30pm
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
Online - live • Short courses • Professional development
Lead with confidence – This evidence-based course explores the unique challenges women face in leadership, equipping you with the strategies, insights, and confidence to navigate the path to senior roles.
- Mon 31 Mar 2025 – 03 Apr 2025
- 4 meetings
- 11:00-12:30 (UK time)
Online - live • Short courses • Professional development
This online course covers the essential knowledge for technology commercialisation, providing you with an overview of the organisational dynamics in acquiring and transferring technologies to the market.
- Tue 01 Apr 2025 – 04 Apr 2025
- 4 meetings
- 11:30am - 1:00pm (UK time)
Online - live • Professional development • Hybrid - in person or online
Consider techniques for reading effectively in different contexts, and think critically through seminal papers from different academic disciplines. Part of the Graduate School's postgraduate research skills training programme.
- Wed 02 Apr 2025
- 11:00am – 1:00pm
Don't miss out
Learn about new courses and open days by signing up to our mailing list.