The course will build up a picture of Oxford’s history and its architecture through a study of paintings, drawings, engravings, maps and photographs from the medieval to the present day.
This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.
Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.
Sunday
Seminar 1: Introduction: overview of course.
Seminar 2: Oxford’s early history.
Monday
Seminar 3: Medieval colleges.
Seminar 4: Tudor Oxford.
Tuesday
Seminar 5: 17th century Oxford and engravings of David Loggan.
Seminar 6: The Oxford of Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. The making of a classical city.
Wednesday
Seminar 7: J.M.Turner and his paintings of Oxford.
Seminar 8: Malchair and other artists and their depictions of Oxford.
Thursday
Seminar 9: Victorian Oxford.
Seminar 10: Victorian Oxford in the age of photography.
Friday
Seminar 11: 20th century Oxford.
Seminar 12: 20th century development, the conflict over growth.
The daily timetable will normally be as follows:
14.00–16.30 - Registration
16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting
17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students
17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception
18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner
09.00–10.30 - Seminar
10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break
11.00–12.30 - Seminar
12.30–13.30 - Lunch
13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.
18.00–19.00 - Dinner (there is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme).
A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.
Please view your recommended Reading List by clicking here.
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) | £2050.00 |
| Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person | £2100.00 |
| Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person | £1680.00 |
| Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) | £1250.00 |
Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify, more information can be found here.
Unfortunately we do not offer any specific scholarships or funding opportunities for OUSSA programme, but you can visit our departmental funding webpage, where you may be able to find a particular source of funding that matches your requirements alongside meeting the funding criteria.
Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
Tuition and meals are included in the programme fee, with both residential and non-residential options available.
Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.
Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email to oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or by post to OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.
The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:
Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in the course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2025. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2025, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.
OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Oxford Experience course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.
Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check cancellation policies carefully and to purchase travel insurance.
Hubert Pragnell has been a part-time tutor for the Department for Continuing Education since 2003 specialising in art and architectural history. He has written a number of books on British architecture, railway history and aspects of London’s history. He is also an artist and studied at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford and is a member of Kellogg College.
This course aims to give you an understanding of Oxford as a centre of learning from the medieval to the present.
Also, to understand the changing styles of architecture, both academic and domestic, and especially development over the past century with new materials in a rapidly expanding urban centre.
The teaching methods used during this course may include:
By the end of this course, you will be expected to understand:
Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.
You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment. Participants will attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.
OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4. Learn more about CATS points.
Credit earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education.
Study when and where it suits you by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, weekly classes and OUSSA, and build your way to an Oxford University award. This part-time undergraduate programme lasts between two and four years depending on how intensively you want to study.
Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.
Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.
Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page.
Those requiring twin, double or accessible accommodation should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked online. Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people.)
Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.
Those who do not wish to register online or who have specific requirements (eg an accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK.
More information about our accommodation can be found here.
