The Origins of the First World War



Overview

The First World War was a cataclysmic event in world history. It led to enormous loss of life and tremendous physical damage to towns and cities. This course examines the origins of this terrible conflict.

Initially the course will examine the nature of international relations before 1914 and the politics, social structures and economies of the states which were the main participants in the war. Then the course will analyse the specific events which eventually pushed the world into an unprecedented international war. At the outbreak of war we will consider the expectations of the populations of the countries involved and the way in which the brutal reality of the conflict shattered these illusions.

Finally we will assess the significance of the First World War in the history of the twentieth century. To what extent do we still live with the consequences of that human tragedy today?

Programme details

Course starts: 20 Jan 2025

Week 1: International  relations in the nineteenth century

Week 2: The quest for empire

Week 3: Economic rivalries

Week 4: France and Britain

Week 5: The Russian Empire and Asia

Week 6: Germany

Week 7: Austro-Hungary and the Balkans

Week 8: Countdown to conflict

Week 9: Outbreak of war: illusions and reality

Week 10: Aftermath and consequences

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee for each course you enrol on. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. If you do not register when you enrol, you have up until the course start date to register and pay the £30 fee. 

See more information on CATS point

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework, but only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education, you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee. 

 

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment, whether registered for credit or not, will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS Points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

 

Tutor

Mr Carl Wade

Tutor

Carl Wade originally studied history at Jesus College, Cambridge. He has written and taught courses for OUDCE since 2004 in modern European and German history.

Course aims

The aim of the course is to analyse the origins of the First World War and to assess the long-term historical consequences of the events of 1914-1918

Course objectives:

1. To examine the historical background which led to the outbreak of the First World War, and to explore the political, social and economic reasons which caused the conflict to occur.

2.  It also seeks to establish the long-term historical consequences of the conflict and to analyse the effect it has had on the politics and society of the world in the early-twenty-first century.

3. Extensive use will be made of  a variety of original visual and documentary materials to illuminate the developments and debates of the period, and to encourage students to engage with those arguments and debates.

Teaching methods

There will be lecture recordings lasting one hour each week related to each topic provided by the tutor. These can be accessed throughout the course and they will include Power Point presentations. In addition a live Microsoft Teams class lasting a hour will be offered weekly related to the topic of the week. This will be fully interactive between the tutor and students. In addition an Oxford University website called Canvas will contain reading materials and will provide further opportunities to ask questions related to the course and to engage in academic discussion. It will also be possible to discuss the written assignments and the process of writing a formative piece of work online in preparation for the the final submission of the coursework. An introduction to the course will be offered in the first week using Microsoft Teams in order to familiarise the students with the learning methods.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to :

1.  have an understanding and knowledge of the chronology of events leading up to the outbreak of the First World War.

2.  demonstrate an ability to assess and evaluate a variety of arguments and sources with reference to the period, and to be able to express their views interacting with other students and in written form.

3.   become familiar with the structures of academic learning and be confident expressing their argument in a group environment.

Assessment methods

Students will be offered the possibility of writing an assignment related to the topics considered during the term. This assignment will consist of one essay of approximately 1500 words. The assignment needs to be completed to a satisfactory standard in order for credit to be awarded for the course.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

We will close for enrolments 14 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (14 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support