The Political Economy of the End of Human Civilisation

Programme details

This course begins on the 16 Apr 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 23 Apr 2026, 5:00-6:00pm (UK time).

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: The Rise of Homo Sapiens

Week 3: Theories of Cognitive Development

Week 4: Climate Change

Week 5: Migration

Week 6: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Week 7: Quantum Computing and Nuclear Fusion

Week 8: Biotechnology

Week 9: Space Exploration and Space Travel

Week 10: Conclusion

Level and demands

This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. 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. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Course aims

This course aims to help to gain a better understanding of the four main factors which are converging on humanity in the contemporary world.

This course will enable students to:

• Evaluate how climate change will impact on the food supply.
• Analyse the impact of increased migration, as a result of climate change and increasing poverty, on the welfare systems of developed countries.
• Interpretate the impact of biotechnological advances on ageing and in the treatment of diseases.
• Determine the impact of population demographic changes on the economies of developed and developing countries.

IT requirements

Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.

Programme details

This course begins on the 16 Apr 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 23 Apr 2026, 5:00-6:00pm (UK time).

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: The Rise of Homo Sapiens

Week 3: Theories of Cognitive Development

Week 4: Climate Change

Week 5: Migration

Week 6: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Week 7: Quantum Computing and Nuclear Fusion

Week 8: Biotechnology

Week 9: Space Exploration and Space Travel

Week 10: Conclusion

Teaching methods

This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.

All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:

• Understand the nature of climate change and its impact on human existence.
• Understand the impact of increasing migration from developing countries on the economies and societies of developed countries.
• Understand the developments in biotechnology which may have either positive or negative effects on humanity.
• Understand how advancements in artificial intelligence will impact on human society.
• Understand how population growth and changes in country population demographics will impact on economies and on human society.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Dr Sangaralingam Ramesh

Sangaralingam Ramesh is an Economics Tutor in the Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford and a Senior Teaching Fellow in Economics at University College London, UK. He has been an Associate Professor in Economics at the Université Paris Dauphine GBD and Economics Module Leader at Kings College London

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Level and demands

This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. 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. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Fees

Module code: O25P790SOZ

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