Architectural history
Study part-time with Oxford University
Short courses for beginners and professionals
Learn to ‘read’ architecture in a critically informed way, and to recognise and differentiate between major architectural styles with a short course in Oxford or online.
We also offer a programme of courses and workshops providing expert training for professionals in the historic environment, archaeology, museums and heritage sectors.
Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
Many of our short courses, including short online courses (live and flexible), weekly classes in Oxford, and some summer schools, can be studied for credit, which means they can count towards a recognised qualification such as our Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.
We also offer two part-time postgraduate programmes in architectural history:
Upcoming courses
Online - live • Short courses
Investigate the emergence of architecture, from the earliest towns of the Neolithic to the Roman Empire. Explore urban form, construction materials and techniques, and discover how these how ancient building cultures influenced each other.
- Tue 14 Apr 2026 – 23 Jun 2026
- 10 meetings
- 3:00 – 4:00pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
An introduction to classical design in architecture, its ancient origins, its impact on Oxford architecture and modern examples. To include demonstrations by well-known modern practitioners and the chance for students to create their own designs.
- Tue 21 Apr 2026 – Tue 23 Jun 2026
- 10 meetings
- 6:30 – 8:30pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
From the earliest dedicated spaces for Christian worship – Old St Peter’s being one – Italy has dominated the development of the architectural design of the church. This has been a journey through Romanesque and Gothic to the Renaissance and Baroque.
- Wed 22 Apr 2026 – Wed 20 May 2026
- 5 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
In-person weekly • Short courses
The English house will be studied in all its forms, from the barons castle to the humble cottage and high-rise flats of today.
- Thu 23 Apr 2026 – Thu 25 Jun 2026
- 10 meetings
- 2:00 – 4:00pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Professional development
Increase your understanding of setting as it applies to heritage assets, along with its contribution to good design and the positive management of heritage assets. Aimed at UK-based historic environment practitioners and others in related disciplines.
- Tue 05 May 2026 – 06 May 2026
- 2 meetings
- 8:30am – 5:00pm
Online - flexible • Short courses
This course is the ideal introduction to English garden history. It provides an overview of five centuries of development, from baroque formalism through the naturalistic landscape style, right up to contemporary cutting-edge planting style.
- Wed 06 May 2026 – 17 Jul 2026
Related courses and spotlights
Cultural heritage training
Expert CPD tuition for those with a keen interest, professional or personal, in archaeology, historic buildings and cultural heritage.Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education
Study your passion and discover new ideas with Oxford’s flexible, part-time Certificate of Higher Education – designed for learners who want to learn widely, deeply, and on their own terms.Postgraduate Certificate in Architectural History
This 11-month part-time course covers English architectural history from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day. The course consists of three taught units and a dissertation.DPhil in Architectural History
The programme is defined broadly to include the built and designed landscape, and aspects of interior design and is designed to enable students to undertake individual research.Student spotlights
View all student spotlights for this subject area