Online short courses and events
Join a worldwide community of adult learners
Explore a topic in depth over one or two days; extend your knowledge over several weeks with a lecture series or a weekly learning programme.
Explore the different online course types below.
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Short online courses (Flexible): These have no live-time meetings, so you can study when it suits you.
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Short online courses (Live): These have weekly 1-hour online meetings to attend.
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Day and weekend events: Include livestreamed lectures and small online workshops.
Upcoming courses
Online - flexible • Short courses
This course introduces you to Old English literature: from tales of heroism, courage and fellowship, to poignant elegies of love and loss.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
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.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Online - flexible • Short courses
Uncover why the inter-war years gave rise to political extremism and dictatorships across Europe.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Online - flexible • Short courses
Step into the turbulent world of Elizabethan England, a time of plots, power struggles and discovery, and uncover how ordinary people lived through one of the most dramatic eras in English history.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Online - flexible • Short courses
What makes humans different from other primates? When did we become human? This course will chart the development of human behaviour.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Online - flexible • Short courses
From the rise of the modern state to the forces shaping world politics today, this course explores the ideas, ideologies and systems that influence global events, and impact our everyday lives.
- Mon 26 Jan 2026 – 10 Apr 2026
Flexible learning with Oxford
As well as short online courses, we also offer flexible Oxford University qualifications and professional development programmes. Many can be studied fully online, some require short residencies in Oxford.
Short online courses
Our short online courses are taught in two alternative teaching formats - flexible or live. All of these courses are usually 10 weeks long.Distance learning
Study with Oxford from anywhere in the world. From part-time Oxford University qualifications and professional development programmes (CPD), to online short courses.Low-residency programmes
Our low-residency programmes allow students the flexibility of studying primarily from home, with short residential stays in Oxford.Continuing professional development
Professional development with Oxford University. From short courses and training in Oxford and online to flexible graduate programmes and bespoke courses.