Week 2: Inspiring Oxford summer school

Week 2: Sunday 12 - Saturday 18 July 2026

Stay and study in historic Brasenose College.

Elevate your summer by exploring your passion in a dynamic and world-renowned university environment at our Inspiring Oxford summer programme. All week-long courses are pitched at an introductory level for non-specialists aged 18 and above, and no prior knowledge is required. 

Seminars are small and engaging (maximum 16 participants) and are led by friendly, supportive expert tutors who bring subjects to life through lively discussion and exploration. After class, wander through Oxford’s cobbled streets, unwind in the peaceful quads of Brasenose, or join our optional social activities to make the most of your Oxford experience.

Courses taking place during week 2 of our 2026 programme are listed below. 

• Detective Fiction and the Oxford Imagination: British Crime Writing 1900-2000 (Dr Christopher Pittard)

• Diplomacy in Crisis: Power, Conflict and the Limits of International Response (Dr Jennifer Cassidy)

• Fear by Design: The Art and Innovation of Alfred Hitchcock (Dr Neil McCartney)

• From First Draft to Final Bow: The Fundamentals of Playwriting (Dr Matthew Parvin)

• The Inklings and Nature: Lewis, Tolkien, Barfield and Williams (Dr Gabriel Schenk)

• Mini-Masterpieces: Writing Short Memoir, Flash Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction (Gail Anderson)

• The Promise of Freedom, the Reality of Fear: Russia 1905-1953 (Dr David Haycock)

• Redefining Rights: Privacy, Governance and Law in the Digital Age (Zayaan Asmi)

• The Sadness Beneath the Stars: Reading Hardy’s Great Novels (Dr Jeremy Newton)

• Unlocking the Secrets of the Dark Triad (Sean Heneghan)

Find out more

• Browse all Inspiring Oxford courses
• Learn more about Inspiring Oxford