Week 6: Inspiring Oxford summer school

Week 6: Sunday 9 August - Saturday 15 August 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 6 of our 2026 programme are listed below.

• A Brief History of Planet Earth (Dr Suman Chowdhury)

• Building Middle-Earth: Tolkien’s Geography and the Power of Place (John Garth)

• How to Act Shakespeare (Darren Ormandy)

• Macaronis, Molls and the Mob: Georgian England’s Satirical Revolution (Dr Kate Watson)

• Marketing in the Digital Age: AI, Communication and the Human Touch (Sam Birkett)

• Mind Games: Understanding Manipulation, Conflict and Control (Sean Heneghan)

• The Philosophy of Mind (Ben Lang)

• Rules of the Game: How Law Works in Everyday Life (Zayaan Asmi)

• The Underground War: Resistance Networks in Occupied Europe (1939-45) (Dr Kate Vigurs)

• The Worlds of Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust (Dr Gabriel Schenk)

Find out more

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