Short course
‘A plague o’ both your houses’: Life and Death in 17th-Century England
Course status:
Course Full
Dates and time:
01/08/2026 - 08/08/202609:00 - 12:30
Study format:
Summer schools
Fees:
£1,375.00 – £2,310.00
When Elizabeth I died in 1603, London's 200,000-strong population suffered an unparalleled plague epidemic. It was as though the Queen's death, like a thunder-clap. was able to kill thousands. In a few short months 30,000 died, and the disease continued to ravage England for over sixty years.
This course explores the role plague and disease played in seventeenth-century England. From the lived experience of diarists, plague searchers, victims and medics to its expression in works of literature by Shakespeare, Dekker, Jonson and more.
We will examine original sources, interrogate contemporaneous medical thinking, and consider modern scientific and archaeological findings.
This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.
Apply for this course
Apply using the button below.
Seminars
Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.
Sunday
Seminar 1: Life and death – an overview
Seminar 2: Early modern medicine
Monday
Seminar 3: Plague and disease throughout the century
Seminar 4: Bills of mortality
Tuesday
Seminar 5: The Alchemist and plague literature
Seminar 6: Shutting up and public health
Wednesday
Seminar 7: Parish Records and primary sources
Seminar 8: Searching the dead
Thursday
Seminar 9: Pepys and Evelyn
Seminar 10: Plague and the monarch
Friday
Seminar 11: How do you recover from plague?
Seminar 12: Modern science and new discoveries
Programme timetable
The daily timetable will normally be as follows:
Saturday
14.00–16.30 – Registration
16.30–17.00 – Orientation meeting
17.00–17.30 – Classroom orientation for tutor and students
17.30–18.00 – Drinks reception
18.00–20.00 – Welcome dinner
Sunday – Friday
09.00–10.30 – Seminar
10.30–11.00 – Tea/coffee break
11.00–12.30 – Seminar
12.30–13.30 – Lunch
13.30–18.00 – Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.
18.00–19.00 – Dinner (there is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme).
A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.
Residential options are outlined below.
Please see the ‘application’ section above for guidance on how to book or request the right accommodation for you.
Residential option
This includes accommodation and all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
View full details of Rewley House accommodation.
Non-residential option
We also offer places on a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have meals (lunch and dinner) at Rewley House, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.
Course aims
This course aims to furnish students with a solid understanding of the Stuart dynasty (1603-1714) and the wider social and political changes of the seventeenth century.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students will have been given the opportunity to understand:
- The way plague entered seventeenth-century art, music, literature and discourse.
- The role of individuals such as searchers, apothecaries and civic authorities during times of plague.
- Where and when plague broke out during the seventeenth century.
- How modern archaeological and scientific discoveries and theories have supported or challenged the historical record.
Teaching methods
The teaching methods used during this course may include:
- Short lectures/presentations
- Physical handouts
- Seminars/group discussions
- Audio and video recordings
Assessment methods
Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.
You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment.
Participants will also attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.
Please see the ‘certification’ section for more details about CATS points.
Rebecca Rideal – Tutor
Rebecca Rideal is a historian, award-winning podcast and TV producer, and the author of 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire. A fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Rebecca specialises in seventeenth-century history. She writes regularly for press, contributes to radio and television documentaries, and is the founder of the London-based history festival, HistFest.
Certificate of Attendance
All participants who complete the course will receive a physical Certificate of Attendance.
Digital badge
You will also be issued with an official digital badge of attendance. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download this. You will be able to share this on social media and add to your email signature if you wish to do so.
Academic credit
OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4.
CATS points will be awarded to students who attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment to the required standard. Please see the ‘assessment methods’ section below for more details.
Certificate of Higher Education
Credit (CATS points) earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education. This part-time, award-bearing course lets you decide what, how and where you study by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, in-person weekly classes and OUSSA.
For full details, including transfering credit gained from OUSSA to the programme, see our Certificate of Higher Education programme page.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Fee Option 1 (Single en suite – inc. Tuition and Meals) | £2205.00 |
| Fee Option 2 (Double en suite – inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person | £2310.00 |
| Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite – inc. Tuition and Meals) per person | £1850.00 |
| Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation – inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) | £1375.00 |
Payment
All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.
Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.
Payment terms
- If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking
- If submitting an application form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date
Cancellations and refunds
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check the terms and conditions carefully and to purchase travel insurance.
Funding
Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify.
The concessionary fee is for non-residential attendance only; participants will then be responsible for finding their own accommodation. See full details including eligibility.
Recommended reading
Rebecca Rideal (2016). 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire. John Murray.
Samuel Pepys (edited by Latham & Mathews) (2010). The Diary of Samuel Pepys (1665). NB – for the purposes of this course, the online diaries will be just as good: Samuel Pepys Diaries Online. William Collins.
Wall, Cynthia (ed.) (2003). Daniel Defoe: A Journal of a Plague Year. Pengiun.
Wrightson, Keith (2002). English Society, 1580 – 1760 (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Module code: O25I412SSR
Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.
Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.
Online enrolment (single person accommodation and non-residential)
Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places should be booked online by clicking on the ‘Book now’ button at the top of this page.
Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.
Enrolment form (multi-occupancy or accessible accommodation)
Those requiring twin, double or accessible accommodation (including ground/lower floor accommodation) should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked or requested online.
Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people.)
- Enrolment form – editable PDF
- Enrolment form – Microsoft Word
Those who have specific requirements (eg an accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.