Henry VIII



Overview

The reign of Henry VIII witnessed fundamental changes in English society, the nature of which remains the subject of intense debate among historians. This course aims to study in detail the political, religious and cultural changes of the period, and to assess the role of the king and other key personalities in the transformation of society.

This course will study the process by which England’s ‘Defender of the Faith’ came to break away from the authority of the Pope in Rome, establish a separate national Church in England, Wales and Ireland and oversee wide-ranging reform not only in religion, but also in the nature and administration of government and the relationship between state and the people. The course will concern itself both with personalities (including Katherine of Aragon, Thomas Wolsey, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Cranmer, and Katherine Parr) and with structures (Church, Court, and Council). Henry’s controversial, larger-than-life character dominates the period.

We will consider how best to assess him: was he a ruthless tyrant or manipulated by scheming servants? A godly prince or religious opportunist? He was also fascinated by warfare and by artistic expression of all kinds. Seeking to understand Henry’s preoccupations and ambitions, we will address the key historical problems of the reign.

This course has no live sessions. You will study structured materials at your own pace each week with support of a tutor. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

The course is broken down into 10 units over 10 weeks, each requiring approximately 10 hours of study time. The following topics are covered:

1. Introduction to the Reign of Henry VIII

2. The Young King

3. Cardinal Wolsey and the first two decades of Henry VIII's reign

4. The Divorce of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon

5. The Henrician Reformation

6. Henry’s Administration and Government

7. Politics and Faction, 1529-1540

8. Henrician Foreign Policy

9. Culture and Politics

10. The End of the Reign

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral and very rewarding part of the course and the online learning experience.

Textbooks

To participate in this course you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need access to a textbook.

The course textbook is:

  • Wooding, L., 2015 (2nd ed.) Henry VIII, London Routledge

A comparison chart is provided on the course for users of other editions.

Please ensure that you can access copies of any required textbooks before enrolling on a course. While cancellations are uncommon, courses may not run if enrolment is too low. The Department accepts no responsibility for books purchased in anticipation of a course running.

Digital Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online courses are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

See more information on CATS points

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £430.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Stephen Bates

Course aims

This course aims to:

  • Provide a comprehensive study of the life and reign of Henry VIII.

This course will enable participants to:

  • Assess the key changes and developments in institutions and society in the period.
  • Evaluate the personality of this controversial king and its impact on politics, religion and society.
  • Develop historical skills through the analysis of primary sources and historiography.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to:

  • Understand the key historical developments of the reign of Henry VIII.
  • Judge the character of the king and the bearing this had in the context of a personal monarchy.
  • Use selected texts and documents to develop and support historical arguments.


By the end of this course, students will be expected to have gained the following skills:

  • The ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key issues explored.
  • The ability to write analytical and critical evaluations of the political, religious and cultural shifts during the reign of Henry VIII.
  • The ability to assess the role of personality in history, amid the many conflicting views of Henry’s character and its impact.
  • The ability to effectively analyse documentary evidence, and to organise and deploy information in written work and in discussions.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first 500-word assignment is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome, but preparing for it and the feedback you are given will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

Level and demands

This course is open to all, and no prior knowledge is required.

This course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but we warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements, please see here.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate, you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support