Short course
The Making of Britain, 1688-1815
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
20/01/2027 - 24/03/202710:30 - 12:30
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
British history from 1688-1815 was a crucial period in the formation of British national identity, which featured political union and a growing range of social divisions in the British Isles as well as intense rivalry with France and dramatic imperial expansion.
We will study political, economic and social developments during this period of apparent contradictions. Success in a series of major wars and the establishment of the world's most dominant empire, combined with the expansion of the economy within Britain, re-defined Britain's place in the world. Although Britain's rise was spectacular, there were serious rebellions in Scotland, Ireland and the American colonies.
While Britons enjoyed more political and personal liberty than their European neighbours, there were also increasing calls for social reform in the latter part of the period, particularly in Britain's rapidly growing cities. This course will be of interest to those curious about this vital period, whose issues continue to resonate in modern Britain. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.
Image credit: An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745, David Morier
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts Wednesday 20 January 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Wednesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Week 1: The Glorious Revolution
Week 2: The Creation of the British State
Week 3: The Whig Oligarchy
Week 4: Economic Development
Week 5: Population and Society
Week 6: Poverty, Crime, Health and Education
Week 7: The Growth and Impact of Empire
Week 8: Religion and Political Ideology
Week 9: War and Popular Politics
Week 10: The Creation of a National Identity
Course aims
This course aims to enable participants to develop an understanding of the major political, economic and social developments that shaped Britain between 1688 and 1815.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to:
- explore key political developments from the Glorious Revolution to the Napoleonic Wars and consider their signification for Britain and the British Isles
- examine the growth of the British economy and empire, and assess their impact on Britain’s position within a wider global context
- consider the social consequences of political and economic change
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1. understand the major political, economic and social developments in 18th-century British history.
2. gain an appreciation of how political, economic and social developments are inter-related.
3. be able to better articulate their own views on the development of Great Britain during this period, both informally through discussion and formally through written work.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Teaching methods
The basic format of each class will be a lecture interspersed with discussions focussing on the key issues for that week. Students will be assigned weekly reading, mainly based on primary sources available for free on the Internet. Where students elect to make a presentation rather than write an essay, the topic of such presentations need to be agreed with the tutor and they will be scheduled in a class.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words 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.
Dr Mike Wagner
Mike Wagner received his doctorate in History from the University of Oxford. His research interests concern British and world history and politics in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Academic credit
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)
Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.
Digital certificate of completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the 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 attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
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
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Britons: Forging the Nation 1707-1837 / Colley, Linda
- Eighteenth-Century Britain: a Very Short Introduction / Langford, Paul
Module code: O26P409HIW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.