Short course
The Making of Modern Britain
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online
Dates:
21/09/2026 - 04/12/2026
Study format:
Online - flexible
Fees:
£430.00
In 18th-century Britain, democracy was feared, protest was suppressed, and religious intolerance prevailed. Over the next two hundred years, a modern, democratic, multicultural Britain emerged. This course will examine the key social, economic and political influences which have shaped Britain in the 21st century, both as a nation state and as an international power.
This course was written by Annette Mayer, who specialises in nineteenth and twentieth-century British history. Listen to Annette talking about the course:
From the age of the Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions, Britain embarked on a steady process of political change and reform, during which aristocratic rule was challenged, and fears of democracy were overcome. The rise of the middle classes, the emergence of a working-class party, and demands for women's suffrage all affected the way in which constitutional government evolved in Britain. Over the same period of time, Britain was transformed both economically and socially. The economy was revolutionised by industrialisation, enabling Britain to consolidate its position as a world power. Yet this status was short-lived as 20th-century Britain came to terms with the loss of international prestige and colonial authority. At the same time, Britain was transformed from being a country in which one religion prevailed, and civil rights were denied to many to being a vibrant, multicultural nation in which diversity of race and religious beliefs is celebrated. This course will introduce students to an understanding of the main factors which helped to create modern Britain. There will be regular exercises designed to develop a range of historical skills, which will include evaluation of historical sources, the understanding of historical concepts, exploring debates and appreciating the significance of historical theories.
This course is compulsory for all Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education students who have chosen to major in history. The course is specifically designed to introduce students to the methodology of historical study. There will be regular exercises aimed at developing a range of historical skills, which will include evaluation of historical sources, enhancing understanding of historical concepts, exploring debates and appreciating the significance of historical theories.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
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. The Enlightenment
- The key philosophical and political ideas of the Enlightenment
- The wider impact of the Enlightenment
- Implications within Britain
- Introduction to note-taking
2. The Age of Revolution
- The American and French Revolutions
- Political radicalism in Britain
- Evaluating primary sources (political)
3. The Industrial Revolution
- Enterprise, initiative and innovation
- A great manufacturing nation
- Evaluating primary sources (social and economic)
- First assignment on primary sources
4. Government and the People
- Pressures for reform and government responses
- Why no revolution?
- Understanding historical debate and assessing the value of different historical theories
5. Women: campaigning for women’s rights
- The women’s suffrage movement
- The fight for social and economic equality
- Critical analysis of visual sources: cartoons, posters
- Examining the influences which create new historical disciplines
6. The changing role of the state: from laissez-faire to welfare state
- Nineteenth-century individualism
- The growth of the welfare state
- Understanding concepts
7. Changing images of Britain
- Mass politics
- Mass education
- Grass-roots politics and protests
- Growth of popular culture
- Research and essay preparation.
8. Britain and the wider world
- Imperial Britain
- Decline of the empire
- The Commonwealth and post-colonialism
- The relationship with Europe
- Second assignment
9. Multi-cultural Britain
- Religion
- Race
- Immigration
- Critical analysis of contemporary interpretations
10. Britain today?
- How democratic is Britain today?
- What is Britain’s global status?
- What are the attributes of a modern democratic state?
- Evaluating Britain: Exploring and criticising modern-day commentary
Course aims
This course will enable participants to:
- study and evaluate the factors influencing the emergence of modern Britain
- acquire a range of historical skills such as understanding the importance of concepts, the role of historical debate and the critical analysis of historical sources.
- assess the key political, social and economic developments and changes within Britain between the late 18th century and the present day.
- analyse and explain the main ideals and values which helped to shape modern Britain.
- develop a range of historical skills through the evaluation of primary sources and critical reading of texts.
- understand and appraise historical interpretations and appreciate the nature of historical debate.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:
- The key political, social and economic developments and changes within Britain between the late 18th century and the present day.
- The interaction of ideals and values which over two centuries helped to create and shape modern Britain.
- The process of understanding and studying history.
By the end of this course, students will be expected to have gained the following skills:
- The ability to demonstrate secure knowledge of the main political, social and economic developments which occurred in Britain between the late 18th century and the present day.
- The ability to write both critical and analytical evaluations of these key issues.
- The ability to evaluate and appreciate the way in which particular ideas were significant in influencing and shaping developments.
- The ability to compare, evaluate and interpret primary sources, and to organise ideas constructively in support of their interpretations.
- The ability to evaluate historical interpretations and understand historical concepts.
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 to 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.
Teaching methods
- Guided reading of documents
- Research topics with student feedback
- Discussion sessions
- Set questions on primary materials
- Questions to be answered in personal folders
- Quizzes
- Guided exercises on acquiring a range of historical skills
Assessment methods
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 Christine Pushpa Kumbhat
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
Textbooks
To participate in this course you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need to buy the following books:
- Wasson, E. A., History of Modern Britain 1714 to the present 2nd Ed (2016) Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester.
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.
Module code: O26P351HIV
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.