Short course
The Origins of the First World War
Course status:
Course ended
Location:
Online
Dates:
15/09/2025 - 24/11/2025
Study format:
Online - live
Fees:
£360.00
The First World War was a cataclysmic event in world history. It led to enormous loss of life and tremendous physical damage to towns and cities. This course examines the origins of this terrible conflict.
Initially the course will examine the nature of international relations before 1914 and the politics, social structures and economies of the states which were the main participants in the war. Then the course will analyse the specific events which eventually pushed the world into an unprecedented international war. At the outbreak of war we will consider the expectations of the populations of the countries involved and the way in which the brutal reality of the conflict shattered these illusions.
Finally we will assess the significance of the First World War in the history of the twentieth century. To what extent do we still live with the consequences of that human tragedy today?
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Programme details
This course begins on the 15 Sep 2025 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 Sep 2025, 2:00-3:00pm (UK time).
Week 1: International relations in the nineteenth century
Week 2: The quest for empire
Week 3: Economic rivalries
Week 4: France and Britain
Week 5: The Russian Empire and Asia
Week 6: Germany
Week 7: Austro-Hungary and the Balkans
Week 8: Countdown to conflict
Week 9: Outbreak of war: illusions and reality
Week 10: Aftermath and consequences
Level and demands
This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. 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. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but 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 follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements
Course aims
The aim of the course is to analyse the origins of the First World War and to assess the long-term historical consequences of the events of 1914-1918
Course objectives:
1. To examine the historical background which led to the outbreak of the First World War, and to explore the political, social and economic reasons which caused the conflict to occur.
2. It also seeks to establish the long-term historical consequences of the conflict and to analyse the effect it has had on the politics and society of the world in the early-twenty-first century.
3. Extensive use will be made of a variety of original visual and documentary materials to illuminate the developments and debates of the period, and to encourage students to engage with those arguments and debates.
IT requirements
Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.
Programme details
This course begins on the 15 Sep 2025 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 Sep 2025, 2:00-3:00pm (UK time).
Week 1: International relations in the nineteenth century
Week 2: The quest for empire
Week 3: Economic rivalries
Week 4: France and Britain
Week 5: The Russian Empire and Asia
Week 6: Germany
Week 7: Austro-Hungary and the Balkans
Week 8: Countdown to conflict
Week 9: Outbreak of war: illusions and reality
Week 10: Aftermath and consequences
Teaching methods
This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.
All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to :
1. Have an understanding and knowledge of the chronology of events leading up to the outbreak of the First World War.
2. Demonstrate an ability to assess and evaluate a variety of arguments and sources with reference to the period, and to be able to express their views interacting with other students and in written form.
3. Become familiar with the structures of academic learning and be confident expressing their argument in a group environment.
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.
Mr Carl Wade
Carl Wade originally studied history at Jesus College, Cambridge. He has written and taught courses for OUDCE since 2004 in modern European and German history.
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.
Level and demands
This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. 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. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but 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 follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £360.00 |
Module code: O25P751HIZ
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.