Culture, history & humanities - Online

Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses

Explore our extraordinary range of History, Culture and Writing courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from ‘How to read a film’ and World literature, to Creative non-fiction writing courses and American history and Politics courses.

Our tutors are experts in their fields and experienced educators; many have published, teach in universities or share their expertise in the media. Tutors share their knowledge and passion through presentations, readings, interactive discussion and exercises, analysis, and other activities.

Many students return to take more courses, telling us they enjoy being part of our City Lit Learning community.

Our popular courses often sell out quickly, so we invite you to browse and book your place now.

Courses available both in-person and online

Join us in the heart of London for in-person classes. Our modern campus in Covent Garden is easy to reach and buzzing with creativity. With modern purpose-built facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, it’s the perfect space to support your learning journey. Explore our facilities >

Prefer learning online? Our live online courses bring expert teaching to you, wherever you are.

Whether you choose to study in-person or online, all our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. Wherever and however you want to learn, we’re here for you.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

 

We're delighted to share with you part of our upcoming Autumn term Culture and Humanities programme; please note that we expect the full Autumn Term programme to be on the website by the middle of May so check back soon!

 

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  1. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
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  2. How to read a film: a beginners' guide to cinema
    Course start date:  Mon 12 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Paul Sutton
    This course will develop your critical appreciation of the cinema by teaching you how to read and understand film texts. We will look at the elements that underpin film form – narrative, mise en scène, cinematography, editing and sound – alongside its historical development. We will consider film style by exploring classical, post-classical and art cinema and we will examine influential critical modes of analysis, such as genre, authorship and spectatorship.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
    Rating:
    89% of 100
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  3. Global encounters: Europe and the Ottoman Empire, 1100-1700
    Course start date:  Tue 13 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    The Turks entered European consciousness in 1071 when they captured the Byzantine emperor at the Battle of Manzikert. So began centuries of uneasy co-existence between Christians and Muslims on the fringes of Europe.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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  4. Ruling Russia: Tsars, Revolutions, Civil War , and the Triumph of Lenin (1860-1924)
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 13 May 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Zoe Quinn
    This course explores the transformative period of Russian history from 1860 to 1924, encompassing the autocratic rule of the Tsars, the revolutionary upheavals of 1905 and 1917, the chaos of the civil war, and the consolidation of the Bolshevik regime. Students will examine key events, figures, and ideologies that shaped modern Russia, delving into the complexities of political, social, and economic changes during this era.



    Please note: this course includes much of the material covered in previous Russian Revolution courses at the City Lit. Moreover this course is taught at an introductory level. Tutor: Zoe Quinn.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00
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  5. Contemporary Middle-Eastern politics
    Course start date:  Wed 14 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Nomaan Hanif
    The Middle East remains the global hotbed of conflict and instability where religion still plays a dominant role in the life and politics of society. This course will aim through a combination of teaching and participant discussion to provide some historical perspective and connect, evaluate and understand contemporary geopolitics, diplomacy and events in the region. Tutor: Noman Hanif.
    Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
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  6. A Social History of England in 12 Objects: From the Tudors to the Victorians
    Course start date:  Fri 16 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    What do Henry VIII’s rosary and the Golden Boy of Pye Corner tell us about Tudor and Stuart England? Study these and other items to build a comprehensive picture of social life in England over four centuries.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
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  7. Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00
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  8. Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
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  9. The Disease of the Soul: Leprosy in the Middle Ages
    Course start date:  Tue 27 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    We explore medieval attitudes towards the disease and the medical care available to sufferers. We also look at how the leper was depicted in art and literature before 1500 CE.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
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  10. Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
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  11. Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
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  12. Land Acknowledgement and Racial Justice: Approaches from Different Settler Societies
    Course start date:  Tue 3 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Olivia Durand

    Learn about the origins and purpose of land acknowledgements in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Examine their role in racial justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and whether they create real change or remain symbolic gestures.

    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00
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  13. Looking for the Golden Fleece: Jason and the Argonauts
    Course start date:  Tue 3 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Maria Contos
    Come and explore the journey of the Argonauts and discover Jason.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
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  14. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
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  15. Modern France: from de Gaulle and the Resistance to Macron
    Course start date:  Thu 5 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sebastien Ardouin
    (Re)discover France's complex politics during the Fourth and Fifth Republics, and the social challenges and tensions the country faced both at times of growth and modernisation and of crisis and doubts.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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