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.
- Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: part 2Course start date: Fri 14 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hugo CookFollow-on course from the Introduction. This four-week course uses British Museum objects related to ancient Egypt to broaden and deepen students' knowledge of Egyptian Hieroglyphs.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - Economic paradigms: are there alternatives to capitalism?Course start date: Fri 16 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Caglar EzikogluExplore diverse economic theories beyond capitalism in economic paradigms with regards to the alternatives of capitalism and broaden your understanding of global economic systems.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £119.00 - Micro-memoir: a taster
Course start date: Fri 14 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie GartonA life is measured in moments as well as momentous occasions. This fun day workshop coaches students in the art of micro-memoir. Can you write about an instant that changed you in fewer than 200 words?Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Introduction to criminology: thinking about crime and justiceCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Join our journey, examining sociological and criminological theories of crime, deviance and the criminal justice system. Examine how these how these perspectives have premeditated everyday views of crime and criminality.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00 - Friday lates: The East India Company and the passion for chintzCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anita ChowdryExplore the story of how Indian painted and printed cottons became an important trade commodity for the Western domestic market, and the far-reaching impact of their design and manufacture.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - The Contemporary Global NovelCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca JonesAre you curious about reading contemporary global literature? Would you like to understand what we mean by the ‘global novel’, reading across cultures and national borders? This in-college course will introduce you to the study of global literature through reading three brilliant 21st century global novels: Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West, Rana Dasgupta’s Tokyo Cancelled and Julie Otsuka’s Buddha in the Attic.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - The life and times of King Charles ICourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: William SterlingFamous as the only British king to be executed, Charles should also be remembered as the greatest patron of the arts who sat on our throne.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Mamluks (1250-1517) and the endless war against the Crusaders in the Holy LandCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinThis course will trace the political history of the Mamluks, from humble beginnings to the golden age of the sultanate. Special attention will be dedicated to their role as fierce opponents of the Crusaders.
Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Taster: What is history? Who is it for? Course start date: Fri 14 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenJoin this session to discuss history, what it is, what it allows us to do and how we can all use it for excitement, learn new things and expand horisons! History is much more than you think!Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Friday Lates: the art of zines Course start date: Fri 21 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierUnderground passions and radical imagery have defined so-called fanzines for over 80 years. From the earliest examples to today, we explore their content, technique and the relation of DIY culture to wider artistic practices.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Friday lates: Cook must fall! Portraits of Captain James Cook, new and oldCourse start date: Fri 28 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ben PollittExplore the portrayal of Captain James Cook from c. 1770 to the present day. Understand images of Cook provide us with a fascinating platform to think about the complicated relationships that have emerged out of British Empire and what used to be thought of as its imperial possessions.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
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