Online History of Science Courses
Examine the discoveries, ideas and people that have shaped scientific knowledge through the ages with City Lit’s online history of science courses. From ancient astronomy and medical traditions to the scientific revolution, Darwinism and modern technology, these expert-led courses explore how science has developed and influenced the world we live in today.
Learn about key figures, groundbreaking experiments and shifting theories, and consider the wider social, political and cultural contexts in which scientific ideas emerged. With flexible online learning, live interactive sessions and supportive tutor feedback, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how science and history are intertwined.
Our courses are open to adults of all ages — whether you’re completely new to the subject or looking to expand your knowledge. Study in a welcoming and engaging environment where curiosity and critical thinking are encouraged.
Explore our online history of science courses today and discover the fascinating story of how human beings have sought to understand the world around them.
11 courses available
Blood, pain and infection: how surgery was transformed from 1840 to the present dayThe course examines key developments in surgery, as a critical aspect of modern medicine, between 1840 and the present day.
Online
Tue 15 Sep 2026David IngledewFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00- Meet the Scientists: Isaac Newton
Explore Isaac Newton’s groundbreaking contributions to the development of physics during this History of Science Late.
Online
Thu 22 Oct 2026Gary RetallickFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - From cradle to the grave: a history of the NHS 1948 to the present
The course examines the creation, consolidation, development and reorganizations of the NHS from 1948 to the present day.
Online
Tue 27 Oct 2026David IngledewFull fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00 - Blood, Guts & Gore: How Human Emissions, Fluids & Excretions shaped ideas & societiesThis course takes an alternate view of history, exploring the past from the perspective of the substances removed, expelled or eliminated from the body as waste products, demonstrating their economic, environmental or symbolic value.
Online
Tue 10 Nov 2026Linsey HunterFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £58.00 - Meet the Scientists: The Restoration Era & the Royal Society
Trace the origins and early modern history of the Royal Society during the Restoration era, whose founders included Sir Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle and William Petty. Explore some of the society's early experiments and research, with particular reference to Hooke's Micrographia and the Dutch influenced 'observation of little animals' which gave rise to the concept of microbiology.
Online
Mon 14 Dec 2026Ellen CarpenterFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Six drugs that changed the world: from aspirin to chemotherapy
Join us to discover the origins, use, development and impact of six key drugs in the history of medicine.
Online
Tue 12 Jan 2027David IngledewFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Sensing the Past: '6 Senses' in Historical Context
Join Dr. Linsey Hunter to discover the history of 6 senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell...and the belief in the ability to see beyond the rational world. How were these senses understood by people in the past?
Online
Tue 19 Jan 2027Linsey HunterFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Meet the Scientists: Edward Jenner
Meet Edward Jenner and explore Jenner's role the development of the first smallpox vaccine in the context of the impact of smallpox on previous societies, together with Jenner's impact and legacy.
Online
Mon 25 Jan 2027David IngledewFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Meet the Scientists: Mary Somerville, 'Queen of Science'
Meet Mary Somerville, renowned Scottish scientist, mathematician and astronomer, who is widely regarded as ‘the queen of science’. In 1835 she and Caroline Herschel were the first elected female Honorary Members of the Royal Astronomical Society. Join us to find out more about this extraordinary polymath's life and work during this science history late.
Online
Mon 22 Mar 2027David IngledewFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - 'Everybody Hurts': The History of Emotions, Mindsets and MentalitiesThis course explores the tantalising history of how people in the past thought and felt about the triumphs and losses they experienced, seeking to view the world through their eyes.
Online
Tue 27 Apr 2027Linsey HunterFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £58.00 - Meet the Scientists: Mary Anning, Mother of Paleontology
Explore the life and work of Mary Anning, whose groundbreaking discoveries along England's Jurassic Coast changed the way we perceive prehistoric life, extinction, and the history of the Earth. What challenges did Mary face as a pioneering women scientist in the 1800's?
Online
Mon 14 Jun 2027Ellen CarpenterFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
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