Learn Old English — Online Courses
Old English was spoken in England and Southern Scotland from the fifth century through to the time of the Norman conquest.
While some aspects of Old English will be familiar to modern English speakers, other aspects such as grammar will differ. The Old English alphabet includes characters that are not used in modern English today.
Try our introductory Old English online courses at City Lit. Our courses will enable you to feel confident translating old English texts including prose and the poetry of Beowulf.
Our courses are delivered online. For more information about our live online courses, please see our guide to online learning.
Browse our Old English courses below and enrol today!
- Old English literature
Course start date: Tue 28 Apr 2026 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonRead and analyse the language of some works in the Old English literature. This course is suitable for those students who have completed the level 1 and 2 of Old English literature.
Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Life in Anglo-Saxon England Course start date: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonWhat was daily life like for people in England a thousand years ago? What clothes did they wear, what food did they eat, what were their houses like? What language did they speak and how was it written? What medical knowledge did they have, and who practised it? What were their religious beliefs, and what were their superstitions? The course will take a look at ordinary life in Anglo-Saxon England using evidence from archaeology, literature, iconography, place-names and other sources.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Old English level 1 Course start date: Thu 30 Apr 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonWhat was the English language like before the Norman Conquest? How easy is it to translate their diverse literature? Can we write our own Old English? Come along and see.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £142.00 - Old English level 2 Course start date: Tue 3 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonThis course follows on the level 1 class. Continue to learn the Old English grammar and become familiar with more of its features.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00
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