Summer courses in humanities

This one day course looks at a period that fundamentally shaped London as a city, from the laying out of a new town within the old Roman city wall to the rapid growth of the 11—13th centuries.



Includes an introductory lecture and guided walk.

(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.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

A short introduction to the science of astrophysics which explores the physics of stars, galaxies, planets and black holes, as well as theoretical topics such as solar system formation. The course is taught by Radmila Topalovic, who holds a degree in Physics with Astrophysics and a PhD in Astrochemistry.

Explore the work of Van Eyck in relation to Holman Hunt and the Pre-Raphaelites more generally; consider how this 15th century painter influenced artists some 300 years later.

Why do we value art? For the pleasure it gives us, the emotion it expresses, its truthfulness, its form? In this introduction to the philosophy of art we will consider various approaches to these questions and others.

The origins of life continue to elude us here on Earth but maybe we can gain insights into the rarity of life by looking at our planetary neighbours, their moons and the vast population of exoplanets throughout our galaxy, the Milky Way.

Aesop’s fables have been used through history to clarify important issues within society. Investigate their perseverance through history and why they continue to be relevant today.

An introduction to one of the most influential and prolific Roman writers, Cicero, his life and works.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.