Did you know? There are more adult learners on short and part-time courses at Oxford University than there are full-time undergraduates – and their reasons for studying are as diverse as the global community they represent. Four students at Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education talk about returning to learning at Oxford.
After a 30-year break from education, Stephen discovered online short courses
‘I recently became interested in ethics, particularly in terms of how modern technology is transforming our lives. My life had little exposure to liberal arts, so I was keen to embark on something that would force me out of my comfort zone and get my brain thinking about new things. The tutor who ran the course was very encouraging and took the time to explain basic concepts and direct us to a variety of materials.’ – Stephen Barham, Singapore
Daisy balanced childcare with evening classes in Oxford
As a mother of two small children who hadn’t worked for some time, I definitely felt that my life was on one trajectory only. Studying at Continuing Education totally changed my perspective. The evening classes were after the children had gone to bed. Oxford is a very special place to study and I have kept in touch with many of the tutors and friends I met on the courses. For me, the opportunity for part-time education has been life changing.’ – Daisy McNally, UK
Charles completed the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education in Creative Writing and went on to publish his first novel
‘All my life I had been told that young Black men from West Philadelphia rarely get the chance to attend the likes of Oxford or become published authors. The professors pushed me beyond my limits, challenging me to be better. I wanted to soak up all of their knowledge like a sponge. The only word that can even begin to sum up such a feeling is… magical.’ – Charles Bush, USA
A master’s programme enabled Martha to make a career move
‘I decided to do the MSc in Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care as I feel that nanoscale technologies will be the next big progressive step in clinical medicine and precision medicine. It was very convenient to study through Oxford Continuing Education as this meant I did not need to give up my clinical career in order to study further.’ – Martha Pretorius, UK
The Department for Continuing Education has offered a unique route into an Oxford education for adult learners since its inception in 1878. What they share with the rest of the University is a commitment to excellence, to supporting every student to learn and grow, and to nurturing intellectual curiosity and self-confidence.
Short courses and events include day schools, weekend events, summer schools and weekly learning programmes and are offered in person or online, with some delivered through hybrid teaching so you can choose how to join.
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are all designed for the specific needs of adult learners and are delivered in a range of formats including mostly or fully online, blended learning (a mix of online and in-person) or through regular in-person meetings.
Courses are offered in subject areas such as creative writing, literature, history, philosophy, technology, sustainability, economics, languages and more.
Whether you wish to study for pleasure, advance in your career or gain a qualification, Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education has a course for you.
Find your course at www.conted.ox.ac.uk
