Qualifications

This degree will equip you with the knowledge and critical skills to investigate works of art, images, objects and architecture, from the local to the global and from prehistory to the present. This will be a rich and rounded experience as you discover the power of images and works of art to influence debates and shape everyday life. Through your studies, you’ll explore the place of art history and visual cultures in the wider humanities and as a component in the creative and cultural industries, and develop transferable skills in visual literacy, critical thinking, and communication.

To explore the art history modules that make up this qualification select ‘modules’ in the menu to the right.

From poetry to string quartets, and from sculpture to short stories, the extraordinary range of human culture offers rich possibilities for study. This broad and absorbing course develops a deep understanding of the world we live in and how we got here, covering a fascinating variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language and English literature, history, modern languages, music, philosophy and religious studies. 

You can choose to specialise in art history as part of our degree in the arts and humanities, the BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities. You’ll begin with a broad introduction to the arts and humanities at Stage one, then choose two art history modules (one at Stage 2, the other at Stage 3). This will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the art-historical debates while also gaining excellent visual literacy, critical and communication skills. Alongside your study of art history, you can choose to study a second specialism from classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, history, modern languages, music, philosophy and religious studies, which will entitle you to include both subjects in the name of your degree, or to complete your degree with modules chosen from a wider range of subjects.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, history, modern languages, music, philosophy and religious studies. You’ll then take at least two specialist classical studies modules, discovering more about classical Greece and Rome by exploring sources as varied as poetry, drama, history writing, art, architecture, archaeology, inscriptions, and philosophy. Latin and Greek language modules are also available as options in this degree.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including creative writing. You’ll then take two specialist creative writing modules, exploring a range of approaches to writing. You will develop your writing skills in several genres including fiction; poetry; life writing; and scriptwriting for film, radio and stage. Through being supported to develop your own pieces of writing, and by engagement with the module materials, you will develop important skills in complex argument and critical commentary.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including English language. You’ll then take two specialist English language modules, discovering how the English language works, its history, its politics and how it came to be such a hugely influential global language. Using the illustrated module books, and extensive audio, video and interactive material, you’ll explore communication and creativity in language and its written, spoken and visual potential in diverse and changing cultural and technological settings.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including English literature. You’ll then take at least two specialist English literature modules, discovering more about an exciting range of texts produced across many periods and places. You will encounter a range of genres, from poetry to fiction to film, and explore a variety of approaches for reading them. Through engagement with the study materials, contained in the module books and audio-visual resources, you will develop important skills in analysis, evaluation and communication.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including history. You’ll then take at least two specialist history modules covering different periods of history from around 1500 to the late twentieth century. 

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including music. You'll then take at least two specialist music modules. You'll work with a wide range of musical styles and develop skills in analysing, creating and writing about music.

Alongside your study of music, you can choose to study a second specialism from art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, history, modern languages, philosophy and religious studies. This will entitle you to include both subjects in the name of your degree, or complete your degree with modules chosen from a wide range of options.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14). The degree starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects. You will then take two specialist philosophy modules, discovering more about the ideas of philosophers past and present and learning to tackle the big questions of philosophy yourself. You will explore a range of debates in ethics and political philosophy, as well as questions about the nature of the self, the existence of God, and the limits of human knowledge.

This specialist route starts by developing your understanding of the world we live in through a variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, history, modern languages, music, philosophy, and religious studies itself. You’ll then take two specialist religious studies modules, exploring religions as an important aspect of human culture, society and politics and their role and significance in various debates and global challenges. The modules cover many different contemporary and historical contexts.

The ancient Greek and Roman worlds have given us a heritage of extraordinary richness and diversity. This accessible and rewarding course explores classical literature, history, culture, philosophy, art and archaeology through key places and periods – including Pompeii, Roman Britain, Athens in the fifth century BC, and Republican and Imperial Rome – with options to study ancient Greek and Latin. 

Our honours degree programme in criminology focuses on cutting edge, topical and often controversial criminological issues. You'll learn to apply research tools, and access and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data on crime, victimisation and the societal responses to them. With an appreciation of criminological theorising and evidence, you will develop the skills to comment on crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance, including policy questions, at national, international and global levels.

Crime, justice and the workings of the law are matters that affect us all and often dominate the news. This degree takes a critical and analytical view of the role and functions of the legal system, and examines its relationship with criminal behaviour. You’ll explore issues such as anti-social behaviour, poverty, discrimination, hate crimes, child labour, as well as global threats from cyber-crime, terrorism and human rights violations, and their implications for justice.

How and why do different societies define specific acts as 'crimes' and certain people as 'criminals'? Why do some people develop addictions, not others? Why do less equal societies have more crime? What is happening when a person tells a lie? Is crime best understood as the product of individual choices or social conditions? This qualification explores questions like these about how people behave and examines how governments determine what they will and won't tolerate, and why.

Building on the OU’s reputation for cutting-edge criminological and sociological teaching and research, this joint degree offers you the chance to study lively, topical and sometimes controversial subject matter. You’ll investigate questions of crime, criminalisation and social harm to determine whether society’s responses to these questions are adequate and appropriate. You’ll also explore how social worlds are made and how we, as individuals, are shaped by the societies in which we live.

Economic considerations play an important role in our personal lives and influence key social and political issues such as government policy, international trade, business decisions, work and climate change. Studying this degree, you'll learn economic concepts, theories and techniques that will enable you to understand real world problems and help you make more informed decisions in your own life. You'll be able to specialise in an area of economics and carry out a project on a topic of your choice. The analytical skills and statistical techniques that this degree develops are highly valued by employers.

If you love the written and spoken word, this course is for you. A comprehensive and stimulating introduction to English language and literature, it investigates how the English language is used in a variety of global contexts, and explores literature from different historical periods and in diverse cultural settings. You’ll explore writing and speech in a wide range of forms, and develop your skills in the interpretation of literary and non-literary texts. 

If you are interested in reading between the lines, and being challenged by new ideas and ways of seeing, then this course is for you. English literature is a broad, accessible and important subject. On this course you will study a range of texts dating from around 1570 to the present, from poetry to fiction to film, and discover a variety of approaches for reading them. You will develop your skills of analysis and communication, enabling you to take a fresh look at familiar texts, and to encounter new texts and ideas with confidence.  

This degree course offers a stimulating and wide-ranging introduction to English literature and creative writing. You’ll have the opportunity to study and interpret literature from different historical periods and diverse cultural settings – including translations – and to develop your writing skills in several genres including fiction; poetry; life writing; and scriptwriting for film, radio and stage. 

Environmental issues are posing multiple challenges to people and ecosystems across the planet. These challenges can only be addressed effectively if the complex connections between the societal (social, political, economic, cultural, and ethical) and the biophysical (geological, physical, ecological) dimensions of environmental issues are taken seriously. This innovative interdisciplinary degree combines the social and natural sciences to help you understand these different dimensions and why their interrelationships matter as we respond to intensifying environmental change.

ou’ll explore a wide range of real-world issues and global challenges such as poverty, climate change, migration and urbanisation taking a variety of approaches and engaging with geographical topics from a range of different perspectives. In doing so, you will develop your understanding of the relationships between human and natural environments, and how the interaction between these environments shapes our world.

This wide-ranging course will develop and deepen your knowledge of different periods of history from around 1500 to the late twentieth century. You’ll tackle such exciting and challenging issues as power and warfare, culture and beliefs, health and medicine, imperialism, class and gender – learning the skills of the historian in studying historical materials; exploring how we understand, interpret and debate past events; and investigating a range of critical approaches. 

This wide-ranging course will develop and deepen your knowledge of different periods of history mostly after 1750 while providing a critical understanding of political ideas, institutions, issues and theories. You’ll tackle such exciting and challenging issues as power and warfare, security and insecurity, global justice, culture and beliefs, health and medicine, imperialism and resistance, class and gender. Throughout the course you will be learning the skills of both the political scientist and the historian in studying historical materials and contemporary problems; exploring how we understand, interpret and debate past and current events as well as future trends; and investigating a range of critical approaches to historical and political analysis and understanding in an integrated manner

This degree will broaden and deepen your understanding of a wide range of musical practices (encompassing western art music, jazz, popular music, and non-western musics). You will develop the technical skills to analyse and create music in different styles, and the critical skills to discuss music in relation to its cultural contexts. You will also acquire critical and reflective skills to develop your own musical practice.

Where do social order (and disorder) come from? How can we make ourselves richer, and does society always gain? What does justice mean, how do we define our rights? Politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) – and the ideas and values that inform them – are central to how modern societies are organised and governed. This degree explores fundamental questions of power and ideology, beliefs and values, and how income and wealth are produced and distributed.

In this qualification you’ll explore human systems of thought and practice, both ‘secular’ and ‘religious’, in ways which allow you to engage with wide-ranging and often controversial issues affecting different cultures and societies. You’ll investigate a wide range of current questions and themes in these disciplines from both historical and contemporary perspectives. This includes philosophy of religion, ethics of war, religious nationalisms, and religion and inequality. In engaging with the core disciplines of religious studies and philosophy, you’ll develop critical skills and expertise in a range of key approaches and methodologies.

What causes riots? Is commercialisation eroding childhood? Does poverty lead to crime? The social sciences explore such questions and help inform professionals – from police officers to civil servants to business executives – who want to base their decisions on the best evidence. This degree is designed to be flexible, allowing you to specialise in a particular subject or to develop knowledge and skills from a combination of subjects including sociology, psychology, criminology, geography, politics and economics. You’ll be able to draw together ideas about the major issues that affect individuals and society, and you’ll acquire a wide range of valuable transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in the knowledge and ideas that are central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll learn how criminology helps us make sense of a range of issues related to crime, social conflict, criminal justice and criminalisation. On completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply criminological and social theories, analyse a variety of evidence including statistical data, present arguments, write clearly and conduct your own research – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social sciences. In the other half, you’ll explore contemporary economic issues and will learn the economic theory needed to engage in current debates, analyse and assess different types of evidence, including economic data, and have the opportunity to carry out your own economics project. On completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply economic and social theories, data analysis and analytical techniques to a variety of applied topics that affect individuals and society, and you’ll acquire a wide range of transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in the knowledge and ideas that are central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll learn how key geographical concepts can be applied to some of the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century, including globalisation, development, climate change, migration and urbanisation. On completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply geographical and social theories to current debates, analyse and assess different types of evidence, including statistical data, and carry out independent project-based work. You’ll also have gained a wide range of transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in knowledge and ideas central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll discover more about the ideas held by classic and contemporary philosophers and learn to think about the big questions of philosophy for yourself. You’ll explore a range of debates in ethics and political philosophy, as well as questions about the nature of the self, the existence of God, and the limits of human knowledge.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in knowledge and ideas central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll explore the fundamentals of political theory, examining the debates and conflicts inherent in a modern democracy. You’ll have an opportunity to focus on either international politics or contemporary political ideas. On completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply political and social theories and analytical techniques to a variety of topics that affect individuals and society, and you’ll have gained a wide range of transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology giving you a firm grounding in knowledge and ideas central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll first explore psychology through a range of real-world issues including love, sexuality and artificial intelligence before opting to study either social psychology or counselling and forensic psychology. On completion of this degree, you’ll be able to apply psychological and social theories to a broad range of practical and real world issues, using data analysis and analytical techniques to understand a variety of topics that affect individuals and society. You’ll also have gained a wide range of transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Half of your studies will be in interdisciplinary social science and sociology giving you a firm grounding in knowledge and ideas central to the social sciences. For the other half, you’ll explore a variety of phenomena mediated by religion from consumerism and the environment to yoga and narionalism. On completion of this degree, you’ll be able to apply knowledge and ideas from religious studies and the wider social sciences to a broad range of practical and real world issues. You’ll also have gained many transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Alongside study of interdisciplinary social sciences, you’ll have the opportunity to explore how sociologists make sense of social worlds, investigating topical issues such as immigration, social networking, and adolescent mental health. On completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply social theories and analytical techniques to a variety of topics that affect individuals and society. You’ll also acquire transferable skills highly valued by employers – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

In a fast-changing world, this degree offers you the chance to explore some of the major forces reshaping social life. You’ll be introduced to distinctively sociological ways of understanding the world and, in the process, will be challenged to think more deeply about contemporary social problems. You'll gain practical skills in social research and the ability to plan and conduct an independent sociological project. On graduation, you’ll not only have a well-developed understanding of the nature of society but will be in a position to make a positive difference to it.

Graduates who understand the commercial and economic environment and who are also highly numerate are in short supply. If you enjoy solving problems and you are interested in the practical application of economics and mathematics, this degree course could be what you are looking for. It will give you a thorough grounding in mathematical, statistical and computational skills, and a sound knowledge of economic theory – together with a good understanding of economic issues.

What makes people do harm to others? What is a psychopath? How do you conduct an intervention with someone convicted of a violent crime, or help someone who has been the victim of crime? This degree explores these and many other important questions to do with psychology, crime and justice. You’ll also cover the field of psychology more broadly, gaining a window into the workings of the mind and insights into why people behave the way they do.

Psychology is all around us and touches upon every aspect of our lives. This fascinating degree investigates why we do the things we do; how we interact with others; how psychologists use research evidence to explore and debate issues such as ageing, crime, education, employment, forensic science, mental health, and relationships; and much more. 

The value of counselling to improve wellbeing and quality of life is increasingly recognised. From everyday worries to serious mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression, counselling and psychological therapy can help us cope. Psychological therapies are rooted in psychological understanding, so this degree provides a strong foundation in psychology with a specific focus on how counselling works and how it can help people change.

In this qualification you will consider how social psychology can be applied to contemporary life. You’ll also explore psychology more broadly, gaining insights into people's behaviour. Why do people go to war against their neighbours, or take part in protests? Has globalisation made people across the world more similar, or do old differences persist? How have gender identities changed? What does it mean to be a good citizen?

The value of counselling to improve wellbeing and quality of life is increasingly recognised. From everyday worries to serious mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression, counsellors and psychotherapists are helping us cope. This foundation degree, developed in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB), will prepare you to become a professional counsellor – equipping you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to work in this field.

An MPhil is a shorter research degree, completed to the same academic standard as a PhD, but suitable for students who are not able to commit to a lengthy period of study. Students studying for an MPhil undertake a tailored training programme that ensures proficiency in relevant research methods and techniques. The research conducted as part of the MPhil is expected to make a distinct contribution to scholarship in a chosen field. A thesis for the MPhil degree is no more than 60,000 words in length.

In this diploma you’ll explore contemporary socio-economics issues by learning to apply economic theories and techniques to real world situations. You'll learn to use specialised software to apply statistical concepts to economic data and carry out your own research project. The analytical skills you'll learn are greatly valued by employers.

This diploma includes the same modules as the first two years of the BA (Hons) in Art History and Visual Cultures. It will equip you with the knowledge and critical skills to understand the part that art, architecture and design have played in everyday life. You will discover the ways that images, environments and artefacts communicate meaning and value through being looked at and handled in both past and present. You will explore the power of images to influence debates, both historically and in the present day, and develop transferable skills in visual literacy.

This diploma of higher education encompasses a wide range of fascinating disciplines including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, French, German, history, music, philosophy, religious studies and Spanish. As you work through the course, you’ll develop your cultural literacy and deepen your understanding of the past – while sharpening your critical awareness and skills of debate and analysis. 

This accessible and rewarding course explores the literature, language, art and archaeology of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. The topics that you will cover includes the Homeric epics, Athenian tragedy and its reception in the modern world, Roman poetry and politics, and the archaeology of Pompeii and Roman Britain. You will also have the option of studying either one or both of the classical languages (ancient Greek and Latin).

The value of counselling to improve wellbeing and quality of life is increasingly recognised. From everyday worries to serious mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression, counsellors and psychotherapists are helping us cope. This diploma, developed in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB), will prepare you to become a professional counsellor – equipping you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to work in this field.

If you’re fascinated by the legal system and why people engage in criminal behaviour, and would like to develop skills and knowledge relevant to a range of careers, this diploma is for you. You’ll explore issues such as antisocial behaviour, surveillance, security, social justice, social welfare and environmental degradation. In this diploma, you’ll also take a critical and analytical view of the role and functions of the legal system, and examine its relationship with criminal behaviour.

How and why do different societies define specific acts as ‘crimes’ and certain people as ‘criminals’?  Why do less equal societies have more crime? What is happening when a person tells a lie? This qualification explores questions like these about how people behave and examines how governments determine what they will and won’t tolerate.

This diploma offers you the chance to study topical, and at times controversial, criminological and sociological subject matter. As you’re investigating questions of crime, criminalisation and social harm, you’ll look at society’s responses to these questions to determine if they are appropriate and adequate. You’ll explore how social worlds are made and how we are shaped by the societies in which we live. You'll also consider the impact of digital technology on individuals and society, power and inequality and, people and things, drawing on your own experience of the interactions you have with technology in your daily life.

This diploma will introduce you to core economic concepts and theories and you'll learn how economics helps your understanding of real world issues such as government policy, international trade, business decisions, work and innovation. You will also gain valuable analytical skills, including applied data analysis, which are valuable to employers.

This diploma offers stimulating options in English literature, English language and creative writing. Whether it’s reading between the lines, exploring the written and spoken word, or developing your writing skills in several genres, this qualification is for you. Depending on options chosen, it provides opportunities to encounter a range of texts from different historical periods and diverse cultural settings; to explore English language use in global contexts; and to develop and reflect on your own writing practice.

Climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion: environmental issues are posing challenges to people and ecosystems across the planet. This interdisciplinary diploma combines the social and natural sciences to provide you with both knowledge of the societal (social, political, economic, cultural and ethical) and the biophysical (geological, physical, ecological) dimensions of such issues, and understanding of why recognising the connections between these different dimensions is so important if the environmental challenges we face are to be effectively addressed.

This wide-ranging course will develop your knowledge of different periods of history from around 1500 to the twentieth century. You’ll tackle such exciting and challenging issues as power and warfare, culture and beliefs, health and medicine, imperialism, class and gender. You’ll begin to develop the skills of the historian in studying historical materials; exploring how we understand, interpret and debate past events; and investigating a range of critical approaches.

This wide-ranging course will develop your knowledge of different periods of history mostly after 1750 while providing a critical understanding of political issues, concepts and institutions. You’ll tackle such exciting and challenging issues as power and equality, debates in politics at the national and global level, culture and beliefs, imperialism and resistance, class and gender. Throughout the course you will be learning the skills of both the political scientist and the historian in studying historical materials and contemporary political debates; exploring how we understand, interpret and debate past events as well as analysing contested political issues and future trends; and investigating a range of critical approaches to historical and political analysis and understanding in an integrated manner.

This diploma will broaden and deepen your understanding of music through study of a wide range of genres (including western art music, jazz, popular music, and non-western musics). You will develop the technical skills to analyse and create music in different styles, and examine the technologies that are used to produce, manipulate and transmit music.

What is the self? What makes us happy? How do we know what other people are thinking and feeling? Do humans display irrational biases? How does the environment affect people’s physical and mental health? What is justice and why does it matter? What is science? Is there a God? This fascinating course explores how we seek the answers to such profound questions about ourselves, our minds, our behaviour, and our place in the social and physical universe.

If you’re interested in psychology and would like to develop skills and knowledge relevant to a wide range of careers, this diploma is for you. You’ll explore how psychologists use evidence to contribute to debates on ageing, crime, education, employment, forensic science, mental health and relationships; and choose options to suit your particular interests.

In this diploma you'll discover how social scientists answer some of today’s most pressing questions and how they find evidence to test their ideas and theories. Through investigating topics such as consumption, parenting, and globalisation, you'll explore the way our lives are shaped by individuals, groups and institutions By the end of your studies, you’ll have changed the way you look at the world forever and gained a range of valuable analytical and evaluative skills, opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

As the world changes around us, this diploma offers you the chance to explore some of the major forces reshaping social life. You’ll have the opportunity to study a range of stimulating topics. Some of these will be part of the mainstream of sociological debate, including class, gender, race, and sexuality. You’ll be introduced to sociological ways of understanding the world and will be challenged to think more deeply about contemporary social problems. On completion, you’ll have a well-developed understanding of the nature of society and will be in a position to make a positive difference to it.

The Diploma of Higher Education Open enables you to study any subjects you like, in any combination. So whether you decide to study a range of different subjects or specialise in one or two different subjects, you can build a qualification that's unique to you.

A PhD is a Doctorate of Philosophy, a prestigious qualification that demonstrates talent, academic excellence and a thirst for knowledge. Like all research degrees, a PhD can give you an advantage in the job market, and opens doors in the academic community.

Students studying for a PhD undertake a tailored training programme that ensures proficiency in relevant research methods and techniques. A thesis for the Doctor of Philosophy must make a significant contribution to knowledge, be worthy of publication and give evidence of ability to undertake further research without supervision. A PhD thesis should be no more than 100,000 words in length.

This certificate provides a broad introduction to the arts and humanities, including history, art history, philosophy, classical studies, religious studies, music and English – expanding your cultural horizons while training you to think and argue clearly. Apart from sheer enjoyment, it offers excellent preparation for further study and will give your career prospects a boost. 

Studying this certificate, you'll appreciate how economic theory helps understand real world important issues in areas such as government policy, international trade, business decisions, work and innovation. You'll also gain valuable skills that are valued by employers and learn concepts and theories that are useful in the management of household finances.

Natural and built environments support many aspects of our lives and livelihoods, but they’re under threat from climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion. This certificate course combines aspects of science, technology and social science to help you understand the environments in which we live and work; how our activities influence them; how they influence what we do; and how can we live sustainably within them.

If you’re interested in psychology and would like to learn more, or find out if it’s the right subject for you, this certificate could be the ideal starting point. You’ll learn about the different ways in which psychologists investigate the human mind and behaviour, and how psychological research addresses real-life issues – including ageing, crime, education, employment, forensic science, mental health, relationships and much more.

This certificate provides a compelling introduction to the social sciences. You’ll gain fascinating insights into the everyday lives of people in communities, workplaces and many other social sites as you explore ideas from criminology, economics, geography, politics, psychology and sociology. You’ll also discover the ways in which social scientists understand and explain the world and how people, groups and institutions respond to change, exercise power and make decisions.

The Certificate of Higher Education Open provides you with an opportunity to study modules from a wide range of subject areas, enabling you to build a qualification that’s unique to you. If you’re keen to try university study but want to keep your options open, this flexible certificate is the ideal starting point.

In this postgraduate certificate you'll explore historical and contemporary theories about development and discuss the impact of these theories and tools in making a difference on the ground. It will give you an understanding of global development and to encourage critical reflections on ways to engage with development issues from local through to global levels. Case studies are used that will enable you to see how they can work in challenging contexts, what they might do in practice, and what tools and techniques are appropriate and useful.

If you have a passion for the arts and are looking for an intellectual challenge, this certificate course provides you with an excellent opportunity to upgrade your qualifications. You will deepen your understanding of art history, classical studies, music, philosophy or creative writing, while developing advanced research and analytical skills that will give you the edge in today’s competitive jobs market and prepare you for further academic study.

If you're working in a context which makes considerable use of social or psychological research or are fascinated by social research, this certificate will equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to appraise research and communicate your assessment to academic and non-academic audiences. Drawing together topics from criminology and psychology, it supports future study and adds value to your career by providing professional development in research literacy, managing research and conceiving of new studies.

This postgraduate diploma provides a thorough grounding in the key theories, global approaches and challenges that are shaping contemporary development. You'll explore the major development issues of our times such as environmental sustainability, socio-economic security, migration, technological change, and the politics of development. In the process, you'll have opportunities to tailor your learning around development issues of particular interest to you, enhancing your skills of independent learning and investigation.

This postgraduate diploma will suit anyone with appropriate entry qualifications who has a passion for the arts and humanities and is looking for an intellectual challenge. At present our postgraduate diploma includes subject lines in English and history.

The MA in Art History draws upon the exciting research and outstanding teaching expertise of the department. Studying art history at postgraduate level will deepen your understanding of art, architecture and visual culture, build your analytical and critical skills, and develop the skills needed for independent study and research. You'll start by exploring the core concepts and recent developments that have shaped art history from Renaissance Italy to the contemporary Caribbean, before building on these foundations to expand your understanding of visual and material objects – incorporating architecture, art and design. You'll complete this degree by researching and writing a dissertation on an agreed topic of your own devising.

For a more detailed introduction to this qualification, please select ‘MA in Art History’ in the menu to the right.

This masters degree provides you with the opportunity to discover what it means to do Classical Studies in the twenty-first century. You’ll investigate a range of ancient and contemporary ideas about the Greek and Roman worlds through encounters with literary texts, languages, classical mythology, historical sources and archaeological remains, and their ongoing significance for later periods, places, cultures and creative practices. By exploring the rich and dynamic scholarly perspectives and resources that are currently available, you’ll address diverse sets of questions about the ancient world. These will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to produce an independent, extended research project on a topic of your choice.

This qualification is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills as a writer in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and scriptwriting for film, radio and the stage. You will be able to write in a genre of your choice and experiment with at least one other through practical and inspiring activities. You will hone your writing practice through sharing, reading and critiquing work in progress, and will work towards producing a substantial piece of your own creative writing to a professional standard. 

This masters degree explores new perspectives and ways of thinking about crime, harm and justice. It is concerned with examining problematic areas of social life, transgression, ‘crime’, social harm and justice in an increasingly global world. You will consider the significance of power, social structure, and economic and social inequalities in understanding ‘crime’, processes of criminalisation, and ideas about justice.

Our MA in English Literature introduces you to studying literature, poetry, drama and prose in relation to culture and across three broad themes. These are literary-popular culture, which includes exploring genre writing, the bestseller and mass literary production; revolution and literature, in which you’ll encounter texts representing revolutionary social or political change; and global literary cultures where you’ll look at English literature as an international literary form. The structure of this masters degree allows you to select options and specialise throughout the first year in preparation for the more sustained self-directed work of the dissertation in year two.

If you have a passion for history and are looking for an intellectual challenge, this fascinating MA course could be what you are looking for. It explores aspects of British and Irish local and regional history between 1750 and 1950, introducing the key themes of Poverty and welfare, Crime, Police and Penal Policy, The role of families, Urban History, Religion and Industrialisation. Using our world-class collection of online primary source materials, you will be encouraged to produce an independent research project on a topic of your choice.

This masters degree will equip you with the tools to analyse key global challenges. This includes how the world responds to international division, rising powers, national and global security threats, the rise of populism, and global ethical dilemmas. You’ll gain a comprehensive grounding in core conceptual, empirical and theoretical debates in international relations. You’ll develop your knowledge of research methods as you progress, culminating in an extended, independently researched dissertation. You’ll also deepen a number of skills that are crucial to enhancing your career development and academic and professional research skills.

Our Masters degree in Music introduces you to the diverse topics and methods of music research and equips you with the critical skills to pursue your own research interests in music. You’ll develop your ability to analyse and interpret musical sources and practices, to understand and apply theories to develop your own arguments, and to communicate effectively to a variety of different audiences. You’ll also encounter musical practices and genres from a wide range of places and time periods and have the opportunity to follow your own musical interests. This qualification will be ideal if you wish to pursue higher-level academic research or if you want to advance your career in music education or the creative industries.

Studying this MA in Philosophy will hone your ability to think clearly and logically, and develop your writing, research and analytical skills. You'll study texts from different periods and philosophical perspectives, including works by Plato, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and Hannah Arendt; and you'll investigate contemporary debates on environmental aesthetics, consciousness, global justice, emotion, and morality in politics. Finally, you'll undertake a substantial piece of independent research, writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

This masters degree enables you to gain an advanced understanding of the fascinating area of forensic psychology, while enhancing your analytical and communication skills, as well as your research literacy. You will learn about a broad range of topics relevant to forensic psychology and develop an understanding of the reciprocal relationship this field of research has with UK law, legal practice, policy, public opinion and the media. The qualification also considers international differences in forensic theory, research and practice.

The MSc in Global Development is an innovative, interdisciplinary and flexible course that equips you with the knowledge and skills to investigate, understand, and respond to key development challenges. You'll critically examine development theory, policy and practice across a range of issues. These include environmental sustainability, socio-economic security, global migration, conflict, and the changing politics of development. You also build your capacity for critical and reflexive thinking, independent study and research, and collective dialogue and action.

This masters degree provides a valuable opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of a range of fields in psychology, including cognitive, social, forensic and counselling psychology. It aims to develop critical appraisal skills in psychology research and practice. You also gain an understanding of the reciprocal relationship psychological research has with medicine, public policy, public opinion and the media.

This masters programme offers you the opportunity to gain your first qualification accredited by the British Psychological Society. You’ll develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the key concepts, theories, methods and debates in psychology. This will include critically examining how psychological theories and research methodologies are applied in real world settings and assessing different kinds of evidence from quantitative and qualitative data. You’ll also gain an awareness of the importance of ethical issues in the practice of psychology. By completing this rigorous masters degree, you’ll build your numeracy, literacy, communication, team working, presentation, observational, cognitive and organisational skills as appropriate to the discipline.