A practical course covering all aspects of novel writing from character creation and story development to final edit.

Every day we meet people with interesting life stories. Our lives are made up of tragic, uplifting and humorous experiences which shape us as individuals.

The aim of musical analysis is to understand how music exerts such a powerful effect on us. This course introduces some of the main approaches.

Why do animals behave the way they do? In this course we will look at the full range of behaviours found in the animal kingdom.

Understanding the impact of Artificial Intelligence, now and in the future, is a key skill in the knowledge economy.

This course examines the rise and fall of the British Empire and its manifold legacies in Britain and beyond.

Some of the great writers of the Victorian period were women. Find out how they portrayed women's issues and lives in such compelling fiction.

What are Greek myths? Who told them and why? How can we interpret them? This short online course will explore these fascinating tales from the past.

We think we know, but do we? We think we are free, but are we? The oldest questions meet the newest technology in this online introduction to philosophy.

This course provides a detailed introduction to microeconomics. Students will have the ability to understand and apply the principles at first-year undergraduate level.

This course introduces the science of psychology, exploring the richness of human functions, uncovering the brain's secrets and revealing its complexities.

An introduction to various aspects of the intriguing history, vibrant culture and fascinating personalities of Ancient Rome during its decline and fall.

Examine the major concerns of artists such as Cézanne, Monet, Manet and Degas and their intimate interaction with modern life.

From royal pyramids, court artisans and powerful pharaohs, to grandiose temples, mysterious gods and foreign invasions, experience the world of ancient Egypt.

Sir Winston Churchill, regarded as one of Britain's greatest statesmen, still provokes controversy and debate. Study his life in detail and assess his successes and failures.

This course is for anyone who would like to learn to read beneath the surface, pay attention to language and form, and become a critical reader.

Investigate the power of maps and spatial data to document and illustrate local and global issues. Learn how to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Although literary theory might sometimes seem intimidating, it can be very accessible and exciting. This course aims to demystify literary theory.

The philosophy of mind is concerned with questions about the nature of mind and the relation between our minds and the physical world.

The course looks at what, if anything, it is that Jews, Christians and Muslims are agreeing about when they claim that there is a God.

All of us are affected by government policies, and governments place particular emphasis on economic policies. This course will equip you to evaluate the economic arguments made about public policy choices.

Social anthropology is the study of how humans give meaning to the world through different social norms, values, practices and means of organisation. This course provides an exciting and dynamic introduction.

Students on this course will gain knowledge about social entrepreneurs, and how to develop creative solutions to address social problems utilising Gandhi's model of 'be the change you wish to see in the world'.

This course is for those who would like to write but don't know how; who tried once and gave up; or who already write but would like to improve; and for readers who want a different perspective on how fiction works.

From Paris to Moscow, Glasgow to Barcelona, this course examines the richness and variety of European art nouveau.

The civil wars that swept across the British Isles in the 17th century left few lives untouched. This course will explore the causes, conduct and significance of the English civil wars.

How old is the universe? How unusual is the Solar System? How will it all end? Oxford astronomers Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson provide an overview of the last 13.7 billion years of cosmic evolution.

This course introduces the key characteristics of creative writing. You will be supported with stage-by-stage guidance as you assimilate and employ a range of critical and creative methods.

Whether you're interested in the effects of the 2008 credit crunch and global recession, the role of transnational corporations or the impact of emerging technologies this short online course will enable you to find out more.

Many readers enjoy Austen's novels, but what makes them so special and enduring? Learn to analyse Austen's characteristic style and techniques and thus gain an enhanced appreciation of her art.

This course will seek to provide guidelines about how to look at modern art in an open-minded, critical and analytical way.

This course offers you the opportunity to learn how to study and analyse paintings, drawings and prints, and learn the 'language of looking'.

How can we begin to understand the spiritual lives of prehistoric people? When do religious ideologies first appear on the human evolutionary timescale? Using both anthropology and archaeological evidence these questions are examined.

The recent discovery of Richard III's remains in Leicester highlights the dynamic new research being conducted into the period known as the Wars of the Roses. This course asks students to engage with the latest work.

The theory of knowledge is one of the most central areas of philosophy. In this online course you will cover the key issues in epistemology while also learning to think for yourself.

The work of northern Renaissance artists is often incredibly beautiful, with marvellous colours and textures. But there is much more to their work than simple aesthetics, for it evolved from an intriguing range of religious and cultural beliefs.

If you are new to higher education, or have not studied for some time, you may find it useful to brush up your reading, note-making and essay-writing skills, and to revisit the basic rules of punctuation and grammar.

5,000 years ago on the plains of southern Mesopotamia, the Sumerians invented writing, built cities and forged the earliest empires. Using archaeology and textual sources, we will explore a unique civilisation.

If you have ever been daunted by terms such as 'modernism', 'magic realism' or 'postmodern', this is the course for you.

In this introduction to ethics, we shall examine four important ethical theories, applying them to two practical questions: the rights of animals and euthanasia. There will be plenty of opportunity to engage in debate.