Higher Education

Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded Oxford University’s Certificate of Higher Education. Outstanding performance will qualify you for a Distinction. You will be invited to receive your Certificate at the annual Awards Ceremony of the Department for Continuing Education, held at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.

The Certificate carries 120 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points at first year undergraduate level (FHEQ Level 4). It is, therefore, equivalent to the first year of full-time study. Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education does not offer undergraduate degrees, but students who obtain the Certificate may, if they wish, apply to transfer the credit from the Certificate to another academic institution, such as the Open University, which does offer degrees. The transfer-in of credit is always at the receiving institution's discretion.

Alternatively, students who complete the Certificate successfully and who wish to continue study in their main subject area may be interested in applying for other award-bearing courses within the Department for Continuing Education. The Department offers a number of Certificates and Diplomas at undergraduate level. 

Modules in your main subject area

Students who register for the award will specialise in one of seven main subject areas. These are Archaeology, Art History, Architectural History, History, Literature, Creative Writing, Philosophy or Political Economy. To qualify for the award of the Certificate, you will need to obtain at least 60 CATS points (but no more than 80 CATS points) in your chosen main subject area. Ten of these points will come from taking an introductory course in that main subject area (see below for details of the introductory courses). The remainder of your credits in your main subject area, up to a maximum of 70 points, will come from taking weekly classes, short online courses, linked day schools, or classes offered in Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA).

Modules outside your main subject area

Your remaining credits need to be obtained by completing courses outside your main subject area. The course is designed in this way to encourage breadth of study and to enable you to take advantage of the wide range of courses in different subject disciplines that the Department offers. Courses are available in Archaeology, Architectural History, Art History, Classics, Computing and Mathematics, Creative Writing, Economics, Environmental Conservation, Film Studies, History and Politics, Languages, Literature, Local and Social History, Music, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Psychology and Counselling, Religious Studies and Theology.

Introductory course

Students will, during their first year of study, take an introductory course in their main subject area to give them a grounding in the concepts and methods relevant to the subject discipline. Some of the introductory courses are available online and others are offered face-to-face. The introductory classes are listed below; please follow the link to obtain more information about the individual courses:

• Archaeology: Archaeology in Practice (online)
• Architectural History: Learning to Look at Western Architecture (online)
• Art History: Learning to Look at the Visual Arts (online)
• Creative Writing: Getting Started in Creative Writing (online)
• History: The Making of Modern Britain (online)
• Literature: Critical Reading (face to face or online course)
• Philosophy: Introduction to Philosophy (online)
• Political Economy: Public Policy Economics

Study Skills

Students will, in addition, undertake a Study Skills module during their first term of study, and the cost of this is covered by the Certificate's programme fee. CATS points obtained from Study Skills courses are included in the 120 CATS points for the Certificate. You will be enrolled automatically on our online Study Skills course.

Students who are registered for the Certificate of Higher Education are normally required to attend at least 70% of sessions for each module, or, in the case of online modules, actively to participate in online discussions on a regular basis.

Who may apply?

This course requires no formal academic qualifications. Successful applicants will be those able to demonstrate genuine interest in and enthusiasm for the subjects that they propose to study. They will need to have the time and commitment needed to work for a University qualification. Candidates will need to meet the University`s standard English Language requirement for undergraduate entry, details of which can be found here.

At registration, a student may transfer in no more than 30 CATS points at Level 4 from the Department’s weekly class or online course programme, so long as these shall have been gained within four years prior to registration for the Certificate.

All students applying for registration will be given an interview, via Skype. The interviewer will be looking for evidence of genuine interest in the subjects selected as the main and the secondary subject areas; understanding of the commitment that will be needed to pursue study on a part-time basis; and the availability of sufficient time to devote to the course.

How do I apply?

You should download the application form and once completed you should email it to certhe@conted.ox.ac.uk putting your name and the course title in the subject field. Together with your completed application form you should also email the following.

1. A written statement of 400 words stating why you wish to study your chosen main subject. For example, applicants in archaeology might write about visits they have made to sites of archaeological interests or to museums, explaining what they saw and why it was of interest. Applicants in art history or architectural history might write about a favourite painting or building or other form of visual culture, explaining how they thought that the effects had been achieved and the context of the work, or about a visit to a particular art gallery. Applicants in literature, history or philosophy might write about a book or article which they had found especially enlightening, and explaining why. Applicants in creative writing might explain their current preferred genre and why they found it suited their purpose.


2. Proof of your English Language Ability if you are a non-native English-speaking applicant.

You will also need to arrange for a reference to be emailed to us. If possible, your referee should be someone who can comment on your academic ability and background, but where this is not appropriate, please choose a referee who can vouch for your motivation, commitment and potential. A reference from a family member is not acceptable.

The application deadline for this course is 11 May 2017. The receipt of your application will be acknowledged via email. All applicants will be given a telephone interview. The interviewer will be looking for evidence of genuine interest in the subjects selected as the main and secondary subject areas; understanding of the commitment that will be needed to pursue study on a part-time basis; and the availability of sufficient time to devote to the course.

This a popular course so we recommend you apply by the earlier deadline. Late applications will be considered if there are still places on the course, but applications cannot be considered after the course has begun. Please contact the Programme Administrator at certhe@conted.ox.ac.uk to check availability. The final decision on admission to the course rests with OUDCE.