Literature award programmes

Part-time Oxford University courses

Immerse yourself in literature and develop your skills in critical analysis with a part-time Oxford University course.

• Part-time undergraduate programmes
• Part-time graduate programmes
• Student spotlights

Our award and degree programmes are designed for adult students who have busy lives, and who come from a variety of backgrounds. Teaching takes place in smaller groups than many full-time degree courses, and is typically held during weekends, short residencies or online. Tutors and students get to know each other in an informal, supportive and friendly environment.

Not ready for a university programme? Then take a look at our short courses in literature.

Undergraduate study

Certificate of Higher Education

Credit earned from our short online courses, weekly classes and the Oxford University Summer School of Adults is transferable towards our Certificate of Higher Education - a part-time undergraduate course in which you study a main subject discipline but also undertake study in other academic subjects.

Find out more about the Certificate of Higher Education.

Certificate in English Literature

Do you love reading a wide range of books, and discussing your reading with others? Would you like to study literature in more depth and develop solid skills in critical analysis? Our part-time Certificate in English Literature covers a range of writing from Shakespeare to the twentieth century and teaches skills in the analysis of literature, including the ability to read closely and to recognise and apply approaches in contemporary literary theory.

Taught part-time over two years, the course is equivalent to the first year of a full-time undergraduate English degree and it can be studied face-to-face or mostly online.

Find our more about the Certificate.

Postgraduate study

MSt in Literature and Arts

This two-year part-time Oxford University master’s degree explores the past through the lens of human creativity, and informs our understanding of creativity by studying the context from which it emerged. It is an interdisciplinary programme which encompasses literature, art and architectural history, history, and philosophy/history of ideas. 

Find out more about the MSt in Literature and Arts.

DPhil in Literature and Arts

The part-time DPhil (Doctor of Philosophy, equivalent to a PhD) is normally studied over four to eight years. Students will often build on research and skills developed during the MSt in Literature and Arts, and prospective students are recommended to look at the MSt as a progression pathway to this DPhil. 

Find out more about the DPhil in Literature and Arts.

Student spotlights