Oxford Certificate of Higher Education

Gain credit from short courses and build your way to an Oxford University qualification.

The Certificate of Higher Education is a part-time course in which you study a main subject discipline, but also undertake study in other academic subjects.

You decide where, when and how you study. Credits obtained from taking flexible short online courses, weekly classes (in Oxford and online), and attendance at the Oxford University Summer School for Adults count towards your final award.

Students specialise in one of eight main subject areas: archaeology, art history, architectural history, history, literature, creative writing, philosophy and political economy.

Formal academic qualifications are not needed, but you must be able to demonstrate genuine interest in and enthusiasm for the subjects you propose to study. 

Find out more about the Certificate of Higher Education.

Short online courses

Credit earned from our short online courses is transferable towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Our short online courses are offered in the following two formats:

Both formats are taught at undergraduate level and require coursework.

Student spotlights

Pilar Barrera Wey

Pilar Barrera Wey

Pilar lives in Brazil and gained the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education by completing online courses along with a summer school in Oxford.

Charles Bush

Charles Bush

Charles Bush published his debut young-adult novel thanks to the skills and experience gained from completing the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.

Rebecca Davis

Rebecca Davis

Oxford’s Continuing Education Department has been Rebecca's first experience of Higher Education.