Different Voices/Remembered Lives: An Introduction to Oral History



Overview

Discover how voices from the past and present can reshape the way we understand history.

This five-week course offers an engaging introduction to oral history, beginning with its origins and development, then moving through current practices and the wide range of ways that it is used today. You will explore essential ethical and legal considerations, gain insight into how interviews are planned and conducted, and consider how recordings are interpreted, stored, and shared.

Alongside discussion and real-world case studies, you will encounter inspiring projects that show the power and potential of oral history. Whether you are curious about starting a project or thinking about further training, this course will help you take the next step.

Programme details

Course starts: 23 Apr 2026

Week 1: The History of Oral History  

Explore the roots of oral history as a method and movement. We will consider how oral history emerged in different contexts and why it continues to matter.

Week 2: How Oral History Is Used Today 

Look at how oral history is used today in academic and community projects. We will examine how practitioners approach storytelling, identity, and memory, and how evolving technologies are shaping the way that interviews are recorded and shared.

Week 3: Ethics, Consent, and Care

Understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of working with people's stories. This session explores issues such as consent, confidentiality, trauma, power, and ownership, with a focus on building trust-based relationships.

Week 4: Preparing for the Interview

Gain insight into what goes into preparing and carrying out a successful oral history interview. We will discuss the importance of planning, question design, listening skills, and the practicalities of recording.

Week 5: Interpreting and Archiving 

Consider what happens after the interview, including how meaning is made, stories are shaped, and recordings are preserved. We will explore interpretation, transcription, and archiving, and look at the role of oral histories in public history.

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £180.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Dr Rosemary Cresswell

Dr Rosemary Cresswell is a historian of health, humanitarianism, charity and voluntarism from 1850-2020. She is currently writing the History of the British Red Cross, 1870-2020: Health and Humanitarianism, to be published by Bloomsbury. Rosemary has also published further research related to infectious disease, first aid, the Red Cross, and on the history of nursing.

Read Rosemary's full academic bio.

Dr Matthew Kidd

Dr Matthew Kidd has taught in the Department since 2019. He has held various positions at the University of Oxford, including leading two major projects that preserved and digitised stories and artefacts from the First and Second World Wars. His research primarily focuses on nineteenth- and twentieth-century English history, with a particular emphasis on how 'ordinary' people interpreted and articulated political movements, parties, ideas, ideologies, and identities at the local level. Matthew's current research has a sharper focus on memory, oral history, and the use of digital humanities methods. Read Matthew's full academic bio.

Dr Rosemary Cresswell is a Departmental Lecturer in Lifelong Learning (History). She is a historian of health, humanitarianism, charity and voluntarism from 1850-2020. She is currently writing the History of the British Red Cross, 1870-2020: Health and Humanitarianism, to be published by Bloomsbury. Rosemary has also published further research related to infectious disease (including humans and animals), first aid, the Red Cross, and on the history of nursing. Read Rosemary's full academic bio.

Course aims

To introduce participants to the theory, practice, and current uses of oral history, and to inspire further exploration, training, or involvement in oral history projects.

Course objectives: 

  • To outline the historical development of oral history as a method and movement
  • To explore how oral history is practised today across different settings
  • To examine key ethical and legal considerations in oral history work
  • To provide an understanding of how interviews are planned, conducted, and recorded
  • To introduce approaches to interpreting, archiving, and sharing oral history interviews
  • To encourage reflection on next steps for further training or participation in oral history projects

Teaching methods

The course will be taught through a combination of tutor-led presentations, group discussion, case studies, and close engagement with real-world oral history projects. Each session will include opportunities for students to reflect on examples, share ideas, and draw connections to their own interests or experiences. Teaching will be participatory and discussion-based, encouraging active engagement. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development, purpose, and scope of oral history as a method.

  • Identify key ethical, legal, and practical considerations involved in oral history work.

  • Reflect on the uses of oral history across a range of projects and consider possible next steps for further training or participation.

Assessment methods

This course is non-accredited, so there are no assessments. 

 

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level. 

No prior knowledge is required, but participants should be prepared to engage in discussion, reflect on set readings or examples, and attend all five sessions to get the most from the course.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support