This summer programme is an excellent opportunity for university undergraduates to earn credits to transfer to their home degree. What better way to improve your grades and advance in your studies than to take courses in the city of Oxford. Students can choose to take either one or two courses, earning 3 or 6 credits.

To apply for this programme please complete this application form giving your course choices and deposit. Contact us for more detailed information about the programme or any questions you may have about enrolment. Email manuela.williams@stclares.ac.uk or call +44 1865 517707.

The subjects we offer during the 4 week programme are listed below. Take a look at the course summaries and make your choice.

Oxford Art and Architecture (art history, 3 credits)

This course is designed to give students an opportunity to explore the direction and nature of change in the built environment of Oxford, a city famed for its architectural beauty and history. There is a continuous tradition of civic, ecclesiastical and collegiate architecture spanning almost a thousand years. This is the background to any proposed conservation or change in the city. The topics to be explored include the range of period styles and diversity of building types to be found in the city. From these students will focus in on a particular architect, building, collection, or individual work of art for further independent study in greater depth.

English Civil War (history, 3 credits)

This course aims to introduce students to the first English Civil War (1642-1646), a conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians. We will examine the parallel issues and events at a national and local level, emphasizing the causes, course and consequences of this critical 17th century struggle. Oxford was the Royalist capital and, therefore, this area is rich in study visits. Extensive use will be made of local resources.

Terrorism (politics, 3 credits)

This course considers various definitions of the concept of terrorism. It traces the historical antecedence of the phenomenon, considers its motivations, organizational structures, and support networks, and evaluates the response of liberal democratic states and the world community in confronting terrorism. Philosophical and moral issues are explored and illustrated with up-to-date practical, political examples.

Political Philosophy, Ethics and Rhetoric (philosophy, 3 credits)

This interdisciplinary course will approach the question of what is political philosophy through the question of ethics and rhetoric, examining contemporary and early and late modern alternatives. The city of Oxford shall serve as our setting for study of the most interesting philosophical debates in modern philosophy. Students will gain insight into not only Oxford's rich past but also some of England's greatest philosophers and literary geniuses. Thinkers include Hobbes, Locke, Gibbon, Shakespeare, Austen, etc.

Eastern Religions (religion, 3 credits)

This course aims to give students a stimulating introduction to the major religions of Asia, focusing on Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, and also exploring Shinto and Confucian traditions. The Indian and East Asian views of the cosmos have shaped the lives of half the globe, and continue to have an increasing influence on Western culture. We will look at the philosophy of reincarnation and liberation, and the arts and rituals of Hinduism and Buddhism. We will go on to see how the movement of Buddhism into South and East Asia blended Indian influences with Taoist, Confucian and Shinto traditions to create profound new approaches to life. Our approach will show how key philosophical ideas give rise to the beliefs and practices that shape people's lives today.

Shakespeare (English literature, 3 credits)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the plays of Shakespeare, giving a survey of his development as a playwright in terms of both the written text and stagecraft. Students will be encouraged to assess Shakespeare's continuing cultural relevance from within a supportive critical environment. As part of this course, students will have the opportunity to attend a number of Shakespearean plays.

The Literature of Oxford (English literature, 3 credits)

Some of England's greatest writers have lived and studied in Oxford, and many have set their works of literature in the city and the university. This seminar will examine several Oxford novels with special reference to the influence of setting on character and plot. Among the works to be considered are: Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll; Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy; Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh, The Remorseful Day, by Colin Dexter as well as a selection of Oxford poems. Field trips to the actual settings of the works will be a regular feature of the course, and day trips to London and other sites are planned.

Travel Writing (English literature, 3 credits)

This course aims to facilitate an understanding of the key themes and stylistic features of the travel writing genre, with regard to their creative potential and their representation in a range of literary texts. Students will explore a variety of critical approaches and writing techniques with a view to applying these to their own individual experiences and creative work. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon the role of travel writing in the promotion of global citizenship. The course will be taught using individual and collaborative learning techniques. Students will be given writing exercises and will engage with a longer project of their choice.

An Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Irish Literature (English Literature, 3 credits)

In the 20th century alone, Ireland produced much of the world's great literature. Nothing, however, is created in a vacuum, and these writings can be usefully read in the context of Ireland's struggle for cultural and national identity. All nations are ‘imagined communities', but this is especially true of Ireland. This relationship between nation and narration poses an interesting question: while Ireland has clearly shaped its writers, to what degree have Irish writers shaped the idea of ‘Ireland'? This course is a survey of modern Irish literature from the late nineteenth century to the present day. We will study a variety of important figures – including Yeats, Joyce, Beckett and Flann O'Brien – across a range of narrative forms: poetry, drama, fiction and film. We will also consider more recent developments in the Irish storytelling tradition, to explore how the story of Ireland has evolved over time.