If you've been inspired by The Somme and would like to know more about history, we've a selection of Open University courses for you to explore.

An introduction to the humanities (A103)
This course offers a lively and varied grounding in the eight disciplines in the Arts Faculty; art history, literature, music, philosophy, classical studies, history, religious studies and history of science. The course will help you to express yourself more clearly and develop the reading, analysis and interpretation skills you need before moving on to more specialized courses at Level 2. It is not necessary to have studied in this area before.

Total war and social change 1914 - 1955 (AA312) and associated residential course AXR 312
This course explores the relationship between war and the transformation of society that took place during the first half of the twentieth century. It examines questions about possible relationships between total war and social, cultural and geopolitical change, and includes topics such as: European governments; societies and armies in 1914; the nature of warfare and differences in the conduct of those wars; social developments in Western democracies; the Holocaust; the division of Europe after World War II; women and war; film and propaganda; and war, literature and the arts. You should have studied either Princes and Peoples: France and the British Isles 1620 - 1714 (A220) or State, economy and nation in nineteenth-century Europe (A221) before taking this course if you are studying towards a BA (Hons) in History.

The section of this course covering Europe in 1914 provides sufficient information about Europe in 1914 to enable you to assess what effects World War I had on European politics and society and introduces you to the debate on the origins of the First World War.

Start writing essays (A172)
If you are returning to study or coming to it for the first time, it can be daunting. Many students are frightened of writing essays. This short 12 week online course helps you to build confidence through diagnosis of your strengths and weaknesses, analysis of what makes a good essay, structured exercises, practice and feedback. Through interactive exercises, short readings and longer assignments marked by your tutor you will have an opportunity to practice, improve and reflect on a range of core skills and techniques.

Start writing family history (A173)
This short 12 week online course helps you to interpret and write about family history. It offers a guide to the principles of studying history that are a foundation for more advanced historical studies. You will learn about historical sources, interpreting evidence and selecting suitable examples. Using sources from different historical periods, you will investigate the changing nature of the family, and putting the principles of historical research into practice, write about your own family history. Through varied exercises, activities and readings you will develop your appreciation and understanding of family history and the ways in which the past is remembered and represented.

Exploring History: Medieval to Modern 1400 – 1900 (A200)
This course is a varied and wide-ranging introduction to historical study and will teach you the techniques of professional historians. Teaching blocks focus on: France, England and Burgundy in the Fifteenth Century; The European Reformation; The Civil Wars on the British Isles c. 1620-1690; Slavery and Freedom c.1650-1830; Creating Nations in the Nineteenth Century; and Nations and Imperialism c. 1870-1900. To ensure coherence and focus, the blocks are linked by common themes, which enable you to study a long chronological period. This course is a compulsory element in the BA (History), but is suitable for studying history within a broader degree programme.