Learning about the world around us

Here at the WEA we offer a huge range of humanities and science courses, with something for everyone.  

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If you’re interested in the natural world, our geography and environment courses are the perfect choice. Our packed curriculum explores some of the biggest issues facing society, such as climate change and the fight against the destruction of some of Earth’s most precious resources. The option to learn in person or online means that our geography courses can whisk you away to a far-flung corner of the globe, all without you ever having to leave your own home. 

Studying a science

If you choose to take one of our psychology courses you’ll be immersed in the study of the human mind. With options to learn about memory and identity, you’ll get the chance to explore and debate some of the most famous psychological experiments.  

There’s also Sociology too, a subject that focuses on human behaviour, interaction, and relationships. If you’d like to explore some of the biggest questions in life, then our philosophy courses are for you. Small class sizes mean that you’ll get to discuss and debate in a supportive environment, all with an experienced tutor on hand.  

Attend a Humanities and Science course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home or opted for face-to-face learning at a local community venue, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their subject. Our learning experience sets us apart from other providers, with learners regularly highlighting the difference that an encouraging environment makes. 

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History: Post War Britain: The Thatcher Years

This course continues our look at post war Britain. It also stands alone as a separate offer and new students are most welcome. As before we will take a thematic rather than strictly narrative approach to the period. We will examine four key areas: politics during these years; Britain’s place in the world; the economy; and social change. Students will be encouraged to share their own memories of the period through discussions and questions. Margaret Thatcher was a conviction politician and accepted that many of her policies were divisive. As we look at her time as Prime Minister, we will adopt a non-partisan approach. As with any long serving Premier she had both successes and failures. We will approach both with an open mind.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 09/01/2026 -
Fri 13/02/2026
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Bourne Hall (Epsom)
Spring Street
Ewell
Epsom
KT17 1UF
Tutor:
Julian Roberts
Course code:
Q00022873
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

History: Empire of Many Nations: The Habsburg Monarchy from 1848 to 1919

This ten-week course explores the final decades of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from the revolutions of 1848 to its dissolution at the end of World War I. It examines how the Habsburg monarchy navigated nationalism, liberalism, industrialization, and imperial reform in a multi-ethnic empire under constant pressure. Key topics include the 1867 Ausgleich, the empire’s complex governance, cultural life in Vienna, rising nationalist movements, and the road to Sarajevo and war. Through political analysis, primary sources, and cultural history, students will gain a deeper understanding of how this vast and diverse empire both shaped and was undone by the forces of modernity.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 12/01/2026 -
Mon 23/03/2026
Times:
10:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Christ Church United Reformed Church (Or
Willett Way
Petts Wood
Orpington
BR5 1LH
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022396
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

History: The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the House of York, 1460–1485

This ten-week course delves into the final phase of the Wars of the Roses, charting the turbulent decline of the House of York from its height under Edward IV to its destruction at Bosworth in 1485. Through detailed case studies of battles, political intrigues, and key personalities—including Warwick the Kingmaker, Richard III, and Henry Tudor—we examine how factionalism, betrayal, and ambition shaped England’s destiny. Each session explores a pivotal moment, revealing the fragility of monarchy and the emergence of Tudor power. Primary sources, historiography, and modern interpretations illuminate this dramatic period of dynastic conflict and national transformation
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 13/01/2026 -
Tue 24/03/2026
Times:
2:15pm - 4:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
The Drive Methodist Church (Redbridge)
Eastern Avenue
Redbridge
IG4 5AB
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022300
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Art Appreciation: The Ottoman Empire in Crisis: Reform, Resistance, and Transformation (1846-1896)

This five-week course examines the period of intense transformation within the Ottoman Empire from 1846 to 1896, a time marked by reform efforts, external challenges, and internal dissent. Focused on the era of Sultan Abdulmecid I and Sultan Abdulhamid II, the course covers key events like the Tanzimat reforms' continuation, the rise of constitutionalism, and the tensions leading to the Empire’s gradual decline. We will also explore the impact of nationalism, imperialism, and the Empire’s shifting relationship with European powers. Through these lenses, the course provides insights into the complex forces that shaped the late Ottoman state.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 13/01/2026 -
Tue 10/02/2026
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022408
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

WEA Membership

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: Empire Incorporated: The Rise and Rule of the East India Company 1600-1874

This course explores how a private trading corporation became one of the most powerful imperial forces in history. Over ten lectures, students will trace the Company’s evolution from a 17th-century merchant venture to the de facto ruler of India, examining its economic strategies, military conquests, political scandals, and cultural impact. The course also considers resistance within India, reform efforts in Britain, and the Company’s enduring legacy. Combining global history, political economy, and postcolonial analysis, this course offers a critical understanding of corporate empire-building and its lasting consequences.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 14/01/2026 -
Wed 25/03/2026
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022496
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Philosophy: Philosophy behind the Headlines

The course will briefly introduce the principal ideas of a selection of philosophers, ranging from John Stuart Mill to Phillipa Foot, and apply these to the discussion of the news headlines and the controversies that lie behind them. This course will encourage discussion and sharing of ideas about current affairs and will involve reflecting on how to make philosophy a part of this discussion.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 15/01/2026 -
Thu 26/03/2026
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Blue Beetle Room (London)
Hendon Lane
Finchley
London
N3 1TR
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00022659
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Archaeology: Highlights of British Archaeology: Viking (80 AD) To High Middle Ages

Highlights of Medieval Archaeology will feature - recent work on Castles, from Hen Dolmen on the Welsh border to the Royal castle at Launceston, both have been extensively excavated and published in recent years. Recent work on Monastic sites; Fountains Abbey, Merton Priory and the Friaries in Hull and Cambridge all subject to recent excavation or geophysical survey. Look at Medieval coastal flooding around the North Sea basin. Examine the Bremen Cog, a 14th century North Sea trading ship, other recent cog finds and the cargos they can be shown to have carried. Introduce the late medieval books of Hours and the rare black variety. Feature the Voynich Manuscript- an undeciphered late medieval illustrated manuscript. By request, give an update on the recently excavated Melsonby Hoard of Late Iron Age metalwork from North Yorkshire.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 19/01/2026 -
Mon 23/03/2026
Times:
1:45pm - 3:45pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Grimsby Central Hall & Arts Community Ce
Duncombe Street
Grimsby
DN32 7EG
Tutor:
Simon Tomson
Course code:
Q00022428
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Philosophy: The Big Questions

One of the most fascinating aspects of the history of ideas is learning how ideas have a life of their own, influencing society and culture through successive generations in different ways. In this 10-week course we’ll focus on an different important and influential question each week. We cover philosophy, literature, science and history. We’ll read and discuss selected extracts which will be circulated beforehand. The course covers a sweep of over 2000 years, from the ancient Greeks to modern times.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 17/02/2026 -
Tue 31/03/2026
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Brandon Robshaw
Course code:
Q00022413
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£50.40

History: Radical England: Wat Tyler to George Orwell

This five-week course explores the tradition of radical thought and protest in England, from the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 to the writings of George Orwell. It examines how individuals and movements challenged authority, demanded rights, and imagined alternative societies across six centuries. From medieval uprisings and Civil War radicals to 19th-century reformers and 20th-century critics of fascism and empire, we trace the evolution of dissent in politics, literature, and popular action. Using primary texts and historical analysis, the course reveals how radical voices—often suppressed or overlooked—helped shape England’s political and cultural landscape in enduring and provocative ways.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 14/04/2026 -
Tue 12/05/2026
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022412
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Philosophy: A History of Western Philosophy 1

Western philosophy begins with the ancient Greeks in the 6th century BCE. It includes three principal periods: Ancient Greek, Medieval and Modern. This short course considers some of the Ancient Greek period. It begins with the very first philosophers, the pre-Socratics. Philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes. It then turns to Socrates. It ends with Plato. It considers some of the key elements in the thought of these philosophers. They are concerned with a range of issues including providing an account of the natural world, ethics, the soul, and the perfectly just city-state. No prior specialist knowledge is required to attend this course.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/04/2026 -
Wed 20/05/2026
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
The Cornerstone (Wokingham)
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
RG40 1UE
Tutor:
Karim Esmail
Course code:
Q00022285
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£42.00