Learning about the world around us

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

Skip to courses

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. 

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability
Search for the branch name/location, without adding branch e.g. Barnet

Nature, Ecology & Permaculture: Introduction to Permaculture Design

In this hands on practical course , learners will be introduced to the key themes of permaculture design ; develop an understanding of ethics and principles of permaculture design ; observe natural systems and take action to enhance them and understand the importance of ecological systems in food production, including soil and plant life.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 26/07/2025 -
Sun 27/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Community Roots (Porthtowan)
Mount Pleasant Eco Park
Chapel Hill
Porthtowan
TR4 8HL
Tutor:
Jodie Tellam
Course code:
Q00022118
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

History: The 20th Century English Musical Renaissance

The early 20th Century witnessed an extraordinary flourishing of English musical talent – dormant since the death of Purcell 200 years earlier. With the premiere of Elgar's Enigma Variations in 1899, the country at last began to put paid to the German gibe of it being "The Land without Music". With the help of musical extracts, we trace the course of the Renaissance and the individuals who shaped it - featuring Elgar, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Britten, Walton and Tippett. We also explore how conscious they were of heading a revolution, and address the elusive issue of what we really understand by Englishness in music.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 09/09/2025 -
Tue 14/10/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
The Cornerstone (Wokingham)
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
RG40 1UE
Tutor:
Christopher Carter
Course code:
Q00022284
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £96.00

History: America's Peculiar Institution and the American Civil War

In this course, guest-tutor Roger McMaster will map out the social and constitutional development of the United States following the War of 1812 against Great Britain. It is a journey that leads to the Civil War and Reconstruction and to the development of the country of today.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 18/09/2025 -
Thu 16/10/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
St John the Baptist Church Meeting Room
55 Main Road
Danbury
CM3 4NG
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00022316
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

Philosophy: How to argue well

Arguments are basically reasons for or against something – going on holiday somewhere for example, or taxing certain kinds of wealth. We all use them in our everyday lives, but philosophers analyse arguments in more systematic ways in what is known as ‘argumentation theory’.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 22/09/2025 -
Mon 24/11/2025
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Bettina Lange
Course code:
Q00022545
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£144.00

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: Highlights of Medieval Archaeology

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 22/09/2025 -
Mon 24/11/2025
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:
Q00022381
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £160.00

History: The world turned upside down - England's revolutionary republic

To most folk the English republic 1649-60 was a failure or a temporary blip in our nation’s smooth path to constitutional monarchy. The truth is very different as this course will explain.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 23/09/2025 -
Tue 21/10/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Christchurch United Reform Church (Chelm
164 New London Road
Chelmsford
CM2 0AW
Tutor:
Roger Cooke
Course code:
Q00022383
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

Philosophy: Are ‘left wing’ and ‘right wing’ still relevant in politics now?

In modern democracies ‘left wing’ and ‘right wing’ have been used to characterise political orientations. Socialism, social democracy, anarchism, and communism have usually been regarded as left wing, and conservatism, nationalism, fascism, and libertarianism as right wing. The reality has probably always been more complex but has certainly become more complex since the early 1980s. Green parties for example have been in coalition governments with conservative as well as social democratic parties, and modern parties often categorised as ‘far right’ often do not endorse conservative social values e.g. on sexual orientation but do endorse policies more usually associated with the political left e.g. redistribution of wealth towards the less well off. The course is an opportunity for you to consider the usefulness of ‘left’ and ‘right’ with the help of political theorists such as Douglas Giles and to increase your confidence in debates about core values including democracy.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 24/09/2025 -
Wed 26/11/2025
Times:
4:45pm - 6:45pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Bettina Lange
Course code:
Q00022549
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£144.00

Nature, Ecology & Permaculture: Climate Literacy - Understanding Climate Change

This Climate Literacy course empowers individuals to play an active role in addressing the climate crisis while preparing for the economic and social opportunities that a sustainable future offers. It’s a step toward collective action and positive change. You will be introduced to climate science and understand Earth's climate systems, the greenhouse effect, and the science of global warming. By looking at the impacts of climate change we will explore the effects on ecosystems, human health, weather patterns, and economies. Discussing sustainable solutions will enable you to learn about renewable energy, conservation strategies, and sustainable practices. We will dive into global agreements, national policies, and how individuals can drive change. We will also discover ways to build resilience and prepare for climate challenges. Lastly, we will learn how to deliver the climate change message to others as a Climate Literate individual.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 29/09/2025 -
Mon 03/11/2025
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Lee Armon
Course code:
Q00023023
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £48.00

History of the Soviet Union: Brezhnev to Gorbachev

Following Khrushchev’s ouster, Leonid Brezhnev emerged as a ‘safe pair of hands’ leader of the Soviet Union. In 1964 the USSR had made a substantial recovery from the devastation of the ‘Great Patriotic War.’ There had been significant achievements in space and military technology even as the standard of living for ordinary citizens lagged behind those in the West. Quarter of a century later, the USSR was on the brink of collapse. What had gone wrong? Our course will provide answers to that question. We will build on previous courses examining the earlier period of the Soviet Union. This offer is free standing and new students are very welcome.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 02/10/2025 -
Thu 27/11/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Sacred Heart Church
St Thomas Hall
Essendene Road
Caterham
CR3 5PB
Tutor:
Julian Roberts
Course code:
Q00022321
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £144.00

History: Spanish History and Regions

Although you may know Spain, do you know about the country away from the Costas? In this course we look at the history of Spain from prehistoric times, through the many periods of occupation by the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and the wars of independence from the French of the 18th & 19th centuries. Then onto the civil war of the 20th century and the current situation.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 06/10/2025 -
Mon 10/11/2025
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Bardfield Quaker Meeting House (Great Ba
Brook Street
Great Bardfield
CM7 4RG
Tutor:
Derek Robinson
Course code:
Q00023117
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00