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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Philosophy: Understanding Evil and Wickedness

People have always struggled to understand (and prevent) evil actions. Moral and political philosophers have also not found it easy but have developed some definitions and theories. Psychology can provide useful insights into the history and motivation of evil actions too. This course brings these together in the hope that they will increase learners’ understanding of the nature of evil and provide ideas for how to prevent it. The content will include the question of whether ‘evil’ is a philosophically useful category, Hanna Arendt’s analysis of evil, Mary Midgley’s analysis of wickedness, and the 2024 Reith lectures on violence.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 02/07/2025
Times:
4:45pm - 6:45pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Bettina Lange
Course code:
Q00021440
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£66.60

History, Napoleon: Citizen to Emperor

Explore the life and legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte with our History: Napoleon: Citizen to Emperor course. Learn about his rise to power, his impact on Europe, and the controversies surrounding his reign. Ideal for history enthusiasts and students of European history.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
11:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Barking Enterprise Centre CIC (Barking)
50 Cambridge Road
Barking
IG11 8FG
Tutor:
Amy Miller
Course code:
Q00017373
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £70.00

History: The Holocaust

The rise of antisemitism in Europe during the last years of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries culminated in the mass destruction of six million men, women, and children merely for being Jewish. Some were shot in the communities where they lived. Others were sent to camps where they were either worked to death or sent directly to gas chambers.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Aubrey Newman
Course code:
Q00020801
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

History: The Ukraine - Borderland & battlefield 1800 to the present

We will trace the troubled history of Ukraine from 1800 exploring its political, social, economic and cultural development over five sessions ending with the current war and discussion of possible futures

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 28/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00021295
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Philosophy: Philosophy behind the Headlines

The course will briefly introduce the principal ideas of a selection of philosophers 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. Reading material will be provided on Canvas and the tutor will introduce the key ideas of relevant articles. However, reading before class is not essential. The main activity is to share ideas on news stories.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 05/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Blue Beetle Room (London)
Hendon Lane
Finchley
London
N3 1TR
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00017388
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£60.00

History: The History of the English Language

If you’re interested in finding out how the English language developed (and why we don’t all speak German, Danish or French instead of English) this course is for you. We look at the development of the English language through seven different lenses, starting with Old English (Anglo-Saxon) which built on Celtic languages and Latin. We explore the many influences on English including the Vikings through Old Norse, Norman French, Biblical English, Shakespearean English and Global English.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00018033
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Care2: Simple Remedies to combat Stress and Anxiety

This course is for carers, former carers and the cared for. These courses will enhance well being with a variety of techniques and easy tips to help the body cope with stress and anxiety.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 07/05/2025 -
Wed 25/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Lisa Richards
Course code:
Q00021674
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Literature: The story of the detective story

The detective story is one of the most popular literary genres, as well as one that has produced some classic novels. Each week we focus on a short detective story or novel, reading and discussing key passages. The selected novels are in chronological order, from the 19th century to modern times. We begin with Edgar Allen Poe and Conan Doyle, and end with Sophie Hannah. We’ll be able to share and debate interpretations, sharpen our critical and appreciative faculties, understand what detective fiction can tell us about the society and culture that produced it, and, hopefully, be inspired to read other works by the writers featured on the course. The course is funded by the Greater London Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 12/05/2025 -
Mon 16/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Methodist Church Hall (Beckenham)
Bromley Road
Beckenham
BR3 5JE
Tutor:
Brandon Robshaw
Course code:
Q00020027
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £47.00

History: Crime and Punishment in Early Modern London

Crime and punishment in London have a long history. This course focuses on the period between the Tudors and the Georgians to explore the impact of dealing with criminal behaviour and how it left its mark on the history of the city and our legal system today.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 20/05/2025 -
Tue 10/06/2025
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Peter House Community Centre (London)
122 Forest Rise
Walthamstow
London
E17 3PW
Tutor:
Anna Cusack
Course code:
Q00021262
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

History: Anglo-Saxon & Norman England 1066-1100

This short course tells the epic story of the Norman Conquest and the end of Anglo-Saxon England in the 11th Century. We will consider the reasons for the Norman invasion and its impact on landscape, government, language and culture amongst other things. We will discuss its lasting legacy and the ways in which it continues to affect our own times. The course will draw on current academic writing as well as contemporary source material including the Bayeux Tapestry, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Domesday Book among many others. Throughout we will use study of sources and discussion to draw conclusions and ask further questions.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 03/06/2025 -
Tue 01/07/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00021550
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00