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: Vienna and Berlin 1814-1914

An exploration of the history of Vienna and Berlin in the 19th century. We will look at how they became capital cities; the revolution in 1848-49 and its effects; massive migration as a result of industrialisation; political events; cultural developments; and some of the personalities based in these cities during this period; including the ideas and activities of Freud, Strauss, Herzl, Hitler and Trotsky. We will examine the paradoxical nature of the monarchy in Vienna in presiding over progress in democracy and tolerance but remaining officially absolutist; and will consider how William II’s personality affected his political decisions both internally and in foreign policy.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 31/01/2025 -
Fri 14/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
The Rothley Centre (Rothley)
12 Mountsorrel Lane
Rothley
LE7 7PR
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00013039
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Art Appreciation: The Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is indeed a jewel box of great painting. With works by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino and Michelangelo, some of the greatest works of the Italian Renaissance are to be found there. But this is more than just a collection of great works. It is also the pope’s private chapel and so these works were created not just for display but to relay a greater message to the world, But how many of the thousands of visitors really understand that message or what these works are about? In this study day we shall seek to decode the 'messages' contained in these great works and see what Sixtus IV and Julius II and their artists were really saying to us.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/02/2025 -
Tue 25/02/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
The Cornerstone (Wokingham)
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
RG40 1UE
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017593
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£30.00

History: Vienna 1814-1914

In the 19th century, the population of Vienna grew from about 300,000 people to more than 2 million and it became the sixth largest city in the world, capital of an empire of 53 million and a centre for the arts, scientific ideas, and political theorising. We will see how Vienna became a capital city and how its importance was solidified by the Congress of Vienna in 1814-15. We will also look at the revolution in 1848-49 and its effects, the development of the Ringstrasse, and the massive migration to the city as a result of large scale industrialisation.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/02/2025 -
Tue 18/02/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00012810
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20

History: Scandals that changed History

History, international and domestic, is littered with scandals. Whether they truly change the course of history is itself a debatable question. What is certain is that they reflect their times in remarkable ways. The course will select from a range of scandals, some notorious, some lesser known, to illustrate this. Among the likely candidates for consideration from a very wide field are: Gladstone’s work with prostitutes, the assassination of Rasputin, Lloyd George’s three scandals for the price of one, the suicide of Stalin’s wife, the Profumo affair, the Luncheon Voucher Scandal, Mao and the tea girl, the Post Office scandal.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/02/2025 -
Tue 04/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Kegworth Village Hall (Kegworth)
Nottingham Road
Kegworth
DE74 2FH
Tutor:
Michael Lynch
Course code:
Q00012839
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: 'A calamitous Plantagenet century', England 1200 - 1330

This course examines the century that shaped England, bookended by arguably England’s worst King, John, and one of its greatest, Edward I. The century began with England's integral of a vast continental empire that stretched from the Scottish borders to the foothills of the Pyrenees. The 13th century began for England with the reign of King John, who lost his continental empire and almost lost his throne to a baronial revolt against his rule and an invasion of England by the French. One hundred and thirty years later, John’s great-grandson did lose his Kingdom to an invasion led by his wife, Isabella, to overthrow him and replace him on the throne. The intervening years were no less dramatic: years of baronial unrest, Magna Carta, and the growing influence of foreigners around King Henry III culminating in the rebellion of Simon de Montfort and the Baron's War against the King in the 1260s. The England that we know, its governance and institutions were shaped during these 130 years of the calamitous thirteenth century.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/02/2025 -
Wed 19/03/2025
Times:
11:30am - 1:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
St Lukes Church Hall (Tiptree)
66 Church Road
Tiptree
CO5 0SU
Tutor:
Michael Long
Course code:
Q00018061
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.10

History: Modern Russia - From Lenin to Putin

Russia since 1917 has witnessed revolution, civil war, violent political upheaval, and social and economic disruption on a previously unimaginable scale. The course will examine these remarkable developments by examining the roles of its outstanding leaders during this period: Lenin, the inspiration behind the October Revolution; Stalin, who built a terror state; Khrushchev, who attempted to de-Stalinise the USSR; Brezhnev, who presided over years of stagnation; Gorbachev, whose reforms destroyed the Soviet union he was trying to preserve; Yeltsin, who fought against Soviet reactionaries; Putin, who has returned Russia to a policy of imperial expansion.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 13/02/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Michael Lynch
Course code:
Q00012931
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

History: British history told through the lives of 5 women

This 5 week course offers a unique exploration of British history by examining the lives and contributions of five remarkable women who left indelible marks on society, culture, and politics. From ancient warriors to pioneering scientists and influential writers, each woman represents a distinct era in British history, shedding light on the struggles, achievements, and societal changes of their times. Throughout the course, we will delve into the lives of these extraordinary women, analysing their impact on British society and their enduring legacies. By studying their stories, learners will gain a deeper understanding of key historical events, social movements, and cultural shifts that have shaped the fabric of Britain.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 20/02/2025 -
Thu 20/03/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Caterham Baptist Church (Caterham)
4 Beechwood Road
Caterham
CR3 6NA
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00018093
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

History: Queens of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt demonstrates how even in a male-dominated society women did on occasion rise to the highest position in the land. In this course we will explore the women who not only held great influence but sometimes effectively ruled Egypt. From the famous female pharaoh Hatshepsut to Cleopatra VII we consider how these women came to power and served as prominent female figures.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 24/02/2025 -
Mon 24/03/2025
Times:
1:45pm - 4:15pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Wanstead House (London)
21 The Green
Wanstead
London
E11 2NT
Tutor:
John Billman
Course code:
Q00017608
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £62.50

Art Appreciation: French Art from Louis XIV (17th c.) to the French Revolution (1789)

In this course, we will have a look at an exciting and troubling period in the history of French art: the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. Stretching from the 1640s to the 1790s, this period saw the rise of absolutism as well as its demise, with the French Revolution.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 25/02/2025 -
Tue 25/03/2025
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
St John's United Reform Church Orpington
Lynwood Grove
Orpington
BR6 0BG
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00017569
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.00

History: The Queens of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt demonstrates how even in a male-dominated society women did on occasion rise to the highest position in the land. In this course we will explore the women who not only held great influence but, on some occasions, effectively ruled Egypt. From the famous female pharaoh Hatshepsut to Cleopatra VII over a millennium later, we consider how these women came to power and served as some of the most prominent female figures of antiquity.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 26/02/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Woodley Hill House (Reading)
Woodley Hill House
45 Eastcourt Avenue
Reading
RG6 1HH
Tutor:
John Billman
Course code:
Q00017588
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.00