Events that shaped Britain, Europe and America
Join us to discover some of the key skills and concepts used by historians. We’ll explore exciting and significant periods in British, European and American history, taking in the foundations for the modern British state in the 17th century, fascism in interwar Europe and the Second World War, and Native Americans and the making of America.
Why choose this course with us?
- Learn at Cambridge, whatever your experience: this is an open-entry course
- Access Cambridge teaching in a flexible format: part-time and online
- Gain a credited, Cambridge award: boost your learning and career opportunities
- Join our peer-learning and Cambridge alumni communities: connection and support, for life
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Course overview
Course information
Course highlights
During this part-time online certificate course, you will:
- explore the past from a range of perspectives
- develop key study and writing skills
From the turbulent events of 17th-century Britain and the struggles between Crown and Parliament to the origins, characteristics and legacies of fascism, this course provides an introduction to some of the most fascinating moments in recent European history. We also examine a broad sweep of Native American history, exploring the make-up of native community and society and the challenges and difficulties that native people have undergone.
As part of our learning community, you will:
- examine the iconic events which shaped 17th-century Britain, including the Civil War, the execution of Charles I, the English Republic/Interregnum, the restoration of the monarchy, and the ‘Glorious Revolution’
- discover how monarchy, fears of absolutism, the rise of parliamentarianism, religious change, and changing attitudes to religious toleration reshaped Britain in lasting ways
- explore Fascism as both an ideology and a governing practice, focusing on how these regimes in Europe restructured the political and socioeconomic landscape between 1918 and 1945
- explore the extent to which Fascism destabilised the interwar European order, reshaping geopolitical dynamics and culminating in the outbreak of the Second World War
- gain a broad chronological and geographical introduction to Native American history
- learn about issues such as conflict, diplomacy, governmental relations, and the state of Native Americans in present-day America
Course breakdown
This course will run from 9 October 2026 to 9 June 2027.
Each term's teaching usually takes place on Saturdays. Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.
Michaelmas term: Reformation, Revolution and Regicide in Britain, 1603–1714
- Course (unit 1) start date: 9 October 2026
- Unit 1 end date: 6 January 2027
Lent term: Fascism in Europe 1918–1945
- Unit 2 start date: week commencing 4 January 2027
- Unit 2 end date: 24 March 2027
Easter term: The Making of America and the Native Americans
- Unit 3 start date: week commencing 29 March 2027
- Unit 3 end date: 9 June 2027
After the course
You might want to progress to our level 5 Diploma in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.
We also offer a number of award-bearing and short courses in the study of medieval England, and archaeology. For further information about the courses we offer please visit our archaeology and history subject pages.
Entry requirements
There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course. It’s open to all learners who are interested in the subject.
English language requirements
Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you’ll need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below. You’ll need to complete your test and submit the results to our admissions team by 15 September 2026.
IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
Overall score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component.
TOEFL iBT or TOEFL Home Edition
https://www.ets.org/toefl.html
Overall score of 92, with no element below 20.
Please note that changes to TOEFL Internet Based Test and Home Edition mean that it will no longer be suitable for entry to Cambridge at Undergraduate level from 21 January 2026. Tests taken after this date will not be accepted.
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/
Overall score of 176, with no element lower than 169.
As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources and expertise of the University of Cambridge wherever you are on your academic journey.
Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.
Our teaching methods include lectures, presentations by guest speakers and facilitators, and interactive and experiential learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.
You will demonstrate your learning using a range of assignments submitted during and at the end of each unit. There are more details about how this course is assessed in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.
Qualifications
This course is equivalent to half of the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree. It offers 60 CATS credits, which are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.
Hours of study
The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. This course attracts 60 credits, so students should expect to need to study for approximately 600 hours in total to complete all units successfully. However, it is recognised that students study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.
SEEC Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (2021) here.
Fees
The total fee for this course is shown above in 'Course details'.
To help you manage your finances more comfortably, you can pay the fee in instalments. For more information on payment options, and how to secure your place, see how to pay.
Funding
We're dedicated to reducing and removing financial barriers to learning. Visit financial support before applying to find out what options may be available to help you in your studies. You can explore external funding and stay up to date on our concessions and bursaries.
We're committed to supporting you in your learning journey, and we offer a variety of support opportunities to meet individual needs. Visit student support to find out more about how we can help.
