The causes of the First World War remain one of the most hotly contested historical questions. Was it a case of European nations stumbling into an unintended war or was there more plotting and calculation involved? This course will look at the historical debate and at the backgrounds to the various European powers which had thrown themselves into war by the end of 1914.
Course Dates
Course details
Academic team
Course information
Who is this course for?
Our weekend courses are open to all adult learners with an interest in the subject and are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level.
Please complete any required reading before the course starts. This will allow you to fully participate and get the maximum enjoyment out of your course.
Course content
Many people have a mental image of the First World War; not so many have an accurate one! Especially in Britain, our image of the war is heavily influenced by the writings of the war poets or the works of later satirists – Theatre Workshop’s Oh, What a Lovely War or Blackadder Goes Forth; indeed, many people learned most of what they know about the war from English lessons at school rather than history ones. But the war poets were of the public school-educated officer class and their disillusioned view of the war was at odds with the evidence we have from others at the time, who had a much firmer belief in what the war was being fought for. But what was that? To understand this war, which was to shape the whole of the century that followed it, we have to have a grasp of what it was about, and that means understanding what caused it.
Yet, the causes too have sometimes been presented as trivial compared with the cost of the war they triggered. In the 21st century, we no longer have much sympathy for old-style imperial powers fighting out their rivalries among themselves; even the grim fate of the invaded Belgians elicits less sympathy to a modern generation more concerned about Belgium’s imperial record in the Congo. This course will take you back to the mindset of the people of 1914: who were they, what were their hopes, dreams and fears, and what did they believe in so passionately that they were prepared to throw themselves into a cataclysmic war in order to preserve it?
Aims
This course aims to:
- give you an understanding of the controversy surrounding the outbreak of the First World War
- help you to appreciate the inter-connected nature of the various conflicts in the war
- help you to appreciate the war’s continuing relevance to the modern world
What to expect on this course
Like my other courses, I will be presenting a mixture of lecture and Q&A. I like to make extensive use of visual material to illustrate and bolster the points in the lectures, and I strongly encourage you to ask questions and raise points as they arise. We also have time either at the end of a lecture or at the start of the next when you can raise questions and points arising from what we have covered. Session 5 offers a break from the lecture format, as we look at clips from various film treatments of the war and consider how they have contributed to our mental image of it and how they have shaped our modern historical consciousness.
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:
- discuss with confidence and knowledge the issues surrounding the outbreak of the First World War
- demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of the war and its outbreak to the modern world
- assess critically popular media presentations and interpretations of the war
Each weekend course features 7 sessions (1.5 hours each) running from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime, plus regular breaks for meals and refreshments. On Saturday there’s also a longer break after lunch to relax, read or enjoy the gardens of Madingley Hall.
Course schedule and sessions
Please arrive between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. You can meet other course members in the Bar, which opens at 5:00pm. Tea and coffee-making facilities are available in the bedrooms.
Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:30pm to 10:00pm | After the war – the debate on origins |
| 10:00pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Europe – Nations and Empires |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | The instability of the Great Powers |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Free time |
| 4:00pm | Tea |
| 4:30pm to 6:00pm | The Balkans and the Question of the East |
| 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm to 9:30pm | The Great War on Film |
| 9:30pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | 1914 – the July Crisis |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | Other players – Japan, Turkey, Italy and the United States |
| 12:45pm | Lunch |
The course ends after lunch.
Madingley Hall: an immersive experience
Teaching and included meals take place at Madingley Hall, just 4 miles from the centre of Cambridge. A beautiful 16th-century Tudor hall, set in 8 acres of landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown, it's a wonderful place to soak up the atmosphere, or spend free time reading and relaxing.
Stay at Madingley Hall
For the full experience, book to stay at Madingley Hall. Rooms are comfortable, with views over the woods, gardens and courtyard. Each en-suite room has Wi-Fi, TV, phone, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is included in the accommodation rate.
A lift gives access to two bedrooms adapted for wheelchair users. All ground floor areas can be reached once inside the building. A lift also gives access to first floor teaching rooms for those unable to use stairs. Let us know any additional requirements when booking.
Check-in is from 4.30pm and check-out is by 11.00am. Please remember to check out before your Sunday morning class starts, luggage storage facilities are available at Reception.
For more information on accommodation fees and booking options see ‘Fees and financial support’ below.
Stay nearby
If you choose to stay nearby, no problem. You’ll still be able to enjoy the grounds during the day and enjoy the award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall.
Meals
As a student, you'll enjoy award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall. Lunch and dinner are included in the course price. Lunches and Friday evening dinner are served buffet-style, while on Saturday evening, you’ll enjoy a served dinner.
Dietary requirements
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know when booking.
Getting to Madingley Hall
Madingley Hall is in the village of Madingley (CB23 8AQ), 4 miles west of Cambridge. It's 60 minutes from London, with excellent links to London airports. And It's easily accessible from the M11, A14 and A428.
If you're arriving in Cambridge by train you can take a taxi to Madingley Hall. Please contact Reception (by Saturday evening) to book a taxi for your return journey.
Parking
Free on-site car parking is available and we have a small number of spaces close to the Hall entrance for Blue Badge holders.
Fees
| Weekend course | Fee |
|---|---|
| Including tuition, lunches, evening meals, tea and coffee | £475 |
| Accommodation, including bed and breakfast | Fee for Friday and Saturday night |
|---|---|
| Single room (£85 per night) | £170 |
| Double or twin room: shared with another course attendee (£65 per night, per person) | £130 |
| Double or twin room: for single occupancy (£110 per night) | £220 |
Financial support
We offer a range of concessions for our weekend courses including:
- Benefits concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to recipients of a UK state benefit.
- School concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to staff who hold a contract of employment in any school or further education institution.
- Cambridge Alumni (CAMCard) concession: 10% reduction of weekend tuition fee for Cambridge University alumni, applicable to learners with confirmed alumni status of the University of Cambridge and who are CAMCard holders.
- University of Cambridge staff concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to employees who hold a contract of employment with the University or one of its Colleges.
To apply for a concession, place your booking and supply the required proof when prompted.
A concession cannot be used in conjunction with any other concessions or bursaries, apart from the PACE Open Access Bursary or the Early Bird Concession.
Please see our concessions page for further details.
Booking a weekend course
We recommend that you book early and well before the booking deadline to avoid disappointment.
To book a weekend course and accommodation click the 'Book now' button in the course details section on this page. You'll go through to our secure bookings portal where you can create an account with us, select your booking options and make payment.
Please let us know about any dietary or support requirements when booking.
Waitlist
If the course is full, the ‘Book now’ button will be replaced with ‘Add to waitlist’. Please add yourself to the waiting list and we'll send you an email if a place becomes available.
Paying for your weekend course
You can pay for your course by credit/debit card using our secure online booking system, unless otherwise arranged.
Payment options
You can pay:
- in full at the time of booking
- in 2 instalments (the first is 15% of the full fee, and the 85% balance is due 14 working days before the course starts, which will be taken automatically if your payment card is stored in our system)
All bookings made after the booking deadline must be paid in full.
Booking deadlines
Bookings close 14 working days before the start of the course.
Late bookings
If places are available, we can accept late bookings, after the booking deadline but before the course start date.
We cannot always accommodate complex dietary/allergen or other additional support requirements for any bookings received or any requirements added after the booking deadline. Please consider this if you're asking to book after the deadline and have special requirements.
Visa requirements
It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions.
To make sure you understand the requirements, we advise you to read the in-depth information on the University’s International Students website.
If you already have immigration permission in the UK, please inform us so we are able to confirm whether this allows you to study on the Weekend Courses.
Booking terms and conditions
Before booking your course, please make sure you've read and understood our booking terms and conditions.
We are committed to helping you make the most of your learning experience. We offer a range of support to help meet individual needs. When booking, please let us know if you have any support requirements, including accessibility or mobility needs (such as building access or adapted accommodation) or teaching and learning support. The PACE Student Support Team will contact you to discuss your needs and advise on the support options available.
