Online short courses in history
7 results
Explore history flexibly with our online history courses.
We’ve designed our history courses to be flexible, so you can develop your skills and earn qualifications without taking time away from your career.
- Earn credits towards postgraduate qualifications, including Masters degrees.
- Study anywhere in the world, with expert academics and researchers.
- Learn flexibly, part-time, with study hours to suit you.
Outstanding archive access
You’ll have online access to our nationally significant University Collections, and award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
You can explore ancient Scottish records, prints, manuscripts, photographs, and literary collections of leading Scottish writers like Sir Walter Scott.
Our treasures include the Aberdeen Bestiary, a large Jacobite collection, and works of the Scottish Enlightenment.
Towards a Masters degree
Many of our online history courses are credit-bearing, so you’ll earn academic credits towards further qualifications when you complete these.
You can use some of these short courses to earn credits towards our:
Masters in Scottish Heritage
Explore the rich history, art and philosophy of Scotland and its people. Access rare archive treasures and award-winning online teaching, with this flexible online Masters.
View MLitt Scottish Heritage
History at the University of Aberdeen
Founded in 1495, we are the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world.
The University’s first Historian was also its first Principal, Hector Boece of King’s College (d.1536). Building on this rich legacy, Aberdeen’s History Department was established in 1898.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for online history courses
1st in the UK for Art History
We’re ranked 1st in the UK for positive responses for Art History in the National Student Survey 2026.
Top 16 in the UK for History
We’re ranked 16th in the UK for History in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027.
20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.
The people who teach our short courses in history
Get an insight into some of the experts who teach our online history short courses.
Professor Marjory Harper
Marjory is a Professor of History. She’s travelled the world researching Scottish emigration.
Her extraordinary work in this field has led to appearances on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland and a Saltire Scottish History Book of the Year award.
Marjory also holds an Excellence in Teaching award for her inspirational and supportive online teaching.
View Marjory’s profile
Professor Thomas Weber
Thomas is Chair in History and International Affairs, as well as the founding Director of the Centre of Global Security and Governance, at the University of Aberdeen.
View Thomas’ profile
Professor William G. Naphy
William is Emeritus Professor in History at the University of Aberdeen and is your course coordinator.
He has made frequent appearances in the media (BBC Radio 4, BBC Scotland, Channel 4, Grampian TV) as a specialist on the history of plague, witchcraft, and sexuality.
William is a leading authority on the history of crime and punishment in the early modern period, as well as Calvin’s Geneva during the sixteenth century.
His works on pandemics, witchcraft, crime, and sexuality have been translated into numerous languages. William is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the Sixteenth Century Studies Society.