- Published on November 2, 2026
November Weekend Courses
Taught in the beautiful setting of Madingley Hall, our Weekend Courses offer you the opportunity to discover new subjects, learn from some of our finest academics, expand your professional and social networks and become part of a supportive learning community.
You can book to stay in the comfortable rooms at Madingley Hall, 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 also included.
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.
The following courses will run in November 2026
Pioneering Painters in Paris: Morisot, Cassatt, Valadon
With its extensive training and exhibition opportunities, modern Paris emerged as the artistic capital of the 19th and early 20th centuries, attracting artists from France and abroad. This introductory course focuses particularly, but not exclusively, on Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Suzanne Valadon’s artistic careers and experiences of urban life. We will consider how all three artists were shaped by conditions and constraints distinct from those faced by their male counterparts. Through close study of selected works, we will examine how these Paris-based painters produced innovative works that offer compelling insights into their individual lived experiences.
Tutor – Jo Rhymer
Poland, Bohemia, Hungary and Croatia: Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, Bartók and Others
The Western Slavic operas of Poland, Bohemia, Hungary and Croatia are national treasures. Moniuszko, Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, Erkel and Bartók all produced works of vibrant drama and inspired their native audiences by their lyric power. We will discover Halka, The Bartered Bride, Rusalka, Jenûfa, Hunyadi Laszlo, and Bluebeard’s Castle among others. This course celebrates masterworks that deserve to be better known.
Tutor – Robert Letellier
The Brontës: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Spend a weekend immersed in the work of the Brontë sisters, with deep readings of a range of their novels and poetry. We’ll look at two famous works, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, as well as the lesser-known work of Anne Brontë, with a focus on her radical novel Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
Tutor – Dr Jenny Bavidge
Why the First World War Broke Out
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.
Tutor – Dr Seán Lang
International Climate Politics: Power, Justice and Cooperation
This course explores the global politics of climate change and the challenges of achieving international cooperation to combat global warming. We will examine how competing state interests, economic constraints, and ethical concerns shape multilateral negotiations under the global climate regime. Drawing on major theories of International Relations including realism, liberalism, constructivism and critical theory, this course links theoretical ideas to real-world diplomacy through regional case studies from the EU, US, China and medium and low-income economies. The final session simulates a UN climate summit, allowing you to debate, negotiate, and experience the dynamics of global climate governance.
Tutor – Dr Zeynep Clulow
Medieval Britain and the Wider World, c.400-1500
We explore the archaeological and textual evidence for connections and interactions between medieval Britain and the wider world, c.AD 400–1500. Challenging common assumptions about the insularity of medieval Britain, we start by examining the early medieval links between Britain and the Byzantine Empire, before looking at: trade and connections with the Islamic world; the Crusades; Viking and Scandinavian links; a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon embassy to India; long-distance migration and movement to medieval Britain, including by people of African, Muslim and Asian heritage; and, finally, the Anglo-Saxon emigrants who fled to Constantinople and the Black Sea after the Norman Conquest.
Tutor – Dr Caitlin Green
The Basics of Starting a Business
The world needs new ideas and is potentially more accepting of change than ever before: it could be a good time to act upon your best ideas and make an impact. Starting is often the hardest part: you face a host of challenging decisions. This course covers a wide range of topics: selecting the best idea to pursue; planning; overcoming fear of failure; creating a solid customer proposition; and finding money. We help you to navigate the early stages of development and gain the confidence that, while risky, your business has some likelihood of success. Cambridge – one of the most successful centres of innovation in the world – provides the perfect setting to explore the business of turning ideas into reality.
Tutor – Dr Andrew Hatcher
Short Stories for Writers
You will read, discuss and learn from six classic short stories. You will also use what you read as inspiration as you begin crafting narratives of your own. You will learn to read as a creative practitioner, developing your understanding of the characteristics of successful fiction through close attention to the works of other writers.
Tutor – Dr Joseph Reed