- Published on November 11, 2026
January 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 from 22 – 24 January 2027
Back to Anarchy? The Rebirth of Global Power Politics
After the Cold War, the US was dominant on the world scene, militarily, economically and ideologically. ‘Dog-eat-dog’ geopolitics was replaced by the ‘Rules Based World Order’, whereby international business was conducted through multilateral negotiation and the application of international law. Political confrontation was replaced – in principle – by the joint pursuit of globalisation and the solution of common problems such as climate change. We are now seeing the chaotic breakup of that order. The US has lost interest in maintaining it; rival powers (notably China and Russia) now challenge US hegemony; and war is firmly back on the international agenda. How has this come about, and what next?
NB: Precise course content will of course depend on evolving world events.
Tutor – Sir Tony Brenton
Harry Potter Turns 30
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first Potter novel. Now that Pottermania has waned, what can we muggles make of the series and its phenomenal successes? This course surveys all seven novels, with related texts, looking both critically and historically at the Boy Who Lived, at what was driving J. K. Rowling’s imagination, and at how she managed the challenges.
(Please note: In this course we’ll be focusing only on the Harry Potter series and J.K. Rowling’s journey to create this. As such, we will not be discussing TERF issues.)
Tutor – Dr John Lennard
Reading Classical Greek: The Homeric Hymns: Hymn 3 to Apollo and Hymn 5 to Aphrodite
The Homeric Hymns are a collection of poems composed in hexameter verse which celebrate the Greek gods, and were probably performed as a prelude to a performance of epic poetry. The Hymn to Apollo tells of the god’s birth and his various exploits which earn him his different cult titles; the Hymn to Aphrodite relates to an episode when the goddess’s powers are turned against her and she falls in love with the mortal Anchises. This course will enable students with a confident grasp of the fundamentals of classical Greek to explore these texts in the original language and develop their understanding of Greek literature.
Tutor – Dr Janet Watson
Verdi and the Romantic Drama of Germany, England, France and Spain
Giuseppe Verdi was inspired throughout his brilliant career by the popular Romantic theatre of his time. The dramatic plays of Schiller, Byron, Hugo, Dumas, Gutiérrez and Rivas inspired some of his most famous and passionate works (like Ernani, Il Trovatore, La Forza del Destino and Don Carlos).
Tutor – Dr Robert Letellier