The University of York is a research-intensive plate glass university located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects.
Understand and evaluate arguments using philosophical theoryIf you believe Mickey is a big mouse and Dumbo is a small elephant, then you must also believe that Mickey is a mouse and Dumbo is an elephant.But, do you believe that Mickey is bigger than Dumbo?On this course, you’ll consider the logic behind this argument and explore the concept that when something is true, other things have to be true too.You’ll discover logical reasoning theory and explore the vital role words like and, or, not, and if play in making good or bad arguments.You’ll also learn how philosophers use a formal language to assess arguments and look closely at how our everyday language and thinking works.The course is primarily designed for those studying philosophy, maths, or science at A-level or university.The course will also be of interest to anyone who’d like to learn more about these subjects and the systematic study of good and bad reasoningLearners require a basic understanding of formal logic and a keen interest to learn.There is no need for any specialist tools beyond a pen and paper!
Delve into the inner workings of deep learningFrom Ada Lovelace until the first decade of this century, we have relied on expert computer programmers to design and write software. Now, a whole new branch of computer science called machine learning is allowing computers to create their own software by learning from data.On this three-week course from the University of York, you’ll discover the fundamental theory and techniques behind deep learning as well as how it’s used in applications.Explore machine learning applications and the uses of deep learningDeep learning is a form of machine learning that has provided performance breakthroughs across a whole host of areas.From household devices to image processing, you’ll dive into the different areas that currently use deep learning as well as looking at how it works and whether we should worry about machines taking over the world.Assess the safety and ethics surrounding machine learningWith machine learning giving rise to autonomous systems such as self-driving cars, there are many questions about putting our safety in the hands of these machines.On this course, you’ll consider the ethical implications of machine learning, such as learning from personal or biased data, and of trusting your safety to a learnt system that no human can understand.Learn from the experts at the University of YorkThe Department of Computer Science at the University of York is home to world-leading expertise in computer vision, and to the Assuring Autonomy International Programme, at the leading edge of assuring the safety of autonomous systems through machine learning.With the help and guidance of top educators from the University of York, you’ll explore the main differences between machine learning and conventional programming and how machine learning is evolving autonomous systems.This course is designed for anyone interested in machine learning and looking to further their understanding of recent innovations and research in the area.It will be especially useful if you are looking to apply to a related undergraduate programme in the near future.To fully engage with the materials we recommend you have at least some experience of A-Level Maths (or equivalent).
Understand how to succeed as a mature studentWhat is a mature student? What life and work experience can mature learners bring to the learning environment? Answer these questions and more with this course.You will will consider the perceived barriers that mature learners face and potential solutions to those barriers. You will learn about the skills you need to develop as a mature student, the support systems you can gain access to, and the guidance that is available to you in making an application to a course of interest.This course is for mature students who have been out of the education system for a significant period of timewho are considering their future educational and career options with a view to doing a university course.
What happens when a crime is allegedly committed in England and Wales? Now’s your chance to find out. On this course you’ll follow a suspect through the journey of investigation, prosecution and adjudication. You’ll step inside the courtroom - discovering how criminal justice processes work - and learn about the criminal law and key institutions like the police and the courts.This course is aimed at those with a good secondary education and an interest in law and/or criminal justice. The level is undergraduate level 1, so equivalent to the first year of a degree course. You do not need any prior knowledge of the field, but a keen interest in criminal justice is essential.
Develop knowledge about depression and how activity can ‘make or break’ our moodWith an increased awareness and understanding of mental health, more and more people are seeking to learn about effective ways to improve depression or low mood.This three-week course will introduce you to some of the key principles and practices of behavioural activation. You will explore how this approach has been shown to be successful in reducing levels of depression in a wide range of people in a wide variety of situations.Harness the power of behavioural activation for better mental healthBehavioural activation is based on one key principle: that scheduling and completing meaningful, purposeful, and rewarding activities can lift our mood, energise us, and stimulate our interest and pleasure in day-to-day life. The approach is efficient, easy to learn, and works across different age ranges, depression severity levels, and cultures.You’ll be able to relate the knowledge you will gain throughout the course to both your own life and to your interactions with others.Explore lean and powerful techniques for the treatment of depressionOn this course, you will explore techniques associated with behavioural activation. These include learning to recognise the behavioural traps that perpetuate depression and how to build up the confidence and motivation to achieve goals aligned to personal values.Learn about depression and behavioural activation with leading expertsThe University of York is a renowned institution in the study and application of behavioural activation as therapeutic intervention for depression. The senior developers of this course also have over 20 years’ experience in mental health services and education. By completing the course, you will gain knowledge and insights into how experts treat depression with behavioural activation.This course is designed for anyone interested in helping others with brief psychological interventions. Members of the public, educators, mental health and social care professionals, and community workers will all find it beneficial.
Develop your understanding of current social issuesThe understanding and dissection of poverty and inequality are fundamental to understanding how people’s experience of the welfare state differ.On this course, you’ll explore these concepts in detail and take a look at how these social issues could be solved. You’ll also consider the difficulties that might be faced when developing solutions.Discover the global history of poverty and inequalityYou’ll delve into the history of both poverty and inequality, with a focus on child poverty and health inequalities in the UK. Alongside a global look at the issues, you’ll look at why these problems matter and the social policies surrounding them.Explore possible solutions to social problems in the UKMany arguments have been made about both concepts, both critical and theoretical. You’ll engage and assess these different arguments before reflecting on the insights they bring to the discussion.The final part of the course will guide you through using these insights to offer solutions to these issues. You’ll look through the lens of different perspectives, such as Prime Minister, Activist, Student, and Footballer to see how we might solve poverty and inequality in the UK.Learn from the experts from SPSW at YorkThe Department of Social Policy and Social Work (SPSW) at York is one of the leading UK centres for teaching and research in social policy, social work, and applied social science.On this course, you’ll be taught by academics possessing wide-ranging expertise on a range of topics, from child poverty to global inequalities in health.This course is for anyone interested in exploring poverty and inequality, and how we can possibly solve these social issues.It will be particularly useful to A-level students looking to study sociology or, more specifically, social policy.
Explore contemporary visual children’s culture with leading experts in the fieldIn a world where young people are surrounded by an ever increasing range of media, visual analysis of children’s culture is becoming increasingly important.The course provides an introduction to popular types of visual culture for children and young people. By the end you will gain a deeper understanding of children’s film, television, drama, picturebooks and comics.You will discover the wide variety of works on offer, learn to decipher these media, understand some of the ways in which they are conceived and consumed, and have a go at creating your own analysis.With a focus on visual analysis, new media and popular culture for children, this course is ideal for anyone with an interest in contemporary educational and cultural topics, parents and those feeling nostalgia for the texts and media of their own youth.
Dive into the wonderful world of poetry and learn how to analyse a poemHumans have communicated their thoughts, ideas, and feelings through poetry throughout history. At its best, it tells us new truths about the human experience. However, it’s often presented as hard to understand without expert knowledge.On this course, you’ll build your confidence in reading and enjoying poetry.Whether you’re a poetry fanatic or you’re eager to learn, you’ll learn tools for approaching the study of poetry, ways to express your appreciation of poetry, and ways to find new riches in your favourite poems.This course will also give you guidance on developing your own poetic voice when writing verse.This course is designed for poetry and literature lovers everywhere and anyone who wants to develop and expand their writing skills.It is suitable for keen poetry readers as well as those just getting started on their journey.The course will be especially useful for A-level (and equivalent) students who want to know what it’s like to study English at a university level.
Learn what your attitude to accents and dialects says about yourself and societyWe all have preferred accents and ways of speaking, but what makes something ‘good’ or ‘bad’ English? On this course, you will explore where our attitudes to language come from, how they are formed, and what they tell us about society.You will be introduced to a range of sociolinguistic research methods and learn what these methods tell us about our individual sense of identity. You will also study their impact on social factors like gender, social class, and national affiliation. Plus, you will determine the real-world implications of language attitudes on our society as a whole.This course is designed for school or college students who are interested in studying English language and linguistics at University. This course will also be of interest to English A Level and Advanced Higher teachers, and anyone with an interest in spoken language and accentism.
Investigate how you can utilise renewable resourcesWith a predicted global population of nine billion people in 2050, a well-documented climate crisis, and a global food waste problem, the world needs to change.On this course, you’ll look at the ways you can make the most of renewable, biological resources, including what you might think of as ‘waste’, and how the world can move away from a fossil-based economy to a bioeconomy.Understand the basics of a bioeconomy and why it’s importantYou’ll start this course by gaining an understanding of what a bioeconomy is and which sectors it includes.With the climate crisis being of constant concern, you’ll assess why the move away from non-renewable resources is so important and identify the skills required to transition to a bio-based economy. This will also include the skills needed to pursue a career in the bioeconomy and the many career paths available.Discover how natural resources can help transition away from fossil fuelsOn this course, you’ll delve into natural resources, such as plants and microbes, and how they can be used to produce high-value chemicals for the personal care, food, drink, and pharma sectors.You’ll also look at how food and agricultural waste can be used to make new products. This will cover the agricultural technologies that are helping sustainability, as well as methods like anaerobic digestion, which turns waste materials into renewable resources.Learn from the experts at BioYorkshireSupporting York and North Yorkshire’s ambitions to become one of the first in the UK to be carbon negative, BioYorkshire is uniquely positioned to help you understand the current state of the bioeconomy, where there are opportunities for innovation, and the emerging technologies within the sustainability industry.This course has been designed for anyone looking to learn about a more sustainable economy and solutions to climate change.This will be of particular interest to students thinking about future study or a career in sustainability or the bioeconomy.
This free online course explores a range of chemistry-based topics relating to our everyday lives, with an emphasis on the important role of organic chemistry – the study of carbon-containing organic compounds. Activities include experimenting ‘in the kitchen’ with hands-on projects ranging from extracting a plant fragrance, to testing the activity of spices against microbes.The course will be particularly useful for sixth formers who are interested in developing independent learning skills to help the transition to university.Use real-life examples to study organic compoundsDuring each week of the course, we will use real-life examples to show you how an understanding of the structure and shape of organic compounds can be used to explain their reactivity and properties.Week 1: The chemical attraction of perfumes and pheromonesWe’ll identify a range of natural and synthetic attractants; understand current theories that help to explain how chemical structure is related to smell; and make a molecular model.Week 2: The race for new antibioticsWe’ll describe the mode of action of antibiotics; understand bacterial resistance; identify promising new areas of research to design smarter drugs; and explore pattern recognition in structure-activity relationships.Week 3: The chemistry of brewingWe’ll describe the process of brewing; identify key flavouring compounds in beer, tea and coffee; understand the role of modern analytical methods; and analyse spectroscopic data.Week 4: The chemistry of sportWe’ll explore innovations that are changing the game; identify modern materials that improve performance and aid protection; and model the structures of polymers.Learn with organic chemistry experts from the University of YorkThe University of York is a centre of excellence in chemical education, being the home of Salters' Advanced Chemistry (Science Education Department), the A-level magazine Chemistry Review, and it has a notable history and track record in outreach, principally by our CIEC group, including The Essential Chemical Industry website.The course is designed for anyone with an interest in chemistry (a GCSE level of science is recommended), but will be particularly useful for sixth formers to aid the transition to study science at university.You can use the course to support your UCAS personal statement and prepare for university study, by broadening your chemistry knowledge and developing your independent learning skills.
Prepare for university study with this online biology courseAre you a student in sixth form and thinking of studying at university? On this course, you will use innovative research to enhance your understanding of basic biological concepts taught in A level biology. You will also be introduced to university-level material so you can get a sense of what it’s like to study biosciences at the University of York.Over three weeks, you will take a fascinating look into bugs, brains and neuroscience, and the interaction of animals with the environment. You will also discover what makes the University of York a unique place to study.This course is for school students in sixth form or Year 11 that are considering applying to university, as well as anyone interested in biology.
Explore the exciting possibilities of a career in nursingMost people will have interacted with a qualified nurse during their lifetime, but the profession remains largely misunderstood.On this course, you’ll develop an accurate understanding of nursing and where a career in nursing can lead. You’ll discover the demands of nursing in emergency and intensive care, and education and research. You’ll also observe nursing in GP surgeries, people’s homes, and assisted living facilities.The course will explore how basic science, psychology, and sociology is applied in the nursing profession to reveal the diverse role nurses play in our society today.This course is for individuals interested in, or considering a career in nursing.
Dive into art history through an exploration of public sculpturePublic sculpture is everywhere – in our parks, squares and city centres, as well as galleries and museums.On this course, you’ll explore material, conceptual and theoretical questions around 20th-century sculpture.Using University of York campus examples, you’ll interrogate the notion of ‘modern’ sculpture and address issues like art conservation and the role of the institution in purchasing new artworks.You’ll explore Yorkshire’s rich history as the epicentre of contemporary sculpture, including sculpture galleries like the Henry Moore Institute and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.This course will be of interest to anyone who visits museums and galleries or who is interested in culture, conservation, and heritage subjects.The course will also be helpful for those considering further study in art history, particularly A-Level students.
Learn about the incredible discoveries at Star CarrStar Carr is one of Britain’s most important archaeological sites. Because of extraordinary conditions of survival, we have uncovered the oldest known house in Britain, the earliest evidence of carpentry in Europe and the oldest complete bow in the world. These and other discoveries help us interpret what life might have been like over 10,000 years ago.On this course you will learn about the excavations of Star Carr, exploring what this site can tell us about where we came from, the origin of everyday things, and how much we have changed.The course is for anyone with an interest in the past and archaeology, and particularly for people with no previous archaeological background who may be considering higher education study.