New spring courses launched as Queen’s marks major 175-year milestone

Queen’s University Belfast

Queen’s marks 175 years of opening education beyond campus with new spring programme

Queen’s University Belfast is celebrating a remarkable 175 years of extramural education, continuing a long-standing tradition of making university-level learning accessible to the wider public through its latest Open Learning spring programme.

The milestone marks nearly two centuries since the University first began offering classes “outside the walls” of the institution — designed specifically for people in Belfast and beyond who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to benefit from higher education.

That tradition, first established in the mid-19th century, remains firmly alive today, with a fresh programme of courses running this spring that blends long-established favourites with new classes shaped by some of the most pressing contemporary issues.

A tradition dating back to 1851

The roots of Queen’s Open Learning stretch back to 1851, when members of Faculty began delivering lecture courses outside normal working hours.

These early sessions were specifically arranged so they could be attended by those unable to access formal university study during the day, opening the doors of higher education to the wider community long before widening participation became a formal policy priority.

The first courses focused on chemistry, anatomy and botany.

Within just five years, by 1856, the offering had expanded significantly to include subjects such as the history of French literature, great English writers, and Irish topography, history and philology — the study of language.

Those early classes laid the foundations for what Queen’s describes as an enduring and noble tradition of extramural provision, one that has now continued for 175 years.

Modern courses reflect today’s world

The spirit of those original classes is reflected in the University’s new Spring 2026 Open Learning programme, which combines accessible informal education with research-led teaching.

Alongside popular established courses, including language-learning options, the new programme introduces workshops directly linked to current global and cultural issues.

One of the new additions, ‘2tonnes: Your choices, our Future’, allows participants to explore practical ways of reducing carbon emissions.

The workshop is led by a tutor certified by the United Nations in Sustainability and uses a digital simulation tool to demonstrate how personal, local and national decisions can shape long-term climate outcomes.

Another newly introduced course, ‘Opening up the Map: Exploring Townlands, Place-Names & Landscapes as Cultural Heritage’, offers a one-day workshop built around new digital tools and resources emerging from recent Queen’s research projects.

Participants will be introduced to historic Ordnance Survey maps, OS Name Books, place-name sources and linked archival collections, providing practical insight into local heritage, geography and landscape history.

Meanwhile, in Cookstown, a new course led by tutor Roy Nelson returns to one of the University’s oldest subject traditions with ‘Native Trees’ — a topic that echoes the botany lectures that featured among Queen’s earliest extramural classes.

Education open to everyone

Professor Katy Hayward and Dr Cathal McManus, Co-Directors of Open Learning at Queen’s, said the anniversary reflects a proud and continuing commitment to community education.

They said:

“As Open Learning at Queen’s marks 175 years of offering extramural courses, we continue a proud tradition of opening up education to the wider community. The programme is designed not only for registered students and staff, but also for those who simply wish to enjoy learning alongside others, guided by experts in their fields.”

The University said the courses are open not only to students and staff, but to anyone with an interest in learning in an informal and welcoming environment.

The programme spans categories from Creative Writing and Cultural Studies to Personal Development and Science, with classes scheduled during daytime, evenings and weekends.

Importantly, no prior qualifications are required, maintaining the accessible ethos that has defined the programme since its earliest days.

Queen’s has also confirmed that concession rates are available for people in receipt of benefits, helping to widen access further.

Enrolment now open

Enrolment for the Spring 2026 programme remains open until the end of April 2026, with courses running from 5 May to 8 June 2026.

The anniversary not only marks a significant chapter in Queen’s history but also underlines the continued relevance of lifelong learning across Northern Ireland.

For many learners, the programme offers an opportunity to engage with university teaching without the barriers often associated with formal academic study — a principle that has remained unchanged for 175 years.

For more information and the full programme, visit www.qub.ac.uk/ol or email openlearning.education@qub.ac.uk

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At a glance

• Queen’s University Belfast is marking 175 years of extramural education

• First classes began in 1851

• Original subjects included chemistry, anatomy and botany

• By 1856, courses had expanded into literature and Irish studies

• New spring courses include climate sustainability workshops

• Heritage-focused mapping and place-name studies also feature

• A Native Trees course is being delivered in Cookstown

• No prior qualifications are required

• Concession rates are available for eligible learners

• Enrolment remains open until end of April 2026

• Courses run from 5 May to 8 June 2026