On-campus courses

The world is facing a number of inter-related crises from climate change, conflict, inequalities and threats to food security, pandemic disease, pollution, and habitat loss. This course will examine global crises from the perspective of broad Humanities disciplines to explore what we can learn by understanding their human and cultural context.

You will:

• Explore the implicit relationships between the global crises of today and their historical roots in colonialism, globalisation and industrialisation
• Examine how Western industrialisation fuelled the rise of empire and unsustainable extraction
• Explore how global crises are evident at local level and how cultural organisations have an important role to play in educating people about the effects of climate change and global inequalities
• Explore alternative futures through an examination of community-based responses to living sustainably.
• Visit places that highlight the themes of the course - heritage organisations, historical landscapes, eco communities.

After studying on this course, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate how global crises are evident in local communities and how they affect human cultures
• Formulate future-facing solutions to local and global crises
• Convey the past, present and future of global crises through visual media
• Use visual images and short-form text to communicate with diverse audiences
• Engage in peer review of visual communication.

This course is ideal if you want to understand more about the humanities’ distinct approaches to contemporary sustainability issues and the central role that culture plays as both a driver and potential solution to numerous global crises.

Teaching on this course will be delivered by lectures and project briefings, workshops, verbal and visual presentations and off-campus trips. There will also be directed reading before and during the course.

Assessment will be focused on generating visual media to promote engagement with the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Course Tutors – Charlie Pratley, Heather Alberro, and Katharina Massing.

School of Arts and Humanities

This course will introduce you to crime investigation techniques such as statement taking for victims and witnesses, evidence gathering at crime scenes and the subsequent management of evidence. You will also be introduced to investigative interviewing techniques for suspects utilising police models. You will look at mock case studies, and take part in interview workshops and reflective sessions.

You will:

• Examine fundamental principles, legislation and powers related to conducting investigations and interviews
• Explain the appropriate processes for gathering and managing evidence / information that may be pertinent to an investigation
• Define the types of evidence that may be obtained during an investigation
• Understand the two broad strands of evidence collection – securing physical evidence from scenes and securing evidence from people via interviews
• Look at crime-scene related issues that may be encountered.

After this course you should be able to:

• Review the responsibilities of crime scene personnel and outline the steps required to protect a crime scene.
• Chart and appraise the impact of key developments in police interview techniques on contemporary practices
• Assess legal and organisational requirements in relation to the interviewing of suspects, witnesses and victims and appraise the need for evidence-based policing within an investigation context
• Identify the correct recovery techniques for a range of trace evidence types
• Manage information relating to crime investigation
• Perform interviews in line with legal process and police policy.

Assessment: Police Witness Statement

Introduction to Crime Investigation

This course is ideal for students from all academic disciplines who have an interest in crime and crime investigation and would like an insight into how the police run investigations. You should have the required English language skills.

During this course you will explore the business case for design and creativity in the workplace. Working in teams you will explore and solve design problems, experimenting with creative approaches and thinking in design which may be new to you.

Through taught and practice sessions within the design studio, workshops, and seminars, you will build your understanding of how to visually communicate ideas collaboratively. You will use design methods as a tool for improving your observational skills and to create suitable outcomes, you will practice how to identify problems/opportunities and develop a line of inquiry through the design process.

You will:

• Learn what type of creative person you are.
• Learn how to visualise your own thought process.
• Explore where to find inspiration for ideas and how to translate these into concepts.
• Demonstrate your ability to use basic sketching and modelling techniques to show your thinking.
• Learn how to explore and unpack trends to identify focused themes and discover meaningful insights.
• Improve your project management, leadership skills, & verbal presentation.

After studying on this course, you should be able to:

• Appreciate the value of creativity and innovation in today's business environment.
• Communicate ideas and thinking and be able to apply techniques to do this effectively.
• Demonstrate knowledge of people's behaviour and experiences.
• Share critical evaluation and feedback with each other.
• Use sketching and modelling techniques to develop tangible concepts.
• Manage a project effectively.

Teaching methods: lectures, seminars, demonstrations, workshops, practical drawing exercises and research trips.

Assessment: presentation of your drawings, prototypes, and concept pitches.

This course is ideal for university-level business and marketing students who wish to explore their creativity by combining techniques from the design and marketing professionals. You should have the required English skills.

This course includes classroom-based English studies and plenty of time exploring the city, experiencing the culture, and applying your new English skills! Visits to attractions, museums and galleries are included.

You’ll also take part in interactive workshops, and work on a group project with your fellow students. The project will be related to the culture, history, and heritage of Nottingham or the UK.

You will:

• Complete engaging exercises set by an expert tutor
• Expand your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar
• Research a group project on a subject of special interest to you
• Be exposed to UK culture and regional accents
• Develop your formal and informal English language speaking skills
• Explore Nottingham and the local culture
• Build your confidence in English writing
• Present your project to fellow students.

After this course, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate improvements in your formal and informal English language speaking skills – including debating, clarifying, seeking information and reflecting
• Demonstrate awareness of conversational English vocabulary and grammar
• Transfer your English language knowledge to real-world situations
• Enhance your ability to communicate in English in a variety of settings
• Learn more about the UK, its people and culture
• Collaborate on a project with your fellow students.

Teaching methods: lectures, project briefings, verbal and visual presentations, and off-campus trips.

Students should have an overall IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent.

This course is ideal for undergraduate students who want to improve their English language skills and find out more about UK culture and history.

This course is for students who’d like to improve their English Language skills whilst learning about the culture and people of the UK.
This course provides a practical overview of the global financial markets and an examination of some of the common financial asset classes. The purpose of this course is to equip you with the skills required to analyse financial securities and to exploit market opportunities.

It focuses on:

• the analysis of the main financial markets and securities
• the analysis of financial statements, and
• the management of equity portfolios.

You will explore:

• Economic indicators
• Currency markets
• Financial statement analysis
• Fixed income (money and debt markets)
• The Stock Market: equity valuation
• Options: An introduction
• Introduction to Portfolio Management

This course is ideal for accounting and finance students and business students with an interest in financial and investment analysis.

After this course, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate a conceptual and practical understanding of how economic indicators affect financial markets and the valuation of securities
• Evaluate firm performance using financial statements
• Demonstrate a conceptual and practical understanding of the characteristics of securities and financial markets
• Apply basic principles of security valuation, portfolio management in the context of risk management and wealth maximisation
• Analyse information from different sources, to facilitate decision-making and provide solutions to common financial management problems.

Teaching on this course will be interactive. Lessons will be delivered via a combination of lectures, seminars, and workshops. You will also engage with experiential activities such as simulations and group work.

Course Tutor – Solomon Y Deku

Nottingham Business School

This course is ideal for students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate studies in Accounting, Finance or Economics, and have an interest in financial investment analysis.

This course is aimed at fashion design and marketing students who wish to explore design, consumer behaviour and brand development in a UK and international context. It will provide a link between the creative process of fashion design and an understanding of the fashion industry today.

You will work on a project researching, designing, and creating a new brand identity for a collection of your own fashion garments, accessories, or products.

You will be introduced to fashion design in the UK, looking at British designers such as Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen, and undertake fashion market research, looking at the different tools available to designers when identifying trends.

You will:

• Work on your own fashion collection – garments, accessories of products – responding to your brand research.
• Learn how British fashion brands have created a distinct voice in both the UK and international markets.
• Undertake fashion market research.
• Learn to understand the customer and how to create a consumer profile.
• Explore drawing and illustration techniques to create unique visuals of your collection.

After this course, you should be able to:

• Identify the principles of marketing and branding theory
• Identify and discuss the diverse global trends that influence consumer and brand positioning
• Demonstrate your ability to communicate well with others within the context of your work
• Illustrate your use of a range of established research skills to gather information and evidence.

Teaching methods: lectures, seminars, practical sessions in the studio, and off-campus visits.

Assessment: a brand report and a collection of fashion garments or products.

This course is ideal for university-level students who will have completed the first year of a course related to fashion design or fashion marketing, communication, or promotion. You should also have the required English language skills.

Nottingham is a vibrant city with a rich heritage – Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest, The Lace Market, and Nottingham Castle all make this the ideal place to learn about heritage through the lens of your camera. This course will teach you the necessary skills to capture the identity of a place in your photographs.

You will:

• Improve your understanding of digital photography and the manual settings of your camera
• Explore Nottingham’s history and heritage through photography
• Experiment with abstract shapes, colours and textures
• Use Raw processing and Adobe Photoshop to enhance and manipulate your images
• Print your own photographs in a darkroom
• Make a short zine of your work using Adobe InDesign

You will need a camera if you have one. This could be a digital or film camera. If you don’t have one then don’t worry, you can borrow one from the university - you will be using a variety of cameras including the ones on your phone!

After this course, you should be able to:

• Communicate a visual response to places and histories
• Evaluate your own work and that of others
• Demonstrate relevant technical skills
• Create photographs that explore ideas.

Teaching on this course will be delivered by lectures and project briefings, studio workshops, technical demonstrations, verbal and visual presentations, and off campus trips.

Assessment – visual presentation of your project work.

Tutors:

George Miles is a senior lecturer in the photography department at NTU. He enjoys seeing and understanding the world through a camera and is interested in working with students that wish to engage with the process of making pictures to ask questions about the world, themselves, and the medium itself. George has published numerous photobooks and his pictures have been exhibited internationally.

Jed Hoyland is a senior lecturer in photography at NTU. He works and teaches in digital and traditional analogue forms, offering practical workshops in the black and white and colour darkrooms and studios. Jed also teaches a variety of hand-made bookmaking forms.

This course is ideal for university-level students with a passion for photography and heritage and have the required English language skills.

Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) has become a significant concern and appears to be on the increase globally. Within this course we explore the motivations, activities and structures surrounding the overarching umbrella of SOC.

Using case studies such as the Japanese Yakuza and Italian Mafia, alongside British examples of Organised Crime to illustrate the links and progression from local to global, we will discuss the structures and hierarchies of Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) as well as some of the more prominent forms of organised crime.

You will examine lesser-known forms of organised crime - including slavery, trafficking of people, products or wildlife, and racketeering - and how these crimes are facilitated (corruption, money laundering, supportive legitimate enterprises).

This course is multi-disciplinary and would be suitable for students with an interest in this area and from a range of academic interests including criminology, sociology, law, and international relations. No prior subject specific learning is required.

After studying on this course, you should be able to:

• Critically assess a variety of interpretations, motivations and activities relating to national and transnational SOC.
• Evaluate impacts of specific OCGs along with their activities and the national and/or international criminal justice and policy responses.
• Independently appraise the legitimacy and effectiveness of national and international policy responses to organised crime.
• Effectively communicate and articulate a research-informed critical account of the activities of OCGs and responses to organised crime.

Assessment: a 5-minute oral presentation and defence of a report followed by a 10-minute Q&A.

Introduction to Serious and Organised Crime

The course is multi-disciplinary and would be suitable for students from a range of academic interests such as criminology, law, international relations, sociology and many other disciplines, with an interest in this area, but no prior subject specific learning is required.

The use of computer technologies is essential for everyday life. BUT just as computer technologies, devices and networking have been expanded, cybercrime has expanded too.

With increasing activities on the Internet, cybercrime is becoming an important study area. This criminology course explores the history, nature, and patterns of cybercrime, introducing students to its criminological study.

You will look at a series of examples and case studies of Internet-related crime which will highlight the diversity of cybercrime as well as its prevention and detection.

During the course you will explore contemporary issues and academic debates such as:

• The theoretical cybercrime framework (e.g., definitions, victims, and offenders)
• The motivation behind cybercrime (e.g., financial, personal, and political)
• Cybercrime means and methods (e.g., malware, platforms, and pathways)
• Cybersecurity and policing virtual spaces and cybercrimes (e.g., digital forensics and biometrics)
• Cybercrime trends and future directions (e.g., surveillance and data trade, AI, robots, and drones).

After this course, you should be able to:

• Evaluate the concept of cybercrime and its current and potential impact on globalised society
• Develop a critical awareness of the importance of how the online environment has changed the nature of victimisation, offending and policing.
• Critically interrogate sources of knowledge and information related to the constantly changing area of cybercrime
• Effectively communicate and objectively analyse sensitive ideas and concepts related to cybercrime cyber-security. From a criminological perspective

Course Tutor – Dr Tine Munk, Senior Lecturer in Criminology & Criminal Justice.

The course is ideal for university-level students who have an interest in cybercrime and cyber-security and have the required English language skills

This course will take you on a challenging creative journey from observational drawing to life study, and from drawing on location to more expressive mark-making techniques and creative approaches.

You’ll create drawings and collages that demonstrate how you respond to new experiences and the environment around you and uncover how your time in the UK can be expressed in art!

You will:

• Discuss the importance of drawing throughout history and how it remains relevant
• Learn how drawing is applied in the design world
• Practice drawing techniques used by professionals to convey 3D objects and spaces
• Look at the history of mark-making, from tribal crafts to contemporary design
• Complete exercises that experiment with tools and materials
• Record drawing through movements from the miniscule to the full body stretch
• Learn how you can turn simple marks into more confident drawings.
• Towards the end of the course, you’ll apply the skills learnt to one or more final pieces that will reflect your personal interests and approach.

After this course, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the creative process of drawing from sketchbook to final resolved image
• Describe how specific art history contexts and theories related to drawing are utilised in your project
• Use a range of drawing materials and techniques to demonstrate energy and expression
• Apply drawing techniques to effectively describe the human form
• Apply drawing techniques to create a sense of realism

Teaching methods: practical studio drawing projects, demonstrations of drawing techniques, lectures on drawing and artists, seminars to discuss your work and the work of others, and visits to galleries for inspiration.

This course is ideal for undergraduate students from all disciplines and abilities and have the required English language skills.

Explore the role of mathematics in modern financial markets!

This course is devoted to the study of how financial markets operate. It concentrates on mathematical models of loans, stocks prices and option pricing in the discrete and continuous time context. You will be introduced to a range of basic concepts and assumptions which are central to financial mathematics, such as viability, completeness, the arbitrage principle, self-financing and replication.

This course is ideal for maths students with no knowledge of finance or financial maths.

The course will cover:

• Applications of geometric series – annuities, sinking funds, mortgage and debt repayments
• Investment strategies – the no-arbitrage principle, fundamental theorem of asset pricing
• Portfolio management – mean-variance optimisation, and the efficient frontier
• Options – general properties, put/call parity, bounds on option prices, option pricing using the binomial model – the Cox-Ross-Rubinstein formula
• The Black-Scholes formula for pricing derivatives
• Financial engineering – the Greeks, delta hedging, delta-gamma hedging, delta-vega hedging, bear, bull and butterfly spreads.

After this course you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the role of mathematics in modern financial markets
• Evaluate, select and implement appropriate option pricing and risk management techniques
• Analyse standard models of financial market behaviour within a discrete and continuous time context
• Understand and evaluate the assumptions in financial maths modelling
• Apply mathematical knowledge to concrete financial problems

The course will be taught by lectures, seminars, and Scale-up workshops, and will be problem-solving based. The workshops will be used to develop the knowledge and understanding of the different mathematical models. You will work both individually and in groups to solve problems and present solutions.

Assessment: group presentation and a multiple-choice examination paper.

The course is ideal for business students who want to improve their mathematical understanding, and mathematics students who are considering a career in Finance.

Whether you’re an enthusiastic newcomer to her timeless written work, or an ardent Janeite, this short course offers a unique opportunity to add your own imagination to the fascinating enigma of Jane Austen and the charm of her very ‘English’ novels. You’ll learn about her history, explore her much-loved characters, and delve into Georgian society and fashion.

This course is about understanding Jane Austen’s literary classics but also includes a creative writing element as you will use this new knowledge to write in Jane Austen’s style.

You will:

• Read and analyse a selection of Jane’s work and take on the point of view of one of her characters to produce your own written piece in her style to share with the group
• Learn new literary skills
• Produce, format, and present a piece of written work for an audience.
• Visit Chawton House or Bath – two of the places that Jane Austen lived and where she wrote her most famous novels.
• The very ‘English’ style of Jane Austen’s work and the Georgian period are timeless. Her novels have gained significant popularity throughout the years and continue to do so.

After studying on this course you should be able to:

• Describe the historical setting in which Jane Austen wrote
• Explain the genre, literary devices and format that Jane Austen created
• Format a script or novel
• Write a short piece in the style of Jane Austen
• Use literary devices to improve your creative writing skills.

Teaching methods: lectures, presentations, quizzes, workshops, and research trips.

Assessment: verbal and written presentation of your project work.

This course is ideal for university-level students with a passion for English Literature and the work of Jane Austen. You will need good English language skills, particularly in reading and writing.

We live in a fast-paced and changing world, where we need “entrepreneurial citizens” who can act upon opportunities and ideas, manage dynamic careers, and shape the future for social, cultural, and economic good.

By undertaking this course, you will develop and increase your “entrepreneurial citizen” abilities to explore ideas and opportunities, develop your self-efficacy, resilience, and resourcefulness, and how to set goals/take action in uncertain circumstances. It will be of benefit/value to your personal development, the communities you live in and the organisations you want to work within or run.

After studying on this course, you should be able to:

• Set challenging, ambitious, and realistic goals for yourself ·
• Increase your self-awareness, develop a growth mindset and resilience strategies
• Use tools to generate ideas, select opportunities, and creative problem-solving techniques
• Create compelling narratives to increase your ability to inspire, influence and persuade others
• Develop strategies to deal with uncertainty, change and taking calculated risks
• Work and cooperate with others to develop ideas and solve team conflicts.

Introduction to The Entrepreneurial Citizen

This course is ideal for enterprising students from all disciplines.

The power of strengths and well-being for realising humanity's potential.

Explore the philosophical and practical foundations of strengths, well-being and other areas associated with positive psychological phenomena, including: love, gratitude, time perspective, nature connectedness, forgiveness, altruism, mindfulness, flow, and strengths. You will cover the background to research and theory into psychological well-being and Positive Psychology and explore why Psychology has focused more on understanding and treating the problems people experience, rather than exploring their strengths, their well-being, and uncovering their true potential.

Examine well-being from various perspectives including cognitive/behavioural, psychological, interpersonal, and environmental and gain practical, evidence-based, and empowering insights and tools on how to enhance well-being in a sustainable and meaningful way.

You will work together to see how psychological well-being can be impacted on a macro level and how Positive Psychological Interventions (PPIs) and lessons from positive psychological science can be used to realise humanity’s potential. During this course you will:

• Explore different types and conceptualisations of psychological well-being, and examine different models and ways of measuring it.
• Examine the ‘Science of Strengths and Virtues’ and their impact on health, well-being, and society, journeying through the recent history of strengths and exploring how strengths have been conceptualised and measured.
• Learn about time-perspective (i.e. our psychological relationship with objective time) and how it can impact many areas of our lives, including our well-being, psychological and physical health, relationships and success. Look at time-perspective interventions and their potential impact on positive psychological functioning.
• Explore the benefits of mindfulness and flow and be able to share different cultural experiences of happiness and well-being.
• Learn how to cultivate positive relationships by covering the challenges and benefits of interpersonal dynamics including kindness, forgiveness, altruism, and love.
• Examine Positive Psychological Interventions (PPIs), including Three Good Things, and how these PPIs could be designed for a range of people and settings

After studying on this course you should be able to:

• Identify the core scientific methods for carrying out positive psychological research and intervention
• Understand essential positive psychology concepts
• Recognise important principles for effective intervention planning with a positive psychology emphasis
• Apply positive psychological principles and practices to help yourself and others’ mental well-being
• Identify and apply core psychological strengths.

Assessment – presentation

Ideal for students from any discipline with an interest in this area and who meet our English language requirements.

Tutors – Glenn Williams Principal Lecturer in Psychology  / Edward Griffin Senior Lecturer in Psychology / Ryan Lumber Senior Lecturer in Psychology