The Graduate School Lectures in association with the CLCC
“Culture is the process by which a person becomes all that they were created capable of being.”― Thomas Carlyle (1795 – 1881)
At a Glance
- Live online course
- 1 hour a week
- Tuesdays 18:00 - 19:00
- 10 weeks: October to December
- Tutors: Various
- Fee £65 (applies to all applicants)
- Imperial College attendance certificate (T&Cs apply)

In association with Imperial College Graduate School
The Graduate School Lectures, held in association with the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication (CLCC), is a 10-week lecture course in which we are going to explore a range of ideas in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Each week a different specialist will introduce their research subject, taking us into diverse worlds ranging from art history, literature, film studies and philosophy to design history, music theory and literature.
You do not have to be knowledgeable or an expert in any of these topics, as each week the tutor's task will be to explain their subject to you, the topic they will be looking at and giving you some of the basic to take your studies further if you want to.
There is no practical work, homework or preparation needed, just an open mind and the ability to spend an hour or so listening to expert academics from the arts, humanities and social sciences present some of the ideas that get them excited.
The course is confirmed and will be running in October - and you do not need to know anything about the topics being discussed or have any previous academic experience. These lectures are for everyone!
Course Information
Course Programme
Provisional Timetable - subject to change
- Tuesday 12 October 2021 - Benjamin Cannon on Thomas Hardy
- Tuesday 19 October 2021 - Sarah Davis on her art work Day Zero
- Tuesday 26 October 2021 - Emma Hardy on William Morris
- Tuesday 2 November 2021 - Deborah Trentham on the first botanical garden in Europe: the Botanic Garden of Padua
- Tuesday 9 November 2021 - Catharine Arnold on the Spanish Flu Pandemic
- Tuesday 16 November 2021 - Naomi Miller on writing her new novel Imperfect Alchemist
- Tuesday 23 November 2021 - Bruno Bower on Stories about Music
- Tuesday 30 November 2021 - Viv Lawes on the Huguenots
- Tuesday 7 December 2021 - Eleonora Sammartino on "The Problem with Melodrama"
- Tuesday 14 December 2021 - Sarah James on Mediaeval Pilgrims
Additional Reading
There is no requirement to undertake specific reading for this course.
Your Tutors
Each week a different speaker takes this class. We draw our speakers from a range of different departments at Imperial, including the CLCC, and also from outside Imperial College.
Course Delivery Method: Live Online (Zoom)
All our online courses are taught live which means you will be taught alongside other students on the course by a tutor at a specific time. To take part in the course you must be able to attend the online session at the time stated for the course description.
All times stated are British Standard Time.
To take part you will need a computer, or laptop, or tablet computer, connected to the Internet. The device you use will also need to have a camera, microphone and speakers. Most devices now have these built in, but if not you might have to buy them from a computer shop and to connect them to your device.
Zoom
This course will use Zoom as its online delivery method. Zoom is very easy to use and you do not need to set up a Zoom account to use it. Near the date of your first online session you will be sent an email with a web address (or URL) that will allow you to access the course. This is called the Course Link. All you need do is click on the Course Link in the email and you will be asked to enter your name. This is the name that will be seen by your tutor and other students in the class.
Once you have entered your name you might be asked to enter a password to enter the class. The password will be included in the email sent to you. Once you enter the password you will either be taken directly into the class, or asked to wait in a virtual waiting room until the tutor is ready to let you into the class.
We have also produced a Handy Guide to Zoom [pdf] which gives you basic information on how to use it.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Hours | Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | £65* |
£65* |
£65* |
| * There is no Early Bird rate available for one-term courses starting in October | ||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Applicable to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category, respectively.
Internal Rate
- Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
- Individuals enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Staff of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Current Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication (CLCC) staff, current CLCC PhD students, Science Communication (Sci Comm) postgraduate students, and students enrolled on an Imperial College 'Language for Science' degree programme should contact eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk before completing the online enrolment form
Associate Rate
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- City & Guilds College Association members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Natural History Museum staff
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal College of Art and Royal College of Music tutors and other staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many CLCC Evening Class and Lunchtime Learning programmes after the course has started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language Coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.
Applicable terms & conditions
Please read the Terms and Conditions [pdf] before enrolling on any course.
Term Dates
| Hours | Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | Summer School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 11 Oct - 18 Dec 2021 (10 weeks)* | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| * This is a one-term course | |||||
Enrolment Process
Web enrolment starts 2nd August 2021
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. Please click on the blue booking link on the relevant course page noting below instructions:
- Our rate categories are explained on the course page and your applicable rate category must be selected on the eStore
- First-time eStore users please create an account by entering an email address and password. These credentials should also be used for future bookings. Imperial College users please note the eStore is not a single-signon College system
- The booking process involves entering payment details after your course choice and applicant details are collected via an in-built questionnnaire
- The following email notifications are sent:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent instantaneously following submission of your online application |
|
| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
|
| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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| If you need further help with the above information please ring 020 7594 8756 |
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Any Questions?
Questions regarding the content and delivery of this course should be sent to the course coordinator, Dr Michael Paraskos at m.paraskos@imperial.ac.uk