Was the Second World War Britain's 'Finest Hour'? This course explores the British experience of total war, examining the myths and the realities of the conflict. We will discuss how Britain fought the war between 1939 and 1945, focusing in detail on some of the most famous episodes, such as the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain, and the Blitz.
We will address the experiences of civilians on the Home Front: the challenges of rationing, bombing and evacuation; the vital roles of women in industry and the armed forces; the problems of crime and the black market. British government and society underwent a transformation, setting the agenda for a 'New Jerusalem'.
We will follow the political debates on the changing role of the state, new ideas about social welfare and economics, dramatic plans to rebuild cities and reclaim the countryside, and analyse how British people saw themselves in relation to their Empire and their new allies in America and Russia. We will use an array of contemporary material and media throughout, such as secret government documents, the diaries and letters of ordinary men and women, and evocative literature, artwork and wartime films
Period
04-07-2011 - 29-07-2011 (4 weeks)
Target group
The University of Sussex International Summer School welcomes applicants from a wide range of educational backgrounds. Although most of you will be currently enrolled at a university or college, we also welcome applicants who have been away from education for some years, as well as highly committed senior high school students - for some courses a good general education, an open mind and lots of enthusiasm are the main qualifications. For some other courses you will see that prerequisites are listed - applicants for these courses are expected to submit transcripts to demonstrate that they have taken, or are currently taking, the necessary precursors.
Course aim
This is a great opportunity for secondary school students to prepare for college and acquire college credit, which you will usually be able to transfer to a future undergraduate degree. The International Summer School provides an opportunity to meet and study with people from different countries and cultures, on a cosmopolitan campus. The large range of courses on offer allows you to get ahead with credit in core courses, or simply to experiment with something new.
Credits
9.0 ECTS creditsSummer School courses carry 18 credits and last for four weeks. Since the standard annual load for a Sussex student is 120 credits, this means that each course is equivalent to four and a half semester hours or nine ECTS credits. Students can take only one course per session, as the courses are intensive. You can expect to spend 25 to 35 hours each week on your course between attending classes, labs and workshops, as well as time spent outside class preparing the readings and assignments. You can find information about the courses offered by the International Summer School through our course directory or courses by subject pages of our website.
Course fee
GBP 1250: Tuition only (one four week session).
GBP 2350: Tuition only (both four week ISS sessions).
Course leader
Glyn Prysor
Scholarships
The University of Sussex offers a limited number of scholarships for participation in the ISS in the form of partial fee waivers to students from developing countries who have high potential for future leadership in their field of study or career.
University of Sussex
Address: University of Sussex Brighton
Postal code: BN1 9RF
City: Brighton
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/iss/
E-mail: issoffice@sussex.ac.uk
Phone: 00441273678406
Britain in the Second World War
