Federation Of Family History Societies

Research Tips

Genealogy Courses

 

If you have got stuck with your research, or are not sure where to look next, or want to know more about the fascinating hobby of family history, you should consider taking a course to improve your skills. There are now a variety of genealogy courses to suit every budget, from post-graduate courses at university, to one-off lectures.

The first thing to consider is what your aims are. Do you want a qualification? Do you want to meet with other students in a classroom setting? Would you prefer to study in your own time? How much time do you have available? Are you interested in a general course or in specific topics? Can you travel, or should the course be online?

Many family history societies organise courses and if you are not already a member, the courses they offer might prove a very good incentive to join. Your local society should be your first port of call. Evening classes in genealogy are also held by some local authorities. These courses tend to be for beginners and recent starters in family history.

You can find out if there is a course in your area by visiting the listings on GENEVA at

http://geneva.weald.org.uk/

And also at

http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Genealogy_Courses.html

If you can travel to London, individual lectures and courses are also organised by the Society of Genealogists

http://www.sog.org.uk/events/calendar.shtml

The Institute of Genealogy and Heraldic Studies run courses that give a qualification in genealogy and are used as a route to becoming a professional genealogist. Their website is here

http://www.ihgs.ac.uk/

There is also now an Online Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogy available from Strathclyde University - they do have plans to open up to non graduates soon, so it is worth enquiring if that is your position:

http://www.cll.strath.ac.uk/cpd/genealogy/

and, there is a similar course, at a lower level at the University of Central Lancashire

http://www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/class/humanities/family/OnlineCourses/CoursesIntro.html

The University of East Anglia continuing education department are offering a Master's level course in Family History & Genealogy (Autumn/Spring terms 2008/9). Details can be found on the UEA website

If you are looking for something a great deal cheaper and shorter, this company offers a range of online family history courses over a number of individual subjects:

http://www.pharostutors.com

the Workers Education Association (WEA) is a registered charity which runs many Family History courses across the country. Their details can be found at:

http://www.wea.org.uk

There are also a number of Canadian and US online courses that could also be suitable for you. As long as you choose one that concentrates on British Ancestry, the sources and techniques are the same and you will learn a whole new perspective about how North Americans can effectively do good research from a great distance.