How is the Certificate in Humanities different from the Certificate in Liberal Arts?

They overlap substantially. The Humanities Certificate is interdisciplinary across philosophy, history, literature and cultural studies. The Liberal Arts Certificate is broader still — adding mathematics, sciences and arts in lighter coverage. Choose Humanities for depth in humanities; Liberal Arts for breadth across the academic spectrum.

Do I have to specialise after the Certificate in Humanities?

No — but most students do. The Certificate is built to help you identify which humanities discipline most rewards your attention before committing to a Diploma or BA. Some students continue into the Diploma in Humanities for broader study; most pick a specialism.

Will the Certificate in Humanities help me get into a BA?

Yes. The Certificate is recognised as preparatory work by LSJHML and partner institutions. Credit articulates directly into the Diploma in Humanities and adjacent humanities Diplomas.

Can I take the Certificate in Humanities fully online?

Yes. The online route delivers live seminars, recorded foundational lectures and structured written-work feedback. Distance students work asynchronously to weekly reading deadlines.

Is the Certificate in Humanities academically demanding?

Yes — at introductory depth, but substantially. Expect 50–100 pages of reading per week and three short essays across the course. The course treats the humanities as the serious disciplines they are; the reading load reflects that.

Certificate in Humanities in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in Humanities at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a short, structured UK introduction to the humanities as a connected set of disciplines. Across three to six months you will sample philosophy, history, literature and cultural studies; read foundational and contemporary texts; and develop the close-reading and structured-argument skills that distinguish a humanities student from a generally well-read adult.

This Certificate is interdisciplinary by design. It works as a foundation if you are weighing up which humanities discipline to commit to at Diploma or BA level, as a refresher for adults returning to study, or as a structured personal-enrichment course for the working professional whose education didn't take the humanities seriously the first time around.

Key Features

Four-discipline survey — philosophy, history, literature and cultural studies, each studied for a substantial module.
Primary-text reading across all four disciplines.
Close-reading workshop — analytical reading techniques that transfer across disciplines.
Three short essays with structured tutor feedback.
Three study modes — on-campus, fully online, or distance learning.
Direct articulation into the Diploma in Humanities and adjacent humanities Diplomas.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in Humanities is built around the analytical literacy a humanities student is expected to demonstrate — careful reading, structured argument, willingness to engage with positions you don't share.

Foundational philosophical argument — ethics, epistemology, political philosophy at introductory depth.
Historical thinking — primary sources, historiography at introductory level.
Literary analysis — close reading, narrative analysis, comparative reading.
Cultural studies — text, audience, contemporary critical traditions.
Cross-disciplinary literacy — how humanities disciplines speak to each other.
Structured argument writing — essay construction across disciplines.
Source evaluation — what counts as evidence in different humanities disciplines.
Ethics of humanities work — representation, voice, contemporary debates.

Who This Course Is For

Adults considering a humanities degree who want a structured introduction before committing.
Returners to education exploring whether to study a humanities subject.
Working professionals (teachers, lawyers, civil servants, journalists) wanting the analytical foundation of humanities study.
School leavers exploring multiple humanities disciplines before choosing one.

Career Pathways

The Certificate in Humanities is foundational and analytical rather than directly vocational. It supports any career that depends on careful reading, structured argument and clear writing. Typical applications include:

Continued Study (Diploma or BA in any humanities discipline)
Junior Researcher (think tank, publishing, museum)
Civil Service Generalist (Fast Stream, policy roles)
Editorial Assistant (publisher, journal, longform magazine)
Teaching Assistant (humanities-related, with appropriate teaching qualification)
Communications and Public Affairs (public sector, charity)

The Certificate articulates into the Diploma in Humanities and adjacent humanities Diplomas at LSJHML.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age 16.
Secondary school qualification (GCSE/O-Level or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
No prior humanities study required.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.