Birkbeck expands short course portfolio for 2026-27
Following the successful launch of a new range of short courses in 2025, Birkbeck is expanding its offer for 2026-27, introducing new opportunities for learners to develop professional skills, advance their careers and explore areas of personal interest.
Developed by Birkbeck's Innovation Unit, the expanded programme responds to growing demand for flexible, expert-led learning opportunities that support career development and professional upskilling. Courses are available across three themes: Creative Industries, Counselling and Psychotherapy and Executive Education.
With Creative Industries programmes, Birkbeck will be re-running its popular, introductory creative writing series and its directing course, and further specialised courses for certain genres and advanced writers have been added. Discover the Creative Industries short courses.
The Counselling and Psychotherapy offer continues to support continuing professional development, with specialist programmes focused on therapeutic work with infants, children and adolescents. Find out more about the Counselling and Psychotherapy courses available.
The Executive Education portfolio has been expanded to include additional Finance for Non-Finance Managers courses, the return of the popular Ethical Influence and Persuasion programme, and a new one-day Net Zero Accelerator course focused on helping businesses reduce carbon emissions. Read more about the Executive Education short courses on offer.
Andy Colley, Director of Innovation, said:
“We’re really pleased to be expanding our short course offer for 2026-27, with a fantastic mix of new courses across creative writing, finance, sustainability, psychotherapy and the arts. Alongside opportunities for personal enrichment, these courses play an important role in continuing professional development, helping learners build new skills, deepen their expertise and respond to the changing demands of the workplace. The new portfolio reflects both the breadth of expertise across the university and our commitment to flexible, accessible lifelong learning.”
Further expansion is planned for spring 2027, with new programmes in professional cybersecurity certification, small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) masterclasses and additional specialist writing courses for more niche genres currently in development.