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History & society · British history

Island Stories: A History of Migration to Britain

From the Romans to the Windrush generation and beyond, this course explores the diverse peoples who have made Britain their home. We'll uncover how migration has shaped British identity, culture, and society, examining key moments, policies, and personal stories that reveal a complex, shared history

360 min8 modulesBeginner friendly
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Free to take. This course does not use any Learning Credits.

What you’ll be able to do

By the end of this course, you will be able to identify at least six major migration waves to Britain, explain their historical contexts and lasting impacts, and discuss how these movements have contributed to modern British culture and debates about identity

Course outline

A clear route from first principles to practical confidence

  1. 01

    Module 1: Before the Normans – Ancient and Early Medieval Migrations

    • The First Britons: Hunter-Gatherers, Neolithic Farmers, and the Beaker People
    • Romans, Angles, Saxons, and Jutes: Conquest and Settlement
    • Vikings and Danelaw: Raiders, Traders, and Settlers
    • The Norman Conquest: A New Ruling Class and Its Impact
  2. 02

    Module 2: Medieval and Early Modern Movements – Merchants, Refugees, and Empire

    • Medieval Migrants: Flemish Weavers, Jewish Communities, and Lombard Bankers
    • Huguenots and Palatines: Protestant Refugees and Their Skills
    • The Beginnings of Empire: Irish, Scottish, and Welsh Migration Within Britain
    • Enslaved and Free: Africans in Tudor and Stuart Britain
  3. 03

    Module 3: The Age of Empire – Migration from the Colonies (1700–1900)

    • The Slave Trade and Its Legacy: African and Caribbean Presence in Britain
    • Lascars and Ayahs: South Asian Seafarers and Domestic Workers
    • Irish Migration: Famine, Labour, and Community Building
    • Jewish Migration from Eastern Europe: Fleeing Pogroms and Building New Lives
  4. 04

    Module 4: The Twentieth Century – War, Commonwealth, and the Windrush Generation

    • World Wars and Refugees: Belgian, Polish, and Other European Arrivals
    • The British Nationality Act 1948 and the SS Empire Windrush
    • Settling In: Caribbean, South Asian, and African Communities in the 1950s–60s
    • Race Relations and Resistance: The 1960s and 1970s
  5. 05

    Module 5: Late Twentieth Century – New Migrations and Shifting Policies

    • Ugandan Asians and Other East African Refugees
    • Vietnamese Boat People and the Refugee Crisis of the 1970s–80s
    • European Union Expansion: Migration from Southern and Eastern Europe
    • The Asylum and Immigration Act 1990s: Tightening Borders
  6. 06

    Module 6: The Twenty-First Century – Globalisation, Brexit, and Contemporary Debates

    • EU Freedom of Movement: Polish, Romanian, and Other EU Migrants
    • Asylum Seekers and Refugees: Syria, Afghanistan, and the Channel Crossings
    • The Points-Based System and Post-Brexit Immigration Policy
    • Migration and Identity: Multiculturalism, Integration, and Belonging Today
  7. 07

    Module 7: Voices and Stories – Personal Narratives and Cultural Contributions

    • Oral Histories: Recording Migrant Experiences
    • Food, Music, and Fashion: How Migrants Have Shaped British Culture
    • Literature and Film: Migrant Writers and Filmmakers
    • Museums and Archives: Exploring Migration History in Britain
  8. 08

    Module 8: Looking Forward – The Future of Migration in Britain

    • Climate Change and Environmental Migration
    • Global Inequalities and Labour Migration
    • Technology, Remote Work, and New Patterns of Movement
    • Your Role: Engaging with Migration History and Debates