Online Genealogy Courses
IHGS offers online genealogy courses and family history training for beginners, experienced genealogists, and those working toward professional genealogy certification and qualifications.
For more than sixty years, IHGS has helped family historians move beyond online hints and build evidence-based research skills using original records, proven methodology, and expert tuition.
Find the Right Genealogy Course for Your Experience
Whether you're researching your own family tree, hoping to strengthen your research skills, or preparing for professional genealogy work, IHGS offers structured online learning for every stage of your journey. From flexible Bitesize Courses to the Higher Certificate in Genealogy, you'll find a pathway that matches your experience and goals.
At a Glance
Three ways to study family history with IHGS.
Build deep research skills through the Higher Certificate, study focused topics with self-paced Bitesize Courses, or learn on demand through Anytime Talks.
Flexible distance learning
Learn at your own pace through distance learning, self-assessed online modules, and recorded talks.
From beginner to professional
Start with essential skills or progress toward recognized genealogical qualifications and professional practice.
Supportive genealogy pathway
The Higher Certificate route includes tutor guidance, continuous assessment, and peer discussion through the student forum.
Why Study Genealogy with IHGS?
Online Genealogy Courses shaped by evidence, records, and methodology.
Good genealogy study teaches you how to test a conclusion, not just how to collect names. IHGS genealogy education is built around evidence, context, and careful reasoning, so students learn how to move from online clues to properly supported family history research.
Methodology matters because family trees become unreliable when every hint is accepted at face value. Structured family history education helps you understand what each record can prove, where mistakes usually enter a line, and how to decide whether two pieces of evidence really belong to the same person.
British Isles genealogy often requires specialist knowledge of places, jurisdictions, parish records, probate, land, migration, nonconformity, and older handwriting. IHGS brings that expertise together through distance learning, professional genealogy education, and access to a historic campus and specialist library in Canterbury.
Structured study can save years of frustration by giving you a clear genealogy pathway instead of leaving you to piece together disconnected advice. You can also explore the wider IHGS world through About IHGS, Research Services, Heraldry Courses, House History, and News & Discoveries.
Flagship Program
Online Genealogy Courses: Higher Certificate in Genealogy
The Higher Certificate in Genealogy is IHGS's flagship distance learning program, designed for serious family historians and aspiring professional genealogists who want a structured route into advanced research.
- Expert-led distance learning for serious family historians and aspiring professional genealogists
- Study at your own pace while building specialist UK genealogy expertise
- A focused route toward Higher Certificate examination level and further IHGS progression
- Full course details, recognition, student comments, and enrollment options are available on the dedicated course page
Interested in becoming a professional genealogist? Explore career pathways in genealogy and how the Higher Certificate can help prepare you for professional research work.
Bitesize Courses
IHGS Bitesize Courses are self-assessed genealogy learning modules designed for flexible study around specific topics. Prices below are shown with approximate USD first and GBP in parentheses. USD prices are approximate and based on roughly 1 GBP = 1.35 USD as of April 23, 2026. Final charges may vary.
Elementary genealogy study
The Awaken Your Ancestors Elementary Family History Course is suitable for those who are new to family history, those who have already started but need guidance on how to do things properly, and those who are looking for inspiration on how to break down that brick wall.
$311 (£230) Learn MoreIntermediate family history training
A new IHGS course for family historians and genealogists who want to use genealogy land and house records to uncover the people, property, maps, deeds, tax records, wills, and local context behind a home. Especially useful when a family history brick wall needs more than a name-by-name search.
Launch offer: $483 (£360) • save $120 (£90) Learn MoreBuild on foundation-level research with this expert-led intermediate course covering probate, palaeography, military records, names, nonconformists, education, occupations, and professions.
$385 (£285) Learn MoreA practical introduction to Scottish Ancestry research for family historians who want to move beyond online hints and learn how to use Scotland's key records with confidence.
For family historians • 45 activities $608 (£450) Learn MoreAdvanced research skills
The Completing Your Ancestral Journey Advanced Level Course in Genealogy is a natural progression for those who have already completed the Awaken Your Ancestors and Broadening Your Family Tree family history courses, and it is also suited to the experienced family historian who wishes to gain a better understanding of a collection of valuable and accessible records that will help complete the ancestral journey.
$648 (£480) Enroll nowAnytime Talks
Recorded talks for focused, on-demand learning
IHGS Anytime Talks are recorded lectures by expert tutors, available on demand through the IHGS website. They are ideal for learners who want professional insight on a single topic without committing to a full course.
- Available whenever it suits you, with no scheduled class time
- Topics currently include newspapers, poor law records, local history, nonconformity, legal records, and more
- Most talks are priced at approximately $14 USD (£10)
- Pairs well with Bitesize study or as a starting point for a specific research problem
An English Village: How to Find out about a Place with Judith Batchelor
Buy now19th-20th Century Census Substitutes
Buy nowPoor Law
Buy nowTreasures of the Parish Chest
Buy nowTracing Your Illegitimate Ancestors
Buy nowTracing Your Nonconformist Ancestors
Buy nowScottish Heraldry at Its Best: The Thistle Chapel and the Knights of the Order of the Thistle
Buy nowUnlock Your Family's Legal Past Part 1: Establishing the Rule of Law
Buy nowUnlock Your Family's Legal Past Part 2: Manorial Courts
Buy nowUnlock Your Family's Legal Past Part 3: Quarter Sessions, Petty Sessions, Assize Courts and Old Bailey
Buy nowAn extensive working library supports the depth of IHGS research and teaching.
Located at the IHGS site in Canterbury, Kent, UK, the library is housed in a building dating largely from the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Built around the personal collections of founder and first Trustee Cecil Humphery-Smith, and expanded through donations and acquisitions, it now contains nearly thirty thousand items.
Much of the collection is unique and has grown to fill the length of the first floor, adjoining passages, and the walls of the lecture hall. Its holdings are designed to support IHGS staff, students, professional genealogists, family historians, and heraldists, with strong finding aids, textbooks, county source material, probate indexes, parish register transcripts, directories, pedigrees, maps, surname and place-name dictionaries, heraldic works, and original deeds.
FAQ
Online Genealogy Courses frequently asked questions
Quick answers to common questions about IHGS family history study options.
Which course is best for a beginner?
Beginners can start with Bitesize Courses or Anytime Talks for focused, flexible learning, while the Higher Certificate is best for students who want a deeper structured pathway from the start.
Are IHGS Online Genealogy Courses self-paced?
Yes. The Higher Certificate is designed for distance learning at your own pace, and both Bitesize Courses and Anytime Talks are flexible online options.
Can American family historians benefit from these courses?
Yes. Many American family history lines trace back to England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, so British Isles records, place research, and pre-immigration sources are often essential.
What is the difference between Bitesize Courses and Anytime Talks?
Bitesize Courses are self-assessed learning modules on specific topics, while Anytime Talks are recorded lectures that offer focused guidance without the structure of a full course.
Does the Higher Certificate include tutor support?
Yes. Higher Certificate students are assigned a tutor, receive marked assignments, and can also engage with other learners through the online Students' Forum.
Can the Higher Certificate lead to further qualifications?
Yes. It prepares students for Higher Certificate examination level and can lead on to the Diploma in Genealogy and further professional progression routes.