IHGS Heraldic Research
Understand the symbols behind your ancestry & become an expert
Learn from the experts and become the expert as you interpret coats of arms and uncover the history behind British ancestry and wider heraldic traditions. IHGS offers a Distance Learning Course in Heraldry for beginners and experienced students alike, together with optional online tutorials that deepen knowledge, build real expertise in heraldry, and prepare students to support others in their own research.
At a Glance
Expert-led online heraldry training for those exploring British Isles ancestry.
Study with a leading British institute from anywhere in the United States through an accredited, fully online course with self-paced lessons and practical assignments that builds real skill in interpreting coats of arms.
Flexible pace
Progress through the course in your own time, with guidance to complete it within six to twelve months.
Tutor-led learning
Each student is allocated a personal Tutor to review assignments and discuss queries throughout the course.
Recognized pathway
The six lectures cover the syllabus for Elementary and Intermediate heraldry examinations.
Why Heraldry?
Heraldry is the language, history, and inheritance of coats of arms.
For many Americans, heraldry first appears through a surname search or a decorative "family crest" product. That interest is often the start of something meaningful, but heraldry is more specific than a shared last name.
- A coat of arms was traditionally granted to a particular person and passed through the correct line of descent
- That means the coat of arms linked to a surname may not belong to everyone with that same surname
- Studying heraldry helps you understand what is accurate, what is assumed, and how to interpret arms correctly
- This knowledge can also be used professionally to support clients, strengthen genealogical research, and explain heraldic evidence with confidence
- These courses are well suited to genealogists, serious family historians, career changers, and anyone who wants to turn a long-standing hobby into income or professional expertise
Distance Learning Course
A comprehensive heraldry course designed for beginners and experienced learners.
The IHGS Heraldry Course comprises six lectures that build a comprehensive knowledge of heraldic design and language, together with a thorough understanding of how heraldry can be used for genealogical research.
- Six lecture modules supported by assessed assignments
- Practical work designed to put heraldic theory into use
- Select bibliographies in each module to extend learning
- Subsequent lectures released as assignments are submitted
Program Options
Choose the level of study that suits you
Whether you want a full structured course or additional study support, IHGS provides a flexible heraldry program that can fit around your existing commitments.
Heraldry Course
Designed for beginners and those with existing experience, the course builds lasting knowledge of heraldic history, practice, design, and language.
Jump to the course details
Online Tutorials
Our series of Heraldry Online Tutorials is ideal for those who do not wish to undertake a formal course or who want to complement their studies alongside the main program.
Explore tutorial options
Qualifications and next steps
Students who complete the program can choose to sit the Elementary and Intermediate examinations jointly issued by IHGS and The Heraldry Society.
See outcomes and next stepsShort Courses and Talks
Additional ways to begin or deepen your heraldry studies
Alongside the main distance learning course, IHGS also offers focused learning for newcomers and specialist interest sessions for those drawn to Scottish heraldry and chivalric history.
Heraldry for Beginners
This introductory course guides beginners through the fundamental elements of heraldry, including specialized language, traditional colors, heraldic design principles, blazoning, and the interpretation of heraldic shields.
By the end of the course, students gain a solid foundation in the vocabulary, structure, and visual rules of heraldry.
Price: £60, approximately $81 USD at about 1 GBP = 1.35 USD
Actual payment in dollars will vary with the live exchange rate and any card or provider fees.
Purchase Heraldry for Beginners
Thistle Chapel and the Knights of the Order of the Thistle
A recording of a live talk given by Lorna Kinnaird exploring Scotland's highest order of chivalry, its medieval origins, the order's 1687 refounding by King James VI of Scotland, and the heraldic richness of the Thistle Chapel completed in 1911.
The talk also includes an introduction to Scottish heraldry and highlights the stalls of the 16 knights, the Sovereign's stall, and two Royal stalls.
Price: £10, approximately $14 USD at about 1 GBP = 1.35 USD
Actual payment in dollars will vary with the live exchange rate and any card or provider fees.
Purchase the Thistle Chapel talkHeraldry Program
Online tutorials and study themes that support the main course
Alongside the main course, students can explore structured tutorial strands and source-based study themes that deepen practical heraldry skills.
Essential Heraldic Framework
Three tutorials cover key aspects of basic heraldic knowledge.
Framework 1: Language, Design and Description.
Framework 2: Blazoning and Introduction to Papworth.
Framework 3: Heraldry in practice, including Marshaling, Cadency, and Hatchments.
Blazoning tutorial series
Students can develop blazoning and heraldic identification skills alongside source work.
Topics include Blazoning and Papworth, Blazoning and Fairbairn, and Blazoning and Published Pedigrees.
Heraldic sources and exams
Heraldic Sources is an ongoing series focused on different source themes, with a different topic presented every four to six weeks.
The program also maps to The Heraldry Society examination pathway at Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Diploma level.
Enrollment and Timeline
Start when you are ready and study at a pace that works for you
Enrollment and fee
The course fee is £595. Students may enroll at any time, either by purchasing through the shop or by completing the Enrollment Form and paying the registration fee.
At an exchange rate of about 1 GBP = 1.35 USD on 22 April 2026, that is approximately $803 USD. Your actual payment in dollars will vary with the live exchange rate and any card or provider fees.
On registration, each student receives a voucher for three IHGS Heraldry Zoom Tutorials to supplement their studies.
Study period and extensions
There is no set timetable for progress through the course, though students are advised to aim to complete it within six to twelve months.
The standard enrollment period is five years. IHGS is willing to consider requests to extend supervision beyond this point if the request is made before the end of the five-year period.
Student Support
Personal tutor guidance, responsive marking, and a clear progression route
Personal Tutor
Each student is allocated a personal Tutor who reviews assignments and discusses queries throughout the course.
Assignment turnaround
Submitted work is normally assessed within two weeks, and receipt of assignments automatically releases the subsequent lecture.
Genealogy progression
Students who go on to undertake the Higher Certificate Correspondence Course in Genealogy will be exempt from Lecture 20: Heraldry.
Course Aims and Outcomes
What students can expect to gain from successful completion
Irrespective of whether they choose to sit the examinations, students who complete the program of study, including the submission of assignments, will develop knowledge they can apply immediately.
- Research an area of personal heraldic interest and write up a structured report
- Gain a thorough understanding of the origins, development, and ongoing regulation of heraldry
- Support others who want to learn more about heraldry or undertake their own research
- Prepare for the Elementary and Intermediate certificates in Heraldry if they choose to sit the exams
FAQ
Common questions about studying heraldry
What is heraldry?
Heraldry is the language, history, design, and inheritance of coats of arms and related symbols.
Does a coat of arms belong to everyone with the same surname?
No. A coat of arms was traditionally granted to a particular person and passed through the proper line of descent, so a surname alone does not guarantee a right to specific arms.
Who is this course best suited to?
It is well suited to beginners, experienced learners, genealogists, family historians, career changers, and people who want to turn a hobby into professional expertise.
How long do students have to complete the course?
Students work at their own pace. IHGS suggests a six- to twelve-month pace, while the standard enrollment period is five years.