Find out more about The Open University's Open degree.
Since 1999, The Open University has been making free learning available to everyone online. From 2008, all that learning has been in one place - OpenLearn. The site you're looking at now.
Transcript
OpenLearn can be used for free by anybody... But it's particularly useful for Open University Students.
Using your OU student username and password to log in, you can research your potential OU course or module before signing up, complete your student induction, or learn skills like note taking, revision techniques, essay writing or using online forums, that could all be useful for your studies.
All the content on Open Learn is written and reviewed by Open University academics - so you might even use OpenLearn as part of your OU module. Whatever you're studying, OpenLearn is also useful for acquiring valuable skills that will help you stand out to potential employers.
Any digital badges earned on OpenLearn are visible on your OU student record, they can be included on your CV and can even be shared on social networking sites.
In fact, we've seen that students who use OpenLearn tend to be more successful in their OU studies.
So, whether you're already committed to an OU qualification, wanting to improve your employment prospects, or interested in gaining new skills in between modules, OpenLearn is for you.
We've got thousands of ways to learn - short articles by academic experts from the OU and beyond; videos; podcasts - even, if you're really keen, free courses. You can find your own way through our content - navigate by subject at the top of the page; choose by type of experience at the top right of most pages - or look to the bottom, where subjects and experience are listed again. Or, to get started - why not see what's popular right now?
Top 10 articles, interactives and videos
-
Hitler's rise and fall: Timeline
Track the key events in Adolf Hitler's life, including his childhood in Austria, his decisions as Fuehrer of Germany, his leadership in the Second World War, and his eventual suicide.
Read nowArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Sperm counts
How much sperm does a man make? Would you explode if you don't release your sperm? Explore the male reproductive system in this article and video.
Read nowArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Do you have a photographic memory?
Can you hold an image in your mind by just looking at it for a brief amount of time? Try our photographic memory test and see whether you have eidetic memory.
Take part nowActivity
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Slip Slide Collide
Want to learn more about the Earth's tectonic plates? Start your journey into the surface of the Earth with these three quick-fire challenges in our science game.
Take part nowActivity
Level: 2 Intermediate
-
What was The Schlieffen Plan?
France to the west, Russia to the east; Germany had a strategic plan to prevent full-scale war in the early 20th century. So why did it fail?
Read nowArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
-
DIY: Generate your own electricity
Do you want to make your own electricity? Here's a step-by-step guide to making your own generator.
Read nowArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
-
About us
Welcome to OpenLearn - the home of free learning from The Open University. Are you looking for a new topic to explore, or wanting to dig deeper into something you've already discovered? Whether it’s a 60-second animated video or a 24-hour course you are after, you will find it on OpenLearn for free.
Read nowArticle
-
Explore your world with free learning from The Open University
We've thousands of free learning items across OpenLearn - from games to full free online courses. Need help with where to start? We've a few ideas right here...
Watch nowVideo
Top 10 courses
-
Exploring learning disabilities: supporting belonging
This free course, Exploring learning disabilities: supporting belonging, takes the real-life cases of a number of different people to explore what it is like to have the label ‘learning disability’. The course also considers how it feels to support someone with a learning disability, as a family member, a friend, an advocate or a paid worker...
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
Learn about the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course, Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting, explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Learn moreFree course
8 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Understanding autism
Learn about autism, one of the most challenging long-term conditions of the century. This free course, Understanding autism, introduces the autism spectrum, how it is experienced by individuals and families, and why it has become a global concern. The course explains how understanding of the autism spectrum and approaches to diagnosis and care ...
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Information security
Information security underpins the commercial viability and profitability of enterprises of all sizes and the effectiveness of public sector organisations. This free course begins by explaining why information security and its management are important for any modern organisation and to every individual. You need to be familiar with an ...
Learn moreFree course
10 hours
Level: 3 Advanced
-
Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
This free course, Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online, will help you to understand online security and start to protect your digital life, whether at home or work. You will learn how to recognise the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that they will happen to you.
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Effective communication in the workplace
This free course, Effective communication in the workplace, explores the importance of communication as a skill in the workplace. It aims to increase your understanding of communication skills and to help you to consider how your communication could be perceived by others. You'll cover areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, written ...
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Succeeding in postgraduate study
This free course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, will help you to become familiar with the requirements and demands of postgraduate study and to develop the skills and confidence to pursue your learning further.
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 3 Advanced
-
Supporting children's mental health and wellbeing
Do you have a professional or personal interest in the mental health issues affecting young children? Are you working with children or are you a parent or carer? This free course, Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing, is designed to give insight into the factors that are contributing to our youngest citizens’ poor mental health; ...
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
MSE’s Academy of Money
The Open University has joined forces with MoneySavingExpert (MSE) to produce this new free course to give you the skills and knowledge to master your finances. Packed with videos, audios, quizzes and activities the course covers all the key aspects of personal finance in six sessions of study that each take around two hours to complete.
Learn moreFree course
12 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
-
The science of nutrition and healthy eating
This free course, The science of nutrition and healthy eating, looks at the science behind nutrition, covering aspects of biology, chemistry and physics as well as giving some insight into healthier eating. Reading food labels, choosing healthier foods, hydrating appropriately and understanding how we taste food will allow you to be more ...
Learn moreFree course
24 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
What next?
Sign-up for a free OU account to join the OpenLearn community and access more features.
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest content.