Try our free courses

Don't know where to start?

Below is a selection of popular free courses from across all of our subject areas or you can view our complete list. If you find you are enjoying your study experience on OpenLearn and want to keep a personal track of your progress, sign up for a free OU account.

Subject area	Introductory courses	Intermediate courses	Advanced courses
Body & Mind	Introducing Social Work Practice	Factors that Influence Health	Infants' Understanding of their Social World
Education	Numbers, Units and Arithmetic	Working with young people in sport and exercise	The 'Why' and 'What' of Educational Leadership and Management
History & The Arts	Start Writing Fiction	Continuing Classical Latin	Voice-leading Analysis of Music: The Foreground
Languages	Beginners Chinese: Introducing Yourself	Intermediate Italian: La Famiglia	Learning a Second Language
Money & Management	The Importance of Interpersonal Skills	How to Frame a Business Case	Understanding Opeations Management
Nature & Environment	Studying Darwin	Understanding the Environment: A systems approach	Introducing Environmental Decision Making
Science, Maths & Technology	Galaxies, Stars & Planets	Computers & Computer Systems	Invention and Innovation: An Introduction
Society	Starting with the Law: An overview of the Law	Nuclear Power: Friend or Foe?	Young People's Wellbeing

Looking to brush up on your study skills? Check out this list of skills-related courses.

What are free courses?

OpenLearn contains study materials from actual Open University courses. These are materials from the same courses our registered students take – but online and free to the world! With over 650 free courses, spread across a range of subject areas, we hope you'll find something that interests you.

Free courses from OpenLearn can take anything from 1-50 hours to work through and are available from introductory to postgraduate level. Each has clear learning outcomes, and many have activities and sample answers to help you assess your progress. You can even download an activity statement when you have finished. To take advantage of our free courses, sign up for a free OU account and enrol on as many as you like.

Comments

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I have a problem finding

Glenda Adelina

01 May 201309:19

I have a problem finding assignment results is there a website that can help me?

Hi Glenda, Unfortunately we

Openlearn Moderator

02 May 201315:27

Hi Glenda, Unfortunately we can only help on OpenLearn queries, for OU Course/Assignment issues can you please e-mail general-enquiries@open.ac.uk.
Many thanks Glenda and sorry I can't be of more help.
Openlearn Moderator

Maths course extracts

Stephen Brown

18 Mar 201307:52

Is there an easy way of searching for courses on this site? I was looking for the modules from MST209 which are available here. Searches under the course, subject or module titles all produced nothing.
Browsing through the Maths "Try" section also drew a blank.
Eventually I found them misfiled under "Maths Education"
A search facility that works would help.

Hi Stephen, I've passed your

Openlearn Moderator

18 Mar 201310:54

Hi Stephen,
I've passed your comments onto the site development team for their information and consideration.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

undergrad

Mars Ryan Tiu

15 Mar 201314:35

i wasn't able to finish my college degree. and i don't think i could go all the way back in reviewing all of what i've learned.
i would like to know if i could take a course here? what courses will it be?
thanks.

Openings courses

Julie Hutchinson

02 Mar 201301:18

Hi
I'm thinking of an openings course but would like to more about funding.

Hi Julie, You will need to

Openlearn Moderator

04 Mar 201312:00

Hi Julie,
You will need to contact General-enquiries@open.ac.uk for information on funding and all Open University courses, you can also call them on +44(0) 845 300 60 90. Unfortunately we can only answer questions regarding OpenLearn here.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Open Learn

Charlotte Reisch

26 Feb 201317:12

I just came across your Open Learn site; I am very impressed....

Thank you for all the free courses; I thought I had to give up studying.

online courses

Kerry Revell

21 Feb 201315:31

hi im trying to find a online course but dont know how i can x

Hi Kerry Why not start by

Openlearn Moderator

21 Feb 201318:10

Hi Kerry
Why not start by browsing the subject areas above, and see if any of our free courses take your fancy? Alternatively, follow the 'Try our Free Course Extracts' link at the bottom of the page (in the Browse By Type section), where you'll be able to browse the entire collection.
If you're not sure how to go about trying one of our free courses, or are not sure what the difference is between these extracts from our course materials, and studying more formally with The Open University, then take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions page - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/about-openlearn/frequently-asked-questions...
I hope this has answered your question, and that you find something of interest!
best wishes, OpenLearn Moderator

Information

Elizabeth Daza

18 Feb 201316:14

Could you please help me? i'm new i'm trying to get the first lesson of the free course Ëssay and Report writing skills,but i don't see where? i opened the options at the left side where is the information about the course but i don't get to the lesson.
i really appreciate.

Hi ElizabethYou can work

Openlearn Moderator

21 Feb 201310:48

Hi Elizabeth
You can work your way through the unit either by following the links under 'Content' on the left hand side of the page, or by using the links with forward and backward arrows at the bottom of the page. It probably makes sense to work through the pages in sequence, but you don't need to. You'll also find activities are included on some of the pages.

Does this help?
best wishes, OpenLearn Moderator

Certificate enquary

Hafizur Rahman

19 Jan 201318:20

will I be able to get any certificte after completion an OU free course.

Hi Hafizur, I'm afraid the

Openlearn Moderator

22 Jan 201311:38

Hi Hafizur,
I'm afraid the study units on OpenLearn are not accredited. You will be able to run off a 'Statement of Activity' once you have completed the unit, these will be available next month, as we are still transferring across the user profiles.
Hope this helps Hafizur.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Progress not found

Angelina Metcalfe

10 Jan 201314:28

Hi there.

I have enrolled in a couple of courses and have skimmed over a few too but nothing is found within 'my openlearn'.

I thought I'd be able to work through a few courses at a time and that my progress would be logged along the way?

I'm confused. Can you please explain?

Many thanks :)

Scratch that!

Angelina Metcalfe

10 Jan 201314:41

The info just appeared so all is well.

Thanks.

Excellent, thanks

Openlearn Moderator

11 Jan 201311:16

Excellent, thanks Angelina.
OpenLearn Moderator

Activity record

Rosemary Macleod

09 Jan 201302:12

Have been working my way through a few courses and printing off my activity record which is great for my CPD. I have just come back to complete 'Explore Childrens' Learning but cannot find my activity record for this. Searched for hours and have found this really frustrating. It was so easy before.I have found my record with other courses listed but there is no record for this course.

Hi Rosemary, Your records

Openlearn Moderator

09 Jan 201310:46

Hi Rosemary,
Your records will be transferred over to the new system by the end of the month, they will all be available to view under the 'My OpenLearn' tab towards the top of the page. Due to the number of user records we couldn't transfer everything over in December and so are completing the process at the end of the month.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

If I start looking at a free

Hugh White

05 Jan 201318:36

If I start looking at a free course is this activity recorded anywhere so that I can access it easily when I next log in?

Enrol difficulties

Christine Churchard

24 Dec 201219:13

I also can't see how to enrol. There is no enrol button apparent when the free courses are clicked on.

Enrolling in a course

Vera Feaster

24 Dec 201204:27

How do I enroll in a free course? I find the try, the study, the explore, etc, but haven't discovered how to actually enroll in a free course.

Hi Christine and Vera Thanks

Openlearn Moderator

27 Dec 201215:54

Hi Christine and Vera
Thanks for your questions. We have tried to make our new site a little more user friendly by eliminating the need for the enrol button. You don't need to sign in to try the free courses, but the new system will automatically recognise you if you are signed in and record your progress on the units you are studying, these will be listed under the ‘My Openlearn’ tab at the top of the page.
Hope this helps, OpenLearn Moderator

How to enroll - question not answered

Vitaly Rutus

03 Jan 201321:15

Hello,

Your post doesn't address the main problem that I'm also having: how do you actually TAKE the free class? Right now, all it's letting me do in "try" is browse what I will learn, but no option to actually start taking the class. I am registered and signed in, still nothing. Help?

Thanks,
Vitaly

Hi Vitaly You take the free

Openlearn Moderator

04 Jan 201311:09

Hi Vitaly
You take the free course by working your way through the material, at your own pace, and at your own convenience. These are extracts from actual Open University courses, and many will have activities and sample answers to help you assess your progress. You can navigate by using the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons at the bottom of each page, or by using the 'Contents' on the left hand side of the screen.

There is further information about OpenLearn material here - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/about-openlearn/frequently-asked-questions...

If you are interested in more formal study with The Open University, where you have the support of a tutor, sit examinations and gain qualifications, visit the Study at the OU section of the main website to view the online prospectus - http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/

I hope this clarifies things for you, and you enjoy using the free learning material.
Best wishes, OpenLearn Moderator

Syllabus

Alexander Henry

21 Dec 201221:29

This is the first time I tried using this website. I want to enrol for a BSc in Maths but want to see details of the syllabus. With degrees from other universities there's plenty of information available including past lectures and exam papers. But with OU I cannot find anything. I have absolutely no idea of the standard of the course. I've written to the maths department several times but haven't recived a reply. I've phoned OU and been told this information is only available to students who have paid. I tried getting information on this website but haven't got further than a survey and a bogus phone competition.

Surely ther's a syllabus for every module and it should be freely available.

Before I pay £5000 a year I want some facts.

How do I proceed?

Dear Alexander I'm sorry to

Openlearn Moderator

27 Dec 201216:38

Dear Alexander

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling to find the information you're after regarding the maths syllabus. For others who may be reading this, it's worth checking out the 'Study at the OU' section of the website - http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/.

However, if you have specific questions that aren't answered here or in the FAQ section, then the best thing is to contact the Student Registration and Enquiry Service on this page - http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/contactus.aspx?cid=192

Hope this helps, best wishes, OpenLearn Moderator

Water Quality Test Kits Unit-now I'm irritated!

Ruth Mobbs

20 Dec 201203:30

I completed this unit in the middle of October only to find that the Statement of activity contained lines of code instead of page titles. I asked that this be sorted out then, I'm still waiting.
In addition the above unit is not listed under my 'enrolled' units, so even if this issue is now fixed I can't get the statement!

I took these unit to keep my skills sharp and to plug holes in my current academic knowledge and to increase my attractiveness to employers; but they don't beleive that something has been done unless you show them the piece of paper!

Can this be sorted out PLEASE!

Hi Ruth, We are in the

Openlearn Moderator

21 Dec 201211:03

Hi Ruth,

We are in the process of transferring all the individual user profiles across to the new system but unfortunately this won’t be completed until the end of January at the earliest. We’d like to reassure you that all of your studied units will be available then along with the statements of activities.

We have put some information up on the new look OpenLearn which can be accessed if you follow this link - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/about-openlearn/frequently-asked-questions...

Also the FAQ section can be found here - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/about-openlearn/frequently-asked-questions...

Hope this helps Ruth and apologies for the delay in transferring the profiles across, we’re working on it as fast as we can.

Many thanks and have a lovely Christmas.

OpenLearn Moderator

....Also should this

Kerisha Phillips

21 Nov 201200:49

....Also should this statement of activity show that the course "studied", have been completed? I ask because I didn't see any indication that I completed the course. It only showed viewed dates. How would this signify that I actually did the course? What proof will there be if there's nothing indicating that I completed the course and not just "viewed"? What will be there to actually show or proof to a prospective employer or someone in that capacity? Or was this shown only because some subject areas were showing "not yet viewed"?

Hi Kerisha, The Activity

Openlearn Moderator

21 Nov 201211:03

Hi Kerisha,

The Activity Statements are designed to be used to keep track of what you have studied and do not in any way guarantee that you have studied the unit, some people show them to employers but that is entirely up to each individual.

Each statement will only show the dates you were logged into that unit, the activity list will start at the introduction and end at acknowledgements, if you have viewed these pages whilst logged into the system each section will list the date and time you viewed the page. If, by mistake, you viewed the pages without logging in (which is very easy to do) the system won’t pick up that you have viewed the pages and will therefore say ‘not viewed’ when you look at the activity statement.

If you need any more information you may find the following links helpful -
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/about-openlearn/frequently-asked-questions
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/get-started#faq_76

Hope the above helps.
OpenLearn Moderator

The activity record is not

Kerisha Phillips

20 Nov 201217:31

The activity record is not showing the dates for some of the topics that I did. I have completed the course but according to the activity record some topics have no view date beside it. It's as if I haven't done them
. Do I have to review these same topics again in order to have a completed activity sheet? And why did that happen? Is there a problem?

After completing a "course",

Kerisha Phillips

17 Nov 201219:40

After completing a "course", I could not see the option of printing "statement of activity" to show that I have completed the "course". How do I get some help with that?

Hi Kerisha, the option to

Openlearn Moderator

20 Nov 201210:54

Hi Kerisha, the option to print your activity record is on the first page of the unit on the left hand side of the screen 'My activity record'. To use this option you will have to be signed in.
Many thanks and I hope you enjoyed the unit.
OpenLearn Moderator

Registration "Sign up" or Just "Sign In"?

Katherine Chisnall

15 Nov 201212:45

Hi there - I'm new on here (I only registered yesterday) and i wondered whether i need to 'sign up' separately for the Learning Space or does my student login count as me being signed up? I was looking for the 'activity' tab you mentioned after reading some resources on here but it doesn't show - i'm thinking it's because I've not signed up to the Learning Space/Open Learn although i am actually 'signed in' as my student reference. Sorry if this is a silly question!
Also, if I print it out to read or view it on 'Reader' as I'm on a Mac, will it still count towards my activity tab so i can print out that I've done it?

Hi Katherine, You don't need

Openlearn Moderator

16 Nov 201211:55

Hi Katherine,
You don't need to sign up separately as the system should pick up your details automatically, I will ask the technical team about the 'View my activity record' (left hand side of the page) being missing as I have just tried a unit and it seems to be working. We are in the process of migrating the entire LearningSpace site onto a new platform so sometimes things are not working as they should. I'll get back to you as soon as I have an answer.

Unfortunately, the system won't pick up that you have printed it out or that it's being studied on a reader.

Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Unit S230_1 Water Quality Test Kits issue

Ruth Mobbs

13 Oct 201207:23

Have downloaded my activity report for this unit only to find the Unit outline is composed of code rather than section headers! I'm trying to print it off for use at an interview on 16th October 2012 and its just gobbledygook!

Would be most grateful if this could be sorted out please!

Hi Ruth, The unit has been

Openlearn Moderator

07 Nov 201215:11

Hi Ruth,
The unit has been re-rendered and will be live on the 20th November.
Many thanks for your patience with this as well as alerting us to the problem, it sometimes takes a little longer to get these things sorted out.
OpenLearn Moderator.

Hi Ruth, Just to let you know

Openlearn Moderator

19 Oct 201213:52

Hi Ruth,
Just to let you know the unit has to be 'cleaned' then re-rendered, so unfortunately it will take a while. I'll let you know when it's done.
Apologies and thank you so much for letting us know about this one.
OpenLern Moderator

Hi Ruth, I'm sorry the system

Openlearn Moderator

15 Oct 201211:39

Hi Ruth,
I'm sorry the system isn't working properly for you.
I've passed your query onto the technical team in OpenLearn and they will come back to you as soon as they have fixed the problem.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Transfer of Open Learn Credits

Will Robey

10 Oct 201208:28

Are the free Open Learn Classes eligble for credit toward a degree?

Sorry Will, unfortunately

Openlearn Moderator

10 Oct 201210:49

Sorry Will, unfortunately OpenLearn isn't accredited and so there are no credits available.
I hope you are enjoying the units anyway though.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Missing Activities

Kara Chalmers

28 Sep 201212:41

I wanted to study Communication and Information Technology under the Skills section but there are no learning activities for these units. Are they available somewhere?

Thanks

Try here

Neil Harrison

28 Sep 201220:59

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4442

Neil

Hi Kara, Could you possibly

Openlearn Moderator

28 Sep 201213:40

Hi Kara,
Could you possibly let me have the url of the unit you wish to study and I will ask the producer of the unit to take a look and get back to you.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Actually I also looking for

Carolyn Campbell

10 Sep 201211:48

Actually I also looking for the Learning Space. I also want to know about it. This is one of the interesting kind of stuff which I ever want to know. Thanks a lot for such kind of posts. (Commercial website removed by OpenLearn Moderator 10.09.12)

Free Course

Amber Briggs

21 Jul 201216:17

I'm looking to further my skills in the business sector and boost my CV, would the free courses help boost my CV?

Hi Amber, You can certainly

Helen Weir

23 Jul 201210:29

Hi Amber,
You can certainly list the free units on your CV, however these are not accredited and so you will not get any certificates to show any possible employers.
Hope this helps.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Certificates - no matter how small count

Tarryn Bailey

02 Oct 201211:01

I saw yr comment to a post. I love open university & am trying to find ways to pay to start a course with the OU.
I think it IS important to provide people with printable certificates to smaller/short/ free course to:
a) prove that they have spent time on a certain subject - especially if you are looking for jobs this would prove that you are interested in bettering your situation and not just sitting on your bum - even if you CAN'T afford to do 'proper' courses at the time.
and
b) to give people the confidence to move on to a higher level of study.
and
c) Shows you are interested enough in a subject to want to spend time learning more about it even if you can't afford to.

I think OU learning space should go in a similar direction to Alison.com providing free courses but with inexpensive but printable certificates.

Hi Tarryn Many thanks for

Openlearn Moderator

03 Oct 201213:38

Hi Tarryn
Many thanks for your comment.
Although we do not provide certificates, each user can print off a ‘Statement of activity’, this shows the subject, dates and progress of each unit they are studying.
Hope this helps
OpenLearn Moderator

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