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.
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?
Try something popular
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No sex please, we're British! Featuring:
There have been major changes in sexual attitudes over the years, but what are the views of the ‘average’ British person in terms of sex? Try our sexual attitudes interactive 'No sex please, we’re British!' to see how your views compare to the majority.
Take part now: No sex please, we're British!No sex please, we're British!Level: 1 Introductory
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Do you have a photographic memory? Featuring:
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 now: Do you have a photographic memory?Do you have a photographic memory?Level: 1 Introductory
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A brief introduction to the Chinese education system
This article outlines the structure of the Chinese education system and the study hours expected at a Chinese school.
Read now: A brief introduction to the Chinese education systemA brief introduction to the Chinese education systemLevel: 1 Introductory
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Order your free print items
Posters and booklets from your favourite OU/BBC programmes.
Read now: Order your free print itemsOrder your free print items -
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Riches & Misery: The Consequences Of The Atlantic Slave Trade
What effects did the slave trade have on Africa? How did it develop the Americas? Could Britain have industrialised without the slave trade? Dr Will Hardy assesses the consequences of the Atlantic Slave trade.
Read now: Riches & Misery: The Consequences Of The Atlantic Slave TradeRiches & Misery: The Consequences Of The Atlantic Slave TradeLevel: 1 Introductory
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PhotoFit Me Featuring:
Would you make a good eyewitness? Photofit Me explores how we remember faces and challenges you to construct the face of a culprit or to recreate the face of a celebrity or even a friend! Test yourself with our interactive and see how good your face recognition abilities are.
Take part now: PhotoFit MePhotoFit MeLevel: 1 Introductory
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57 genders (and none for me?) - Part two
Meg Barker points to some of the problems with Facebook's new range of gender options.
Read now: 57 genders (and none for me?) - Part two57 genders (and none for me?) - Part two -
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Are you a super recogniser? Featuring:
Police super-recognisers have an above average ability to recognise faces and have identified a large number of criminals via CCTV footage. Do you possess the skill? Try our quiz to find out.
Take part now: Are you a super recogniser?Are you a super recogniser? -
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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 now: DIY: Generate Your Own ElectricityDIY: Generate Your Own ElectricityLevel: 1 Introductory
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How to respond to the climate emergency
Tackling climate change requires change at every level of society, and particularly in the systems and institutions of governance and leadership. As individuals, issues of climate change can feel remote to our own lives and leave us feeling disempowered. This article presents some ideas about how we can personally act in using the products we own differently, and reducing the environmental impact of those products across their lifetime.
Read now: How to respond to the climate emergencyHow to respond to the climate emergency
Take one of our most popular courses
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1
Understanding autism
Featuring:
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 have evolved. Key scientific approaches to studying autism are explained and illustrated, alongside substantial use of different personal perspectives. The course culminates with key topical issues such as autism in adulthood, and missed diagnosis in women. The course is suitable for all who need a clear, authoritative overview, and does not require prior knowledge of science or social science. It uses text, images and audio-visual media.
Learn: Understanding autism moreUnderstanding autismLevel: 1 Introductory
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Supporting children's mental health and wellbeing
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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; examining factors from a national and global perspective. By the end of the course you will have gained knowledge about strategies and interventions that will help you to understand how you can support children’s mental health and improve their wellbeing.
Learn: Supporting children's mental health and wellbeing moreSupporting children's mental health and wellbeingLevel: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
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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: Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online moreIntroduction to cyber security: stay safe onlineLevel: 1 Introductory
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Forensic psychology
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In this free course, Forensic psychology, you will discover how psychology can help obtain evidence from eyewitnesses in police investigations and prevent miscarriages of justice.
Learn: Forensic psychology moreForensic psychologyLevel: 1 Introductory
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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: Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting moreIntroduction to bookkeeping and accountingLevel: 1 Introductory
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The science of nutrition and healthy eating
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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 informed about the choices you make about the food you eat.
Learn: The science of nutrition and healthy eating moreThe science of nutrition and healthy eatingLevel: 1 Introductory
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MSE’s Academy of Money
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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: MSE’s Academy of Money moreMSE’s Academy of MoneyLevel: 1 Introductory
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Effective communication in the workplace
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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 communication and using your communication skills to overcome challenging situations.
Learn: Effective communication in the workplace moreEffective communication in the workplaceLevel: 1 Introductory
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The psychology of cybercrime
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In this free course, The psychology of cybercrime, you will explore different questions about cybercrime from a psychological angle in an attempt to better understand this relatively recent field of psychology. You will consider the realms and limits of cybercrime, distinguishing between the different types of cybercrime (e.g. trolling, cyber-stalking, fraud, hacking), the experiences of being victims of cybercrime and the causes behind engaging in these types of criminal activity. Finally, current interventions will be highlighted. Even though cybercrime is broadly encompassing all the different types of crime committed online, it is important to emphasise very early on that it is likely to be committed by offenders with different characteristics, motivations and behaviours than those who commit other types of crime. As a result, those online criminal activities share similarities with offline equivalents (e.g. fraud and online fraud). The interest in studying the psychology of cybercrime both from the perpetrator and victim perspectives has arisen in an attempt to understand what makes cybercrime unique or similar to its offline counterpart. Content warning Cybercrime victimisation can affect both adults and children who engage online. Please find links to two useful guides that give tips on to stay safe online: Cybercrime and online safety developed by West Yorkshire police 355355 Supporting your child’s wellbeing by the NSPCC 356356 This free course is an adapted extract from the Open University course DD802 Investigating forensic psychology357357. Explore the collection of Postgraduate study in psychology and criminology.
Learn: The psychology of cybercrime moreThe psychology of cybercrimeLevel: 3 Advanced
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Everyday maths 1
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This free course, Everyday maths 1, is designed to bring your learning to life, inspiring you to improve your current maths skills or helping you to remember any areas that you may have forgotten. Working through the examples and interactive activities in this course will help you to, among other things, run a household or make progress in your career.
Learn: Everyday maths 1 moreEveryday maths 1
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