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With thousands of free learning resources across OpenLearn – from quick quizzes and interactive games to full-length online courses – it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s where our Top 10s come in.
These lists give you a real-time snapshot of what’s most popular right now on OpenLearn. Think of them as your shortcut to the hottest topics and most in-demand courses, chosen not by us but by the learners already exploring them.
Whether you want to dip into a bite-sized activity or commit to something bigger, the Top 10s are a great place to start.
Top 10 articles, hubs, interactives and videos
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Investigating Psychology Interactive
Investigate the conceptual and historical issues in Psychology with this interactive feature.
Take part now3
Level: 1 Introductory
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Try something popular
Need inspiration? Start with what’s trending on OpenLearn: our Top 10s showcase the content learners are loving right now.
Watch now4
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Discover OpenLearn on Spotify
OpenLearn now has its own channel on Spotify where you can watch and listen to our podcast - It’s All Academic - as well as discover more of our mini-documentaries, interviews and animations.
Read now5
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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 now6
Level: 1 Introductory
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Margaret Hamilton: Spaceship Programmer and Software Pioneer
Margaret Hamilton (1936–2026) was a pioneering software engineer whose groundbreaking work helped make the Apollo 11 Moon landing possible and laid the foundations of modern software engineering.
Read now7
Level: 1 Introductory
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Free online English Literature / Creative Writing courses
Discover these free English Literature and Creative Writing courses on OpenLearn.
Read now8
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The selective breeding of dogs
How does the selective breeding of dogs work? Why are poodles and German Shepherds different? What about designer dogs? This science article explores.
Read now9
Level: 1 Introductory
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Top 10 courses
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Exploring learning disabilities: supporting belonging
This course 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. Through these human stories the course considers the ...
Learn more1
Level: 1 Introductory
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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 more2
Level: 3 Advanced
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Everyday English 1
Improve your essential speaking and listening, reading and writing skills for work, study and everyday life.
Learn more3
Level: 1 Introductory
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Start writing fiction
Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and settings. You will also be able to look at the different genres for fiction.
Learn more4
Level: 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 more5
Level: 1 Introductory
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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 more6
Level: 1 Introductory
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The science of nutrition and healthy eating
Examine 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 more7
Level: 1 Introductory
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Midlife MOT: wealth, work and wellbeing
Introducing your Midlife MOT. Your midlife years – that is, when you’re between about 40 and 60 – will probably be a very hectic time indeed. You might have ended up in a challenging job, or you might be working hard to get one. You could be looking after the kids, your parents or maybe both. Maybe you’re putting time and energy into a whole new...
Learn more8
Level: 1 Introductory
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Leadership and followership
Explore what makes a good leader, recognise common leadership challenges, and identify the skills you need to develop if you want to enhance your own leadership experience.
Learn more9
Level: 1 Introductory
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Forensic science and fingerprints
This free course, Forensic science and fingerprints, covers how science can make fingerprints easier to study, how they are used in court and some of the questions about the extent to which fingerprint identification is sound and scientific. Students will learn the principles used in classifying and matching fingerprints (often called marks).
Learn more10
Level: 1 Introductory
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