Free courses
Produced by The Open University, a world leader in open and distance learning, all OpenLearn courses are free to study. We offer nearly 1000 free courses across 9 different subject areas. Our courses are available to start right away.
- Sport & Fitness
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Talking about the menopause: symptoms, support and the role of exercise
This free OpenLearn course is designed to help anyone whose life is affected by the menopause. No matter what gender you identify with, this transitional phase can affect people in all sorts of ways, so this course is open to all. The objectives are to empower everyone, by increasing knowledge of what the menopause is and the effects it can ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Developing employability through sport and physical activity
While many people recognise the positive impact of engaging in sport and/or physical activity on their physical and mental well-being, research indicates that participation can also equip us with valuable skills that enhance our employability. Engaging in sport and physical activity provides opportunities to develop a diverse skill set that can ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
The football World Cup: where sport and politics collide
Occasionally, controversies arise that remind us of the link between sport and politics. It was once common for leading figures in the sporting world to declare that sport was, effectively, a politics-free zone. Sport was cast as the perpetual innocent party, liable to be corrupted by any connection with politics. However, it has become ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Supporting female performance in sport and fitness
Do you support women’s performance in sport or fitness as a coach or parent? Are you a female athlete who wants to optimise your performance using recent research insights? If so, then this free course is for you. It addresses the problem of sports science research traditionally being male dominated and the assumption that if it works for men ...
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Money & Business
The business of football
This free course, The business of football, was produced by The Open University working in partnership with The English Football League Trust. If you are fascinated by men's and women's football and interested in discovering more about business and management, then this engaging and stimulating course is for you.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role
Are you a carer? Or do you work with a carer, or know someone who one? This free course, Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role, is designed to give an insight into the demands, both physically and mentally, of the caring role and look at how taking part in physical activity can offer benefits to the health and wellbeing ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Developing resilience in sport
In this free course, Developing resilience in sport, you will explore how the concept of resilience can support athletes on their athletic development journey. You will examine how resilience can act as a buffer to protect against the challenges that might be faced by athletes and coaches. The protective qualities of resilience make it an ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Ymarfer corff ac iechyd meddwl
Yn flynyddol caiff miloedd o bunnoedd eu gwario ar feddyginiaethau i drin cyflyrau megis gorbryder ac iselder. Mae gan y meddyginiaethau hyn sgil effeithiau negyddol yn aml. Mae ymarfer corff yn driniaeth amgen sy'n isel ei chost ac yn isel o ran niferoedd o sgil effeithiau. Fel rhan o'r cwrs rhad ac am ddim hwn, Ymarfer Corff ac Iechyd Meddwl, ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Training for speed and power in sport and fitness
In this free course you will explore two aspects of strength and conditioning in sport and fitness: speed and power. Strength and conditioning is the physical preparation of athletes and in this course you will explore the physiology of speed before looking at training methods to develop speed. You will also look at power which is a concept ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
The athlete’s journey: transitions through sport
The athlete’s journey through sport can be characterised by several transitions and periods of change. This course is designed to help you understand that journey, whether in reference to a professional or recreational athlete, and the nature of support they may need at different times. The course also provides practical guidance, whether ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Training for endurance in sport and fitness
In this free course you will explore an important aspect of strength and conditioning which refers to the physical preparation of athletes: endurance. You will look at the physiological factors that underpin endurance and assess how endurance can be developed relative to performance in a range of sports.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Exploring the psychological aspects of sport injury
Have you ever experienced a sport injury? Have you ever thought there could be a psychological dimension to sport injuries, as well as a physical one? Sport injury is relatively common among sport and exercise participants, and while the physical impact of injury is often easy to recognise, the psychological impact is less obvious. In this ...