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.

  • All topics
Grid List Results: 417 items
Introducing Union Black free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Education & Development

Introducing Union Black

This free course, Introducing Union Black, aims to build your confidence as a change agent for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Free course
1 hr
Approaching language, literature and childhood free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Education & Development

Approaching language, literature and childhood

This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course L301 Language, literature and childhood.

Free course
8 hrs
Promoting the effective management of children’s pain – part 2 free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Promoting the effective management of children’s pain – part 2

This is the second of two OpenLearn courses focusing on the effective management of children’s pain. The focus of the first course was on why pain matters and how a pain management framework can be used to deliver the effective management of children’s pain. This second free course further develops how to improve children’s pain management in ...

Free course
4 hrs
Physical and mental health for young children free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Education & Development

Physical and mental health for young children

This free course will increase your knowledge and skills and show you ways that adults, both parents and professionals, can play an active role in supporting and promoting good health in babies and young children.

Free course
20 hrs
Introducing music research free course icon level 3: advanced icon

History & The Arts

Introducing music research

Introducing music research provides you with insights into the wide variety of possibilities for studying music at postgraduate level. In this free course you will explore diverse musical topics through four themes: inclusions and exclusions, practice, technology, and community. You will encounter music from different times, places and genres ...

Free course
12 hrs
Diagramming for development 2: exploring interrelationships free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Digital & Computing

Diagramming for development 2: exploring interrelationships

Diagramming for development 2: exploring interrelationships, is a free course that introduces you to the diagramming techniques of Influence diagrams, Multiple Cause Diagrams and Cognitive Maps. Using a case study project based in Africa, this unit illustrates the powerful use of systems diagramming for international development management. This...

Free course
4 hrs
Returning to STEM free course icon level 3: advanced icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Returning to STEM

This free badged course, Returning to STEM, offers useful skills and solutions to help you get back into a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).

Free course
24 hrs
Introduction to Arabic free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Education & Development

Introduction to Arabic

In this free course you will learn the Arabic alphabet, vowels, and also a little bit about the history of the Arabic language.

Free course
4 hrs
Child mental health: is it in crisis? free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Child mental health: is it in crisis?

There is much discussion about the issue of children and young people’s mental health problems in the media, and we often hear this issue referred to as a ‘crisis’. But what does the evidence say? Are rates of mental health problems rising? In this course you will explore these important questions as well as delving into a case study of a young ...

Free course
3 hrs
Supporting climate action through digital education free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Education & Development

Supporting climate action through digital education

Education has a vital role in tackling the catastrophic impact of the climate emergency. However, there's abundant evidence that educators, worldwide, lack the knowledge and skills to effectively address the climate crisis in their teaching. This free course will equip you for designing and delivering online, blended and technology-enhanced ...

Free course
16 hrs
Empires: power, resistance, legacies free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

Empires: power, resistance, legacies

Empires have existed throughout most of human history. They have spanned the globe. They have influenced the way we are governed, our systems of trade, how we use technology, our relationships with the natural world. They have shaped how we have seen, mapped and divided the world. They have profoundly affected how we have understood and ...

Free course
8 hrs
Leadership and followership free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Education & Development

Leadership and followership

This free course, Leadership and followership, will help you to 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.

Free course
24 hrs