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.
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.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Health, Sports & Psychology
Supporting physical development in early childhood
Are you involved in caring for or educating babies and young children either as a practitioner in the workforce or as a parent/carer? In this free course, Supporting physical development in early childhood, you will learn how to ensure young children do enough physical activity and how it improves child mental and physical health development....
Money & Business
Managing my investments
Gain the skills to manage your investments: analyse portfolio risk and plan your pension, with this free online course.
Education & Development
Conducting qualitative interviews: an introduction
An introductory level free course on conducting a basic qualitative interview. The course covers preparing for interviews, setting up an interview, familiarisation with research tools and obtaining informed consent. It then covers tips and suggestions for conducting the interview before moving on to after the interview and recording fieldnotes.
Society, Politics & Law
Introducing Black leadership
In this free course, you will develop skills to empower yourself as a leader. Guided by the Five Ps model of leadership (person, process, position, product and purpose), you will learn about the challenges and possibilities of Black leadership. Developing skills in communication, critical analysis and teamwork will promote competence in a wide ...
Education & Development
Inclusive Leadership: Collaborating for professional development
This free course will enable leaders and aspiring leaders in a range of educational settings to consider different approaches to leading inclusive professional development. Students will be introduced to concepts and practices for collaborative enquiry and contextually relevant professional development. They will be encouraged to reflect on how ...
Education & Development
Inclusive Leadership: Effecting change
This free course will enable leaders and aspiring leaders in a range of educational settings to reflect on key concepts for inclusive leadership. They will be introduced to the influence of values and emotions in leadership and consider how underpinning principles of social justice can change leadership relationships and interactions. Students ...
Education & Development
Making social media work in Higher Education
This free course explores the potential of social media as a space that can be used in higher education/University to enhance educational experiences. It examines how students can take advantage of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp to engage and connect with other fellow students and their lecturers. While, also examining the ...
Education & Development
Teaching the First World War
This free course, Teaching the First World War, is designed for history teachers and their pupils. It provides a wide range of visual, textual and oral sources to enrich the teaching of the First World War. It covers familiar and less familiar aspects of the history of the First World War, ranging from the debate on the origins of the war and ...