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: 414 items
Mathematics for science and technology free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Mathematics for science and technology

Maths is intimately entwined with science and technology, whether it is used to analyse data collected on plants in the Amazon rainforest, to calculate the trajectory of a comet or design a bridge to connect two countries. This means that science and technology go hand-in-hand with maths, and that a firm grasp of maths is crucial for studying ...

Free course
24 hrs
Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease

This free course, Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease, will help you understand the basic principles of light microscopy, before introducing you to histology, concentrating on the structure, function and relationship of normal human tissues.

Free course
12 hrs
Basic science: understanding experiments free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Basic science: understanding experiments

This free course, Basic science: understanding experiments, introduces you to science-based skills through simple and exciting physics, chemistry and biology experiments.

Free course
12 hrs
Succeed with learning free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Education & Development

Succeed with learning

This course is for people who want to feel more confident about their learning skills. Informal in approach, the course builds on each person's own qualities, knowledge and skills to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of learning and of their own potential. It introduces some core ideas about learning and academic study, and some ...

Free course
24 hrs
Primary education: listening and observing free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Education & Development

Primary education: listening and observing

Would you like to volunteer or find work in your local primary school? Are you thinking about becoming a teaching assistant, or becoming a teacher in the future? In this free course, Primary education: listening and observing, you will have the chance to look inside primary schools, and watch and listen to children and teaching staff. You’ll ...

Free course
24 hrs
Personal branding for career success free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Money & Business

Personal branding for career success

This free course, Personal branding for career success, considers what a personal brand is and whether you currently have one. You’ll look in detail at theories and examples of personal branding, and relevant marketing processes and practices. You’ll identify the values, skills, knowledge and expertise that you want to promote to employers, and ...

Free course
24 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
Working in the voluntary sector free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Society, Politics & Law

Working in the voluntary sector

This free online course, Working in the voluntary sector, will introduce you to some of the main activities carried out by volunteers and staff, will give you some background on how different organisations work and will provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering, as well as to your every day life.

Free course
24 hrs
Succeed with maths: part 2 free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Succeed with maths: part 2

This free course, Succeed with maths: part 2, is a sequel to Part 1, in which you will continue to develop your mathematical knowledge and skills using everyday examples. The course takes a look at measurement of length, mass and volume, negative numbers and how to use these, scientific notation (based upon powers of 10), shapes and how to ...

Free course
24 hrs
Taking your first steps into higher education free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Education & Development

Taking your first steps into higher education

What is university study like? Is it for me? If you are asking yourself these questions, this free course is for you. Taking your first steps into higher education provides insights into how subjects are studied at university. This introduction to carefully selected materials helps you decide what you might want to study. You will be ...

Free course
24 hrs
Rising China and Africa's development: oil free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Society, Politics & Law

Rising China and Africa's development: oil

China has emerged as a global economic superpower over the past few decades. This has sparked intense academic and popular debate about the long-term implications of its continued growth. The expansion of China into African countries in pursuit of natural resources has incited particular controversy – does it spell increased cooperation between...

Free course
15 hrs
Particle physics free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Particle physics

This free course, Particle physics, will give you an overview of current concepts and theories in the field. You will learn about the fundamental components of matter – known as leptons and quarks – and the composite particles, such as protons and neutrons, which are composed of quarks. You will see that all particle reactions may be described ...

Free course
5 hrs