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
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Education & Development
Cynllunio dyfodol gwell
Mae Cynllunio dyfodol gwell yn gwrs rhagarweiniol ar gyfer unrhyw un sy'n ystyried newid swydd, sydd eisiau gwybod sut i symud i fyny'r ysgol neu ddychwelyd i'r gwaith ar ôl seibiant, a rhai sy’n awyddus i anelu at bethau gwell.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Education & Development
Supporting children's development
Supporting children’s development is an introductory course for anyone who is interested in children’s development, especially support staff in schools, such as teaching assistants. It builds on your knowledge and skills to develop a deeper understanding of children from the early years to school leavers. You will be introduced to some core ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Education & Development
Cefnogi datblygiad plant
Mae Cefnogi datblygiad plant yn gwrs rhagarweiniol ar gyfer unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb yn natblygiad plant, yn enwedig staff cymorth mewn ysgolion, megis cynorthwywyr addysgu. Mae’n adeiladu ar eich gwybodaeth a’ch sgiliau er mwyn datblygu dealltwriaeth ddyfnach o blant - o’r blynyddoedd cynnar i oed gadael ysgol. Byddwch yn cael cyflwyniad...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
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.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Badge icon
Money & Business
Effective communication in the workplace
This free course, Effective communication in the workplace, explores the importance of communication as a skill in the workplace. It aims to increase your understanding of communication skills and to help you to consider how your communication could be perceived by others. You'll cover areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, written ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Scales in space and time
Scale – dealing with the miniscule to the massive, over milliseconds to millennia – is central to all the sciences. In this free course, Scales in space and time, you’ll go to the absolute limits of what can be measured – all through a study of an oak tree! By studying it you will be introduced to concepts in physics, chemistry, biology and ...
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
Critical criminology and the social sciences
This free course, Critical criminology and the social sciences, will provide you with an insight into some of the main disciplines within the social sciences, focusing in particular on critical criminology. It will begin by outlining some of the defining characteristics of the social science disciplines of psychology, law, sociology and critical...
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Making sense of ourselves
This free course, Making sense of ourselves, introduces you to well-known psychological topics by asking and answering everyday questions, such as Why don’t we like one another? Why would I hang around with you? Do you see what I see? What’s the point of childhood? You’ll learn how psychologists can go about addressing these questions using ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
History & The Arts
Discovering music: the blues
This free course, Discovering music: the blues, will introduce you to a musical tradition with roots in the nineteenth century but which is still relevant to making music today. You will learn about how the lyrics of blues songs reflect the social environment in which they were created, and about the musical techniques that underpin the ...
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
History & The Arts
Exploring books for children: words and pictures
Many people have fond memories of the stories they encountered in childhood, perhaps especially of those wonderful picture books and illustrated tales which fired our young imaginations and transported us to magical worlds. To an adult’s eye, some picture books may seem remarkably simple, even oversimplified. However, in this free course, ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Nature & Environment
Introducing mammals
Mammals come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes, and yet all species have some characteristics in common. These similarities justify the inclusion of all such diverse types within the single taxonomic group (or class) called the Mammalia. This free course, Introducing mammals, offers a starting point for the study of mammals. It will ...
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Supporting and developing resilience in social work
What does it take to become a resilient practitioner in social work? This free course, Supporting and developing resilience in social work, will guide you through some important concepts. An understanding of ‘emotional resilience’ and ‘professional leadership’ will help to guide you through taking a positive approach to problems that arise in ...