All our free courses
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level 1: introductory icon
Society, Politics & Law
The meaning of crime
Tough on the causes of crime'. A famous phrase, but what is crime? This free course, The meaning of crime, examines how we, as a 'society', define crime. You will look at the fear that is generated within communities and what evidence is available to support claims that are made about crime rates.
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level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
A Europe of the Regions?
What role will the 'regions' play in the emerging governance structures of the European Union? This free course, A Europe of the Regions?, examines the rise of the regions and regionalism in Western Europe. You will look at the possible development pathways for Europe: will it become a federal super-state or a decentralised 'Europe of the Regions'?
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level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
Engendering citizenship
How do you create citizenship? How do you feel you belong? This free course, Engendering citizenship, examines social citizenship. With particular reference to women and disabled people, you will look at the rights and obligations that develop within society to link people together.
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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
The database development life cycle
No idea how relational database systems are constructed? Did you know that they underpin the majority of the managed data storage in computer systems? This free course, The database development life cycle, has been designed to give you an overview of the developmental lifecycle for a database system, explaining the importance of data analysis ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
History & The Arts
History of reading tutorial 2: The reading and reception of literary texts – a case study of Robinson Crusoe
How have famous books been read and received by audiences in the past? This free course, History of reading tutorial 2: The reading and reception of literary texts a case study of Robinson Crusoe, is the second tutorial in a series designed to help users of the UK Reading Experience Database (UK RED) search, browse and use this resource, and ...
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level 1: introductory icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Motivation and factors affecting motivation
This free course explores the term 'motivation' and factors affecting motivation. This includes looking at the most influential theories of motivation that contribute to understanding the causes of motivation. The motivation of sports people and people working in sport and fitness environments are used to help understand the theories presented.
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Voice-leading analysis of music 3: the background
The music of Mozart has been used to examine the foreground and middleground of harmony in free courses AA314_1 and AA314_2. In this free course, Voice-leading analysis of music 3: the background, you will use Beethoven's Eighth Symphony to consider the largest-scale stage of voice-leading analysis.
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Helen Langdon's ‘Caravaggio’
Accounts of Caravaggio's life are filled with suggestions of murder and intrigue. But does knowing more about this dark artist's experiences help us to interpret his art? Or does understanding his motivations cloud their true meaning? This free course, Helen Langdon's 'Caravaggio', explores the biographical monograph, one of the most common ...
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Exploring a Romano-African city: Thugga
From Rome to Pompeii and Ephesus the excavation of Roman remains is well known, but what of Roman remains in Africa? This free course, Exploring a Romano-African city: Thugga, looks at the Roman city of Thugga and examines the influence that Roman architecture and art had on Africa and its people.
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Voice-leading analysis of music 2: the middleground
This free course, Voice-leading analysis of music 2: the middleground, continues our examination of 'voice-leading' or 'Schenkerian' analysis, perhaps the most widely used and discussed method of analysing tonal music. In this course, this method is explained through the analysis of piano sonatas by Mozart. The course is the second in the AA314 ...
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Voice-leading analysis of music 1: the foreground
This free course, Voice-leading analysis of music 1: the foreground, introduces 'voice-leading' or 'Schenkerian' analysis, perhaps the most widely used and discussed method of analysing tonal music. In this course, this method is explained through the analysis of piano sonatas by Mozart. The course is the first in the AA314 series of three ...
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level 3: advanced icon
Society, Politics & Law
Themes in discourse research: the case of Diana
This free course, Themes in discourse research: the case of Diana, introduces some of the main themes and issues in discourse research using Martin Bashir's famous interview with Diana, Princess of Wales as a case study. Through this it examines the role of discourse in shaping social interaction and its psychological implications for the study ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
The technology of crime control
How big an impact does CCTV have on your life? This free course, The technology of crime control, provides the opportunity to listen to an argument surrounding the purpose, efficacy and regulation of CCTV. Is it there for crime control or is Big Brother really watching?
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level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
Developing reading skills in relation to the Social Sciences
Have you ever wondered what skills are needed to get the most out of reading Social Science materials? This free course, Developing reading skills in relation to the Social Sciences, looks at how reading skills are developed and provides three questions that should be kept in mind when working through Social Science texts and extracts.
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level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Enacting European Citizenship (ENACT)
The term 'European citizenship' triggers an immediate association with the European Union, its member states, and people who are citizens of those states. This free course, Enacting European Citizenship (ENACT), develops another way of thinking about European citizenship whereby European citizenship need not be granted by the state, limited to ...
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Reception of music in cross-cultural perspective
Music is created to be performed, in most cases for an audience, whether in a concert hall, at a street fair or through a radio. But how those listeners receive a piece or style of music influences future music production. This free course, Reception of music in cross-cultural perspective, explores how audience reception, changing social ...
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level 3: advanced icon
History & The Arts
Minds and mental phenomena: an introduction
This free course, Minds and mental phenomena: an introduction, examines the philosophical questions surrounding the mind. You will examine how beliefs have changed over the centuries and be able to contrast the views of Descartes with more modern ideas.
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level 2: intermediate icon
History & The Arts
The repute and reality of being a Roman emperor
The Roman emperor had key relationships with several differing groups within the Roman empire, including the senate, the populace of Rome, the army and the provinces. This free course, The repute and reality of being a Roman emperor, will focus on exploring the emperor's relationship with the provinces and will show you how this relationship was...