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.

Grid List Results: 74 items
Crime fiction in French: le polar français free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Languages

Crime fiction in French: le polar français

Le polar, crime fiction, is the most popular literary form in France. In this free course, you will discover the origins and development of French crime fiction, along with its current status, before reflecting on whether it is simply mass entertainment or, rather, genuine literature of quality. You will discover some important authors and work ...

Free course
6 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
A short introduction to the English language free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

A short introduction to the English language

This free course, A short introduction to the English language, will look at the role language plays in our lives, with a particular focus on the English language. It will examine the history and the future of the language, from the Anglo-Saxons and Shakespeare to social media communication and stand-up comedy.

Free course
5 hrs
Get ready for beginners’ French free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Languages

Get ready for beginners’ French

When you hear people speaking French, do you wish you could join the conversation? Do you feel passionate about French culture and being more able to immerse yourself in it? Or do you have an opportunity to work in a French-speaking country? There are lots of reasons for wanting to learn French, so if you have decided that now is the time for ...

Free course
24 hrs
Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture

Building on the experience developed since the launch of the Open Centre for Languages and Cultures, this free short course provides an introduction to Ukrainian languages and culture. This course is for everybody who is interested in finding out about Ukraine and its people and wants to get a first insight into its rich cultural heritage. ...

Free course
25 hrs
An introduction to artificial intelligence free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Education & Development

An introduction to artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents great opportunity, but also significant disruption for modern societies and cultures. This free online short course investigates the historical, ethical and social issues surrounding this technology. It is aimed at people interested in understanding where this technology has come from, the kinds of ...

Free course
6 hrs
Describing language free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Languages

Describing language

This free course introduces you to the basics of describing language. Using examples from English, you’ll learn how words are built, how they fit together to make sentences, and what labels like noun, verb and adjective mean. You’ll see how language patterns in regular ways and how the meaning of a sentence is more than the sum of its parts. ...

Free course
24 hrs
Getting started on ancient Greek free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

Getting started on ancient Greek

This free course, Getting started on ancient Greek, offers a taster of the ancient Greek world through the study of one of its most distinctive and enduring features: its language.The course approaches the language methodically, starting with the alphabet and effective ways to memorise it, before building up to complete Greek words and sentences...

Free course
16 hrs
Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course

This free course, Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course, provides a brief introduction to the Tamil language and its scripts and sounds. You will learn how to greet people and introduce yourself, as well as how to count from one to ten. You will also be introduced to Tamil society and culture and will learn about the food and music popular in ...

Free course
4 hrs
Getting started with Italian 3 free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Getting started with Italian 3

In this free course, Getting started with Italian 3, you will learn and practise how to make enquiries about travel times using the 12-hour and 24-hour clock. You'll also have the opportunity to learn about the Tuscan Archipelago and about ferry services in Italy. The course also explores the Italian rail network and you'll learn vocabulary for ...

Free course
8 hrs
Getting started with Italian 2 free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

Getting started with Italian 2

In the free course, Getting started with Italian 2, you will learn and practise how to ask and say the time in Italian. This will include learning and practising how to ask and say the time using the 24-hour clock, which is commonly used for arrival and departure times and for the opening and closing of shops and services. The course offers ...

Free course
8 hrs
Upper intermediate French: discovering French cinema free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Languages

Upper intermediate French: discovering French cinema

This free course, Upper intermediate French: discovering French cinema, will help you discover aspects of French and francophone cinema. At the same time, you will also focus on grammatical points, such as expressing a comparison in French or understanding the structure of a sentence in the infinitive.

Free course
6 hrs