The course takes no more than 24 hours of study with learners typically completing it in 12 to 16 hours.
Is this course for me?
Managing your money really is a true skill for life. This free Open University course will give you the confidence and tools to be in control whether you are:
- still studying at school or college
- starting work or an apprenticeship
- going to university
In this video, radio presenter, maths teacher and University Challenge contestant Bobby Seagull introduces the course. Bobby also helps you in the course sessions.
This course has been awarded the Young Money Financial Education Quality Mark.
You study eight straight-forward online sessions of 1-2 hours each with:
- plenty of step-by-step animations and practical tips to help you straight away
- real-life case studies featuring current school students and university students who reflect on their experiences living away from home for the first time
- useful videos from money experts
There are also short quizzes to help you remember what you have studied.
You will learn how to make your money work harder and go further, online and at your own pace - at any time, you can save what you have done and return to the course.
This course can also be studied in the classroom as well as the home. To support study in the classroom, guidance for teachers has been included. This guidance has details about the course and suggestions about how specific sections can be adopted for classroom sessions.
Why spend 12-16 hours studying this free course?
- On successful completion, you are awarded an Open University Digital badge to download and share and this badge has recognised status with employers
- You gain the skills and tools to take control and avoid money worries in future
- You can use this course for your Duke of Edinburgh Award skills development
- You get free online tools to help you budget easily and effectively
- You get a free Statement of Participation to go with your other achievements
- You can talk about this independent learning in job interviews and on your university statement
Start the course now to be able to:
- understand how to choose and manage bank and savings accounts
- understand how to finance further and higher education studies
- budget effectively, throughout different stages of your life
- borrow sensibly and manage debts effectively
- plan ahead to make your goals financially achievable
Practicalities… Moving around the course
It’s good practice to open the course in a new window or tab, so you can easily return to where you’ve come from without having to use the back button on your browser.
There is a link to the next session in the ‘Summary’ at the end of each session.
If you want to return to the start of the course, click on ‘Full course description’ and use the links there or use the session links at the top of every page of the course.
Once you are signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition, you can download and print your OpenLearn statement of participation - which also displays your Open University badge.
This course has been generously funded by the
Chartered Accountants’ Livery Company Charity to ensure that young people have access to personal finance learning that will enable and empower them to make the best possible financial decisions now and in the future. For more information about the
charity go to Chartered Accountants’ Livery Company Charity website.
Learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- budget effectively, taking into account changes such as getting older and leaving the family home
- understand how to choose and manage bank and savings accounts
- understand how to finance further and higher education studies
- borrow sensibly and manage debts effectively
- plan ahead to make life's goals financially achievable.
The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to improve the course.
Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course! The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement. The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.
First Published: 12/04/2017
Updated: 09/01/2020