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
Badge icon
History & The Arts
A freelance career in the creative arts
A freelance career in the creative arts is a free badged course which lasts 8 weeks, with approximately 3 hours’ study time each week. You can work through the course at your own pace, so if you have more time one week, there’s nothing to stop you pushing on and completing another week’s study. This course has a specific focus on the ...
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
Money & Business
Companies and financial accounting
This free course, Companies and financial accounting, introduces you to the legal characteristics of limited companies and how limited companies raise finance through ordinary shares and loan capital. It also introduces the interests of company stakeholders, and looks at three different perspectives on companies and their role in society. ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
Developing leadership practice in voluntary organisations
This free course, Developing leadership practice in voluntary organisations, provides an opportunity for people who work within voluntary organisations, as paid employees or staff, to develop energetic, practical and thoughtful leadership practice.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
Managing my investments
Gain the skills to manage your investments: analyse portfolio risk and plan your pension, with this free online course.
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Marketing in the 21st Century
This free course, Marketing in the 21st century, offers a managerial perspective on how to deliver more effective marketing in an organisation, regardless of whether it is based in the private, public or non-profit sector. This is achieved through a variety of learning techniques, including case studies, videos, activities and group discussions....
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Badge icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Mastering systems thinking in practice
This free course, Mastering systems thinking in practice, provides a primer for someone wanting to take the postgraduate qualifications in Systems Thinking in Practice. It will help you develop new ways of thinking about and approaching situations that cross multiple discipline and skill boundaries. You will learn to think more holistically ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Badge icon
Money & Business
Introducing the voluntary sector
This free course, Introducing the voluntary sector, will guide you through some of the distinctive features and values of the voluntary sector, how organisations are funded and involve volunteers and other ‘stakeholders’ in their work. It will also provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering as well as ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Badge icon
Money & Business
Managing my money for young adults
This free course, Managing my money for young adults, will help you start to think about managing your finances. You will learn how to budget effectively, and will be encouraged to start thinking about your financial future.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
Gweithio hybrid: cynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol
Oherwydd pandemig COVID-19 yn 2020, bu rhaid i sefydliadau gynllunio ac addasu o fewn wythnos er mwyn symud eu gweithlu cyfan bron i weithio o bell, ac roedd yn rhaid i'r rheini a oedd yn gorfod aros 'ar y safle’ roi mesurau diogelwch ar waith yn gyflym. Roedd hwn yn ymateb byd-eang digynsail na fyddai llawer o sefydliadau wedi'u rhagweld a bu ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
Hybrid working: change management
Change is one of the constants in life, especially for organisations who need to adapt and evolve to ensure they meet the needs of their end users, stakeholders and staff to ensure they thrive and succeed. The COVID-19 pandemic forced accelerated change throughout the world, which could not be planned for, and rapid change programmes where ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Badge icon
Money & Business
Risk management
Recent decades have seen an array of news stories where risk management failings have undermined an organisation and dented the credibility of its management. These failings have led to the demise of some companies – for example Lehman Brothers, World-Com and Enron. Worse than this, in many instances the failings have resulted in deaths and ...