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: 66 items
The environmental impact of teaching and learning free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

The environmental impact of teaching and learning

This free course, The environmental impact of teaching and learning, discusses the impact on the environment of carbon based teaching and learning in Higher Education Institutions. It introduces a suite of innovative tools and resources which have been designed to help assess and identify ways to reduce these impacts.

Free course
10 hrs
Introducing environmental decision making free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Nature & Environment

Introducing environmental decision making

Many of the decisions we make have implications for our environment, particularly those concerning natural resources and waste. Taking account of environmental factors in decision making can be both complex and challenging. This free course, Introducing environmental decision making, considers decisions in their broader contexts and advocates a ...

Free course
24 hrs
Working with our environment: an introduction free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Working with our environment: an introduction

Global warming: are we responsible? Is our environmental impact damaging the planet? This free course, Working with our environment: an introduction, examines the use of ozone-depleting technology, the impact of fossil fuel use and explores how the development of technology can influence the direction of a society. From the Industrial Revolution...

Free course
11 hrs
Energy resources: solar energy free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Nature & Environment

Energy resources: solar energy

Energy from sources other than fossil and nuclear fuels is to a large extent free of the concerns about environmental effects and renewability that characterize those two sources. Each alternative source supplies energy continually, whether or not we use it, and most have their origins in energy generated outside the Earth, yet the potential of ...

Free course
2 hrs
Earthquakes free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Earthquakes

Earthquakes shake the ground surface, can cause buildings to collapse, disrupt transport and services, and can cause fires. They can trigger landslides and tsunami in short, earthquakes can be very destructive. In this free course, Earthquakes, you will look at why, where and what happens when they occur and also at how earthquakes are assessed...

Free course
8 hrs
Surface water free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Nature & Environment

Surface water

Water is arguably the most important physical resource as it is the one that is essential to human survival. Understanding the global water cycle and how we use water is essential to planning a sustainable source of water for the future. In the UK there are areas where water supplies are limited, as shown by recent droughts. Globally, there are ...

Free course
8 hrs
Biofuels free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Biofuels

This free course, Biofuels, investigates what is meant by a biofuel and covers the advantages of using biofuels compared with fossil fuels. The different types of biofuel are explored, with particular emphasis on transport biofuels. Finally, the issue of whether biofuels are the complete answer to our future energy needs is considered.

Free course
5 hrs
Why sustainable energy matters free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Why sustainable energy matters

Access to safe, clean and sustainable energy supplies is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity during the twenty-first century. This free course, Why sustainable energy matters, will survey the world's present energy systems and their sustainability problems, together with some of the possible solutions to those problems and how these ...

Free course
9 hrs
Studying mammals: Food for thought free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: Food for thought

Who were our ancestors? How are apes and humans related? And where does the extinct Homo erectus fit into the puzzle? In this free course, Studying mammals: Food for thought, we will examine culture, tool use and social structure in both apes and humans to gain an understanding of where we come from and why we behave as we do. This is the tenth ...

Free course
10 hrs
Studying mammals: The social climbers free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: The social climbers

Monkeys have long fascinated us because of their similarities to the human race. In this free course, Studying mammals: The social climbers, you will find out about some of the characteristics that make them so like us: their physiology, complex social interactions, large brains and intelligence. This is the ninth course in the Studying mammals ...

Free course
10 hrs
Studying mammals: Life in the trees free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: Life in the trees

David Attenborough looks at life in the trees: examining how species have evolved to cope with arboreal living. In this free course, Studying mammals: Life in the trees, you will learn how lemurs, anteaters, bears and many others have developed different methods to help movement and survival.

Free course
10 hrs
Studying mammals: The opportunists free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: The opportunists

Many mammals are food specialists, with complex adaptations that gear them toward a particular food source. So how do the omnivores survive and prosper without these fancy evolutionary features? This free course, Studying mammals: The opportunists, examines the physiology, diet and strategies of some of these opportunistic feeders. It is the ...

Free course
10 hrs