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.

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Grid List Results: 199 items
An introduction to geology free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

An introduction to geology

In this free course, An introduction to geology, you will explore basic geological processes, focusing on how, where and why different rocks and natural resources form across the Earth.

Free course
12 hrs
In the night sky: Orion free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

In the night sky: Orion

In this free course, In the night sky: Orion, you will explore the night sky, discover how stars formed and find out about exoplanets, all through the constellation of Orion.

Free course
24 hrs
Citizen science and global biodiversity free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Citizen science and global biodiversity

This free course, Citizen science and global biodiversity, deals with the importance of biodiversity and explores how anyone can contribute to and be involved in identifying and recording wildlife, as a citizen scientist. It looks at what citizen science is, and how citizen science facilitates public involvement in scientific research ...

Free course
24 hrs
Everyday maths 1 (Wales) free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Everyday maths 1 (Wales)

This free course will develop and improve your essential maths skills for work, study and everyday life. The course has four sessions, which cover the following topics: numbers, measurement, shapes and space, and handling data. There will be plenty of examples to help you progress, together with opportunities to practise your understanding. A...

Free course
48 hrs
Everyday maths 2 free course icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Everyday maths 2

This free course, Everyday maths 2, will build on your existing maths skills and help you to feel more confident tackling the maths you come across in everyday situations.

Free course
48 hrs
Everyday maths 1 free course icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Everyday maths 1

This free course, Everyday maths 1, is designed to bring your learning to life, inspiring you to improve your current maths skills or helping you to remember any areas that you may have forgotten. Working through the examples and interactive activities in this course will help you to, among other things, run a household or make progress in your ...

Free course
48 hrs
The science of alcohol free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

The science of alcohol

Alcohol plays a considerable part in the daily lives of humanity and has done for thousands of years. This free course, The science of alcohol, looks at the science behind the processes of brewing, distilling and vinification, and how many of our beverages are made. A historical aspect is also covered showing how the modern production techniques...

Free course
24 hrs
Mathematics for science and technology free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Mathematics for science and technology

Maths is intimately entwined with science and technology, whether it is used to analyse data collected on plants in the Amazon rainforest, to calculate the trajectory of a comet or design a bridge to connect two countries. This means that science and technology go hand-in-hand with maths, and that a firm grasp of maths is crucial for studying ...

Free course
24 hrs
Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease

This free course, Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease, will help you understand the basic principles of light microscopy, before introducing you to histology, concentrating on the structure, function and relationship of normal human tissues.

Free course
12 hrs
Basic science: understanding experiments free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Basic science: understanding experiments

This free course, Basic science: understanding experiments, introduces you to science-based skills through simple and exciting physics, chemistry and biology experiments.

Free course
12 hrs
Returning to STEM free course icon level 3: advanced icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Returning to STEM

This free badged course, Returning to STEM, offers useful skills and solutions to help you get back into a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).

Free course
24 hrs
Succeed with maths: part 2 free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Succeed with maths: part 2

This free course, Succeed with maths: part 2, is a sequel to Part 1, in which you will continue to develop your mathematical knowledge and skills using everyday examples. The course takes a look at measurement of length, mass and volume, negative numbers and how to use these, scientific notation (based upon powers of 10), shapes and how to ...

Free course
24 hrs