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
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Transport and sustainability
This free course, Transport and sustainability, explores the issues around sustainable transport and how the role of technology and society can interact to lower the overall impact of transport.
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Medical statistics
This free course is concerned with some of the statistical methods used in epidemiology and more widely in medical statistics. Section 1 introduces cohort studies in which individuals are classified according to their exposure and followed forward in time to evaluate disease outcomes. Section 2 looks at models for cohort studies. Section 3 ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Toys and engineering materials
This free course, Toys and engineering materials, introduces engineering in context. It explores the variation in materials and composite materials, and provides real-life examples of material use in the manufacture of toys, and how the development of materials over time has influenced design.
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level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Introduction to differential equations
Differential equations are any equations that include derivatives and arise in many situations. This free course, Introduction to differential equations, considers three types of first-order differential equations. Section 1 introduces equations that can be solved by direct integration and section 2 the method of separation of variables. Section...
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level 1: introductory icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
The science behind wheeled sports
Please note: This course contains two Flash activities which are no longer playable. These are being updated. This course can still be studied, but you may like to postpone your study for now if you would rather have the full experience.
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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.
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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Working mathematically
This free course, Working mathematically, is aimed at teachers who wish to review how they go about the practice of teaching mathematics, those who are considering becoming mathematics teachers, or those who are studying mathematics courses and would like to understand more about the teaching and learning process.
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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Working on your own mathematics
This free course, Working on your own mathematics, focuses on your initial encounters with research. It invites you to think about how perceptions of mathematics have influenced you in your prior learning, your teaching and the attitudes of learners.
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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Digital forensics
Digital evidence features in just about every part of our personal and business lives. Legal and business decisions hinge on having timely data about what people have actually done. This free course, Digital forensics, is an introduction to computer forensics and investigation, and provides a taster in understanding how to conduct investigations...
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level 3: advanced icon
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Science, Maths & Technology
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM
This free course, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM, provides a toolkit for conducting Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). SoTL involves educators using their disciplinary knowledge to investigate a question about learning and teaching, gather evidence in a ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Introduction to computational thinking
You will learn about algorithms and abstraction in this free course, Introduction to computational thinking, and encounter some applications of computational thinking in various disciplines, ranging from biology and physics to economics and sport science.
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level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Basic science: understanding numbers
This free course, Basic science: understanding numbers, explains how you can use numbers to describe the natural world and make sense of everything from atoms to oceans.