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: 198 items
The Moon free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

The Moon

As the only planetary body everyone is familiar with seeing in the sky, the Moon has long been an object of fascination and speculation. This free course will teach you about the nearest planetary body to Earth: the missions to the Moon, the basic facts of its composition, the cratering on its surface, and the ancient eruptions that flooded many...

Free course
6 hrs
Toys and engineering materials free course icon 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.

Free course
10 hrs
Linear programming – the basic ideas free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Linear programming – the basic ideas

This free course examines the formulation and solution of small linear programming problems. Section 1 deals with the formulation of linear programming models, describing how mathematical models of suitable real-world problems can be constructed. Section 2 looks at graphical representations of two-dimensional models, considers some theoretical ...

Free course
16 hrs
General principles of cellular communication free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

General principles of cellular communication

Learn about how cells sense and respond to extrinsic stimuli, a capacity that allows them to communicate with each other and to respond to changes in their environment. This free course, General principles of cellular communication, explains cell signalling pathways in general terms and identifies some of the universal characteristics of ...

Free course
8 hrs
Number theory free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Number theory

This free course is an introduction to Number Theory. Section 1 provides a brief introduction to the kinds of problem that arise in Number Theory. Section 2 reviews and provides a more formal approach to a powerful method of proof, mathematical induction. Section 3 introduces and makes precise the key notion of divisibility. The Division ...

Free course
16 hrs
Forensic science and fingerprints free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Forensic science and fingerprints

This free course, Forensic science and fingerprints, covers how science can make fingerprints easier to study, how they are used in court and some of the questions about the extent to which fingerprint identification is sound and scientific. Students will learn the principles used in classifying and matching fingerprints (often called marks).

Free course
10 hrs
Innovation through representation free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Innovation through representation

Innovations are realised through design, and some of the most useful tools in the designer's toolbox are the representations that are used to move from a vague idea, to a concept, and then to a realised product, service or system. This free course, Innovation through representation, explores what innovation is and how representations are used to...

Free course
15 hrs
Blood and the respiratory system free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Blood and the respiratory system

‘Don’t hold your breath’ is an expression you’ve probably heard many times, but may not have thought too much about. In this free course, Blood and the respiratory system, you’ll study why respiration is so important for life, including how air enters and leaves the lungs, how oxygen is transported in the blood, the many dynamic factors that ...

Free course
10 hrs
Diagrams, charts and graphs free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Diagrams, charts and graphs

Diagrams, charts and graphs are used by all sorts of people to express information in a visual way, whether it's in a report by a colleague or a plan from your interior designer. This free course will teach you how to interpret these tools and how to use them yourself to convey information more effectively.

Free course
5 hrs
More working with charts, graphs and tables free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

More working with charts, graphs and tables

When you encounter maths or technical content you'll need to know how to interpret this information, and possibly to present your own findings in this way. This free course, More working with charts, graphs and tables, will help you to develop the skills you need to do this, and gain the confidence to use them. This free course builds on our ...

Free course
15 hrs
Surfaces free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Surfaces

Surfaces are a special class of topological spaces that crop up in many places in the world of mathematics. In this free course, you will learn to classify surfaces and will be introduced to such concepts as homeomorphism, orientability, the Euler characteristic and the classification theorem of compact surfaces.

Free course
20 hrs
Introduction to computational thinking free course icon 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.

Free course
12 hrs