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
Analytical science: secrets of the Mary Rose
This free course, Analytical science: secrets of the Mary Rose, teaches you about the analytical techniques that are used in the research and investigation of historical objects using the case study of the Mary Rose. It covers the use of sonar to locate shipwrecks, and the analysis of the artefacts found on the ship, and the crew and their remains.
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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...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
An introduction to interaction design
From apps, phones and business systems to wearables, the Web and the Internet of Things, interactive products have become part of everyday life. But how can interactions be designed to best meet their purpose and offer good user experience? This free course, An introduction to interaction design, explores this topic. You will learn: what ...
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level 1: introductory icon
Nature & Environment
Life in the Palaeozoic
Fossils are a glimpse into the distant past and fascinate young and old alike. This free course, Life in the Palaeozoic, will introduce you to the explosion of evolution that took place during the Palaeozoic era. You will look at the many different types of creatures that existed at that time and how they managed to evolve to exist on land.
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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 ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Introduction to group theory
This free course is an introduction to group theory, one of the three main branches of pure mathematics. Section 1 looks at the set of symmetries of a two-dimensional figure which are then viewed as functions. Section 2 introduces an algebraic notation for recording symmetries and calculating composites and inverses of symmetries. Section 3 ...
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level 1: introductory icon
Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: Return to the water
Some of the most unusual and versatile of all the mammals are the groups that live, feed and reproduce underwater. In this free course, Studying mammals: Return to the water, we will see how these formerly land-based mammals adapted to a return to the water, discussing such challenges as breathing, movement and communication. This is the seventh...
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level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Health and safety in the laboratory and field
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This free course, Health and safety in the laboratory and field, will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved wherever you undertake your research, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this ...
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level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Manufacturing
How are designs turned into products? What resources, materials and methods are used and what set of activities goes under the heading of 'manufacturing'? This free course will introduce manufacturing as a system and will describe some of the many different ways of making products. We will illustrate how the required properties of the materials ...
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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.
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level 1: introductory icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Mathemateg bob dydd 1
Bydd y cwrs rhad ac am ddim hwn yn datblygu ac yn gwella eich sgiliau mathemateg hanfodol ar gyfer gwaith, astudio a bywyd bob dydd. Mae gan y cwrs bedair sesiwn, sy'n ymdrin â'r pynciau canlynol: rhifau, mesur, siapiau a gofod, a thrin data. Bydd digonedd o enghreifftiau i’ch helpu i symud ymlaen, ynghyd â chyfleoedd i ymarfer eich dealltwriaeth.
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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Mosquito resistance to insecticides
Learn about how allele frequency can change rapidly in a population in response to selective pressure by considering how evolutionary change can occur in insects that are exposed to insecticides. This free course, Mosquito resistance to insecticides, further demonstrates how traits that are advantageous in one environment can have effects that ...