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
Water for life free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Water for life

Atoms, elements and molecules are the building blocks of everything that makes up our world, including ourselves. In this free course, Water for life, you will learn the basic chemistry of how these components work together, starting with a chemical compound we are all very familiar with water.

Free course
15 hrs
COVID-19: Immunology, vaccines and epidemiology free course icon level 2: intermediate icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

COVID-19: Immunology, vaccines and epidemiology

This free badged course, COVID-19: Immunology, vaccines and epidemiology, explains how antibodies protect against viral infections and how the incidence of antibodies can be used to track an epidemic. The course incorporates an interactive on-line assay (ELISA) of the type that is used to detect antibodies against COVID-19 infection. The samples...

Free course
24 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
Fire ecology free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Fire ecology

This course explores the role of fire as a natural disturbance in ecosystems. It introduces the concept of a fire regime and its influence on the type and distribution of organisms that occur in fire prone ecosystems. It also looks at some of the adaptations of plants that have evolved in these ecosystems and how animals either avoid or exploit ...

Free course
4 hrs
Rings and polynomials free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Rings and polynomials

This free course contains an introduction to rings and polynomials. We see that polynomial rings have many properties in common with the integers; for example, we can define a division algorithm, and this enables us to develop the analogue of the highest common factor for two polynomials. Section 1 explores the abstract definitions of a ring ...

Free course
16 hrs
Influenza: A case study free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Influenza: A case study

This free course, Influenza: A case study, explores the biology of influenza, covering a range of topics including: the virus, infection, replication, mutation, immune responses, pathology, surveillance, diagnosis and treatment.

Free course
6 hrs
Visualisation: visual representations of data and information free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Visualisation: visual representations of data and information

Modern society is often referred to as 'the information society' - but how can we make sense of all the information we are bombarded with? In this free course, Visualisation: visual representations of data and information, you will learn how to interpret, and in some cases create, visual representations of data and information that help us to ...

Free course
8 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
Electronic applications free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Electronic applications

Electronics is fundamental to modern life. Take for example this free course, Electronic applications. An interactive website with videos and interactive software will show how electronic systems pervade everything we do; review some basic ideas of signal processing, control and communications; and allow you to use a digital filter to remove ...

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

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: Chisellers

Ever wondered why rats, mice and squirrels seem to reproduce at such an alarming rate? Rodents are among the most successful of all the mammal groups. In this free course, Studying mammals: Chisellers, you will learn more about some of the evolutionary features that make these creatures so plentiful. This is the third course in the Studying ...

Free course
10 hrs
Modelling events in time free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Modelling events in time

This free course develops ideas about probability and random processes. Sections 1 and 2 introduce the fundamental ideas of random processes through a series of examples. Section 3 describes a model that is appropriate for events occurring ‘at random’ in such a way that their rate of occurrence remains constant. Section 4 derives the main ...

Free course
16 hrs
Neighbourhood nature free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Neighbourhood nature

There is a fascinating world of nature all around us which we can see if we know how to look for it. Wherever you live, be it in a city or the countryside, you will find areas that support a range of wildlife. This free course, Neighbourhood nature, will provide you with basic scientific and observational skills so that you can go into your ...

Free course
1 hr