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
Grid List Results: 199 items
Living without oil free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Living without oil

Crude oil is currently our most important global source of energy. It is vital in the manufacture of many modern materials. But the worlds supply of oil is finite, its price is unstable and our reliance on oil has damaging environmental consequences. This free course, Living without oil, explains why developing alternatives to oil is an ...

Free course
8 hrs
Studying mammals: The opportunists free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: The opportunists

Many mammals are food specialists, with complex adaptations that gear them toward a particular food source. So how do the omnivores survive and prosper without these fancy evolutionary features? This free course, Studying mammals: The opportunists, examines the physiology, diet and strategies of some of these opportunistic feeders. It is the ...

Free course
10 hrs
Studying mammals: Food for thought free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: Food for thought

Who were our ancestors? How are apes and humans related? And where does the extinct Homo erectus fit into the puzzle? In this free course, Studying mammals: Food for thought, we will examine culture, tool use and social structure in both apes and humans to gain an understanding of where we come from and why we behave as we do. This is the tenth ...

Free course
10 hrs
An introduction to software development free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

An introduction to software development

Software development is the practice of organising the design and construction of software, the beating heart of much technology fundamental to our personal and professional life. This free introductory course, An introduction to software development, discusses the engineering nature of software development, its challenges and some ...

Free course
6 hrs
Working with charts, graphs and tables free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Working with charts, graphs and tables

When you come across information represented in charts, graphs and tables, you'll need to know how to interpret this information. This free course, Working with charts, graphs and tables, will help you to develop the skills you need to do this. For further study, there's another course titled 'More working with charts, graphs and tables' which ...

Free course
15 hrs
People-centred designing free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

People-centred designing

Designed products surround us all and range from bus tickets to buildings. This free course, People-centred designing, focuses firmly on usability and the increasingly important phenomenon of people-centred design. It aims to inform consumers of design (i.e., all of us) about this crucial characteristic of design. In addition to stimulating ...

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
Introduction to linear equations and matrices free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Introduction to linear equations and matrices

In this free course, matrices are used as a concise way of representing systems of linear equations which occur frequently in mathematics. Section 1 looks at simultaneous linear equations in two and three unknowns and then generalises the ideas to systems of linear equations. Section 2 develops a strategy for solving systems of linear equations....

Free course
16 hrs
Everyday maths 2 (Wales) free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Everyday maths 2 (Wales)

This free course, Everyday maths 2 (Wales), 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
Surviving the winter free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Surviving the winter

In this free course, Surviving the winter, we study one aspect of the fluctuating nature of an organisms environment. We consider how organisms living in a temperate climate, such as that in Britain, are adapted to cope with winter. You will see that there is much diversity of adaptations among organisms, with different species coping with the ...

Free course
10 hrs
Studying natural sciences bilingually free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Studying natural sciences bilingually

Thinking of studying a Natural Sciences course? Considering studying through the medium of Welsh and want to know what the benefits are? Not sure whether your Welsh is good enough? If you’re reading this article, it’s quite possible you’ve thought about these questions. This article aims to answer these questions, and show how studying ...

Free course
1 hr
Inheritance of characters free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Inheritance of characters

Genes are units of inheritance that contribute to a person's behaviour and health. In this free course, Inheritance of characters, you will learn what genes, DNA and chromosomes are and how they combine to make the human genome. You will also learn how the principles of inheritance work, the effect that our genetic make-up has on health, and how...

Free course
4 hrs