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
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
Basic science: understanding numbers free course icon 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.

Free course
12 hrs
Exploring anxiety free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Exploring anxiety

This free advanced level course, Exploring anxiety, serves as an introduction to masters level study in neurosciences and mental health. Focusing on anxiety, you will consider key issues concerning diagnosis, causes and interventions. You will also learn how to evaluate news items, and to go behind the headlines and begin to explore some of the ...

Free course
9 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
Studying mammals: Meat eaters free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Nature & Environment

Studying mammals: Meat eaters

The powerful and majestic carnivores are the focus of many television documentaries. In this free course, Studying mammals: Meat eaters, we will delve into the lives of these fearsome hunters and explore their physical adaptations and social behaviour. This is the fifth course in the Studying mammals series.

Free course
10 hrs
IT: device to device communication free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

IT: device to device communication

Are you a technophobe? Bluetooth, Ethernet, WiFi; are they terms that mean nothing to you? IT: device to device communication, is a free course that will gently guide you to an understanding of how devices 'talk' to each other and what technologies and processes are involved. You will also look at wired and wireless communication technologies, ...

Free course
20 hrs
Assessing risk in engineering, work and life free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Assessing risk in engineering, work and life

Risk is something that must be taken into account at all times when practising as an engineer. We accept risk as part of everyday life so there is a need to balance the risks of an activity against the benefits that it brings. This free course, Assessing risk in engineering, work and life, investigates how we can manage risks at work, in the ...

Free course
10 hrs
Exploring the relationship between anxiety and depression free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Exploring the relationship between anxiety and depression

This free advanced level course, Exploring the relationship between anxiety and depression, serves as an introduction to masters level study in neurosciences and mental health. Focusing on anxiety and depression, you will consider key issues concerning diagnosis, causes and interventions, exploring how these conditions relate to each other. You ...

Free course
3 hrs
Second-order differential equations free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Second-order differential equations

This free course is concerned with second-order differential equations. Section 1 introduces some basic principles and terminology. Sections 2 and 3 give methods for finding the general solutions to one broad class of differential equations, that is, linear constant-coefficient second-order differential equations. Section 2 covers homogeneous ...

Free course
16 hrs
Additive manufacturing free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Additive manufacturing

This free course, Additive manufacturing, introduces you to its key concepts. It covers the fundamentals of the additive manufacturing (AM) process, the steps involved in creating a model and building an artefact, the materials and techniques used, as well as the design implications and the factors which affect the functionality of the finished ...

Free course
8 hrs
John Napier free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

John Napier

This free course looks at Scotsman John Napier (1550-1617) and his invention which radically altered the course of mathematics. Napier dabbled in mathematics for over 40 years and near the end of his life he introduced his tables of logarithms which drastically reduced the work needed to do complicated calculations, such as those required in ...

Free course
3 hrs
Technological innovation: a resource-based view free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Technological innovation: a resource-based view

This free course, Technological innovation: a resource-based view, aims to provide you with an overview and introduction to a range of related concepts, ideas and debates which enable you to develop a critical understanding of capabilities in relation to technological innovation. It will enable you to develop a critical understanding of the ...

Free course
10 hrs