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 8 different subject areas. Our courses are available to start right away.
- All topics
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Science, Maths & Technology
Managing complexity: A systems approach – introduction
Do you need to change the way you think when faced with a complex situation? This free course, Managing complexity: A systems approach introduction, examines how systemic thinking and practice enables you to cope with the connections between things, events and ideas. By taking a broader perspective complexity becomes manageable and it is easier...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Telescopes and spectrographs
This free course, Telescopes and spectrographs, looks at how they are designed to improve our ability to observe the universe. You will examine how different technologies have been developed over the last four hundred years to enable us to look deep into space.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Introduction to histology
This free course provides an introduction to histology, the study of tissues. It also describes how histology can aid in the diagnosis of disease and explains how histology services are organised within a hospital.
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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...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Moons of our Solar System
In this free course, Moons of our Solar System, explore the many moons of our Solar System. Find out what makes them special. Should we send humans to our Moon again?
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Science, Maths & Technology
Volcanic hazards
This free course, Volcanic hazards, discusses the various hazards posed by different types of volcanic eruption, illustrated by examples from recent eruptions. The discussion is focused around reading Chapter 5 of Teach yourself volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis by OU volcanologist David Rothery.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Systems practice: Managing sustainability
This free course, Systems practice: Managing sustainability, introduces ways in which systems thinking can help support processes of decision making amongst stakeholders with different, often contrasting, perspectives on sustainable development in order to generate purposeful action to improve situations of change and uncertainty. You will learn...
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Science, Maths & Technology
The making of individual differences
How do we become individuals? This free course, The making of individual differences, looks at how genes and the environment interact making each of us unique. Looking at the period between conception and birth you will examine the issues of nature or nurture to see which has the greatest impact.
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Science, Maths & Technology
IT: Technology news
To develop as an independent, confident learner you will need to learn the study skills involved in reading articles, taking notes and summarising the information that you have obtained from an article. This free course, IT: Technology news, explores the use of the Web as a resource for keeping up to date, looking in particular at how to assess ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Information security
Information security underpins the commercial viability and profitability of enterprises of all sizes and the effectiveness of public sector organisations. This free course begins by explaining why information security and its management are important for any modern organisation and to every individual. You need to be familiar with an ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Design thinking
Are you ever frustrated with something that you thought you could design better? This free course, Design thinking, will show you how to structure your natural creativity to come up with solutions to all kinds of problems, and have fun in the process too!
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Science, Maths & Technology
Diabetes complications
Diabetes is an increasing problem among both adults and children. This free course, Diabetes complications, looks at the way the condition is managed once it has been diagnosed in order to reduce the risk of further complications. You will look at the role of each member of the team involved in the diabetes annual review and look at the risk ...