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.

Grid List Results: 199 items
Astronomy with an online telescope free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Astronomy with an online telescope

This free course shows you how to navigate the night sky, and introduces the wide variety of objects it contains. You will develop a hands-on understanding of telescopic observations using the Open University’s own robotic telescope facility COAST sited on the island of Tenerife. Supported by your own measurements we illustrate how stars...

Free course
24 hrs
The search for water on Mars free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

The search for water on Mars

The possibility of water on Mars has captured human imagination for over a century. In this free course, The Search for Water on Mars, find out more about how scientists have found evidence for water in the red planet’s past and present, and what this might mean for the possibility of life beyond Earth.

Free course
5 hrs
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM free course icon level 3: advanced icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM

This free course, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM, provides a toolkit for conducting Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). SoTL involves educators using their disciplinary knowledge to investigate a question about learning and teaching, gather evidence in a ...

Free course
24 hrs
Could we control our climate? free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Could we control our climate?

Climate crisis is one of the grand challenges we face as a society, but it can be hard to approach as a subject. Not only can the science at times seem dauntingly complex, but the solutions are also far from clear. This leaves many people feeling confused, guilty, anxious, angry, or else completely switched off from the subject. This course ...

Free course
24 hrs
Student Partner in Educational Research free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Student Partner in Educational Research

The Student as Partners in Educational Research is an ongoing initiative sponsored by eSTEeM: The OU Centre for STEM Pedagogy whereby OU undergraduate or postgraduate students are supported to participate as partners in STEM Educational research with OU staff, alongside their studies. eSTEeM manages a range of Educational Research projects with ...

Free course
8 hrs
Understanding ADHD free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Understanding ADHD

This free course, Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), explores the experience of ADHD from the perspective of those who are diagnosed with the condition, and those who care for them. It covers the contribution of scientific research to understanding ADHD, with a focus on assessing the effectiveness and mechanism of ...

Free course
12 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
Teaching mathematics free course icon level 2: intermediate icon Badge icon

Education & Development

Teaching mathematics

This free course, Teaching mathematics, has been designed for non-specialist mathematics teachers of 8 to 14 year olds, teaching assistants, home schoolers and parents and draws on the established provision of mathematics education at the Open University. It can also be used as Continuing Professional Development by individuals or groups ...

Free course
24 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
Blood and the respiratory system free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Blood and the respiratory system

‘Don’t hold your breath’ is an expression you’ve probably heard many times, but may not have thought too much about. In this free course, Blood and the respiratory system, you’ll study why respiration is so important for life, including how air enters and leaves the lungs, how oxygen is transported in the blood, the many dynamic factors that ...

Free course
10 hrs
The science of nutrition and healthy eating free course icon level 1: introductory icon Badge icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

The science of nutrition and healthy eating

This free course, The science of nutrition and healthy eating, looks at the science behind nutrition, covering aspects of biology, chemistry and physics as well as giving some insight into healthier eating. Reading food labels, choosing healthier foods, hydrating appropriately and understanding how we taste food will allow you to be more ...

Free course
24 hrs
Mathemateg bob dydd 2 free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Mathemateg bob dydd 2

Bydd y cwrs rhad ac am ddim hwn yn adeiladu ar eich sgiliau mathemateg presennol ac yn eich helpu i deimlo'n fwy hyderus wrth fynd i'r afael â'r fathemateg rydych chi'n dod ar ei draws mewn sefyllfaoedd bob dydd.

Free course
48 hrs