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: 198 items
Practising science: Reading the rocks and ecology free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Practising science: Reading the rocks and ecology

Have you ever wondered how scientists analyse the environment? This free course, Practising science: Reading the rocks and ecology, introduces you to the techniques used by science students at residential schools. You will learn how to determine where rocks have come from and how they were made. You will also examine the processes involved in ...

Free course
14 hrs
Point estimation free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Point estimation

This free course looks at point estimation, that is, the estimation of the value of the parameter of a statistical model by a single number, a point estimate for the parameter. Section 1 develops some aspects of maximum likelihood estimation. In particular, you will find out how to obtain the maximum likelihood estimator of an unknown parameter,...

Free course
10 hrs
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
Personal development planning for engineering free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Personal development planning for engineering

This free course, Personal development planning for engineering, has been written in keeping with the requirements of UK-SPEC and the professional engineering institutions (e.g. ImechE, IET etc). It will provide you with a range of relevant information and guidance in critically assessing and scrutinising your career development aspirations.

Free course
12 hrs
Interpreting data: Boxplots and tables free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Interpreting data: Boxplots and tables

This free course, Interpreting data: Boxplots and tables, is concerned with two main topics. In Section 1, you will learn about another kind of graphical display, the boxplot. A boxplot is a fairly simple graphic, which displays certain summary statistics of a set of data. Boxplots are particularly useful for assessing quickly the location, ...

Free course
16 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
Forensic science and fingerprints free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Forensic science and fingerprints

This free course, Forensic science and fingerprints, covers how science can make fingerprints easier to study, how they are used in court and some of the questions about the extent to which fingerprint identification is sound and scientific. Students will learn the principles used in classifying and matching fingerprints (often called marks).

Free course
10 hrs
Innovation through representation free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Innovation through representation

Innovations are realised through design, and some of the most useful tools in the designer's toolbox are the representations that are used to move from a vague idea, to a concept, and then to a realised product, service or system. This free course, Innovation through representation, explores what innovation is and how representations are used to...

Free course
15 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
More working with charts, graphs and tables free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

More working with charts, graphs and tables

When you encounter maths or technical content you'll need to know how to interpret this information, and possibly to present your own findings in this way. This free course, More working with charts, graphs and tables, will help you to develop the skills you need to do this, and gain the confidence to use them. This free course builds on our ...

Free course
15 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
Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere

The new discipline of astrobiology that is, the science of searching for extraterrestrial life, is not only rapidly growing, but has also captured the public imagination. This free course, Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere, examines the emergence of icy satellites of distant planets as potential sites of extraterrestrial life, looks at the ...

Free course
17 hrs