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.
- Sociology
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level 1: introductory icon
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Society, Politics & Law
Introducing Black leadership
In this free course, you will develop skills to empower yourself as a leader. Guided by the Five Ps model of leadership (person, process, position, product and purpose), you will learn about the challenges and possibilities of Black leadership. Developing skills in communication, critical analysis and teamwork will promote competence in a wide ...
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level 1: introductory icon
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Society, Politics & Law
Advancing Black leadership
In this free course, learners will develop and explore skills to empower themselves as leaders.
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level 1: introductory icon
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Society, Politics & Law
Working in the voluntary sector
This free online course, Working in the voluntary sector, will introduce you to some of the main activities carried out by volunteers and staff, will give you some background on how different organisations work and will provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering, as well as to your every day life.
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Society, Politics & Law
Nuclear power: friend or foe?
Are you for or against nuclear energy? The necessity to respond to climate change has put nuclear energy back on the political agenda as an alternative energy source. This is part of approaches to 'decarbonise' energy through a shift from coal to natural gas, nuclear energy and renewables. Yet, the recourse to nuclear energy is hotly debated. ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Passports: identity and airports
This free course, Passports: identity and airports, offers a sociological analysis of the modern airport. Using a lively mixture of videos, interactive exercises and readings, the course explores how the social world of the airport is made and maintained. In particular, it investigates how the processes that constitute this world - queuing, ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Getting started with SPSS
Handling statistical data is an essential part of psychological research. However, many people find the idea of using statistics, and especially statistical software packages, extremely daunting. This free course, Getting started with SPSS, takes a step-by-step approach to statistics software through seven interactive activities. No statistics ...
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Society, Politics & Law
The social in social science
In a complex and rapidly changing world, social scientific study examines how we produce things, communicate, govern ourselves and understand our environments, and how to solve the problems we face in the organisation of social relations and processes. This free course, The social in social science, provides a basic overview of how social ...
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Society, Politics & Law
The role of diagnosis in counselling and psychotherapy
This free course, The role of diagnosis in counselling and psychotherapy, explores the role of diagnosis in the treatment of mental health problems. It considers the history of our current understandings of 'mental health' and 'illness' with a focus on the concepts of anxiety and depression, and looks at potential gains and losses in using ...
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Society, Politics & Law
‘Problem’ populations, ‘problem’ places
This free course, 'Problem' populations, 'problem' places, looks deeper into the entanglements of welfare, crime and society. It encourages you to think through these entanglements through a focus on 'problem' populations and 'problem' places. It includes treatment of the victims of Hurricane Katrina that hit the US in 2007, and also of the ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Climate change: island life in a volatile world
What impact will global warming really have? This free course, Climate change: island life in a volatile world, examines the potential problems faced by the people of the Pacific Island of Tuvalu as a result of rising sea levels. Where would you go if your island is only a few feet above sea level? Who would you blame?
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History & The Arts
Religious diversity: rethinking religion
Religion is not necessarily what you think it is! This free course, Religious diversity: rethinking religion, introduces you to a selection of the vast variety of religious beliefs and practices in Britain today. Having some familiarity with religion and belief is increasingly required to make sense of issues of local, national and international...
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Society, Politics & Law
Reading and note taking – preparation for study
Reading and note taking are two essential study skills. How do you read? This free course, Reading and note taking preparation for study, will introduce you to different techniques to help you to alter the way you read according to the type of material you are studying. You will also learn the techniques behind successful note taking and how to...