Free courses on OpenLearn
Get inspired and learn something new today
Free courses on OpenLearn
Get inspired and learn something new today
If you want to study but are unsure as to whether you are ready to commit to formal course right now, how about trying a free short course to see whether studying with the OU is right for you?
We offer a wide range of short online courses and content from a short five minute video clip through to a 50 hour course. You may want to study for pleasure or to improve your work or life skills, there are courses for everyone. And everything on OpenLearn is free to everyone.
What is OpenLearn?
OpenLearn is the home of free learning from The Open University. We offer nearly 1,000 free courses to explore a new topic or understand more about a subject you are passionate about. Come and explore, it is all free.
Study free courses
OpenLearn courses cover the wide range of subjects taught across the OU curriculum. Many are based on Open University course materials while others are written specifically for OpenLearn. Although they do not carry any academic credit, each course comes with a free Statement of Participation on completion.
Earn digital badges
Some OpenLearn courses carry a free digital badge, allowing you to demonstrate your learning achievements and new skills on social media sites, electronic CV’s and LinkedIn. Over 85% of learners who gain badges share them with their employers to showcase their skills.
Skills for work and life
We offer a range of free skills courses. Some focus on improving your basic skills in English, maths and digital skills. Others focus on Employability Skills such as communication and leadership whereas others focus on Life Skills, such as managing your personal finances or caring for your mental health and wellbeing. Start learning today by following the links.
Free skills courses
Free skills courses
From basic skills though to something more advanced, these free courses are designed for unconfident adults to come back to education and learning. We offer free courses at numerous different education levels starting with maths and English at 14-16 years old, up to undergraduate and beyond.
Free courses
Everyday skills in maths and English
Do you want to improve your reading, writing or maths skills? Whether you want to improve your job prospects or simply help your children with their homework, we offer free bite-sized courses in maths and English. Designed for the unconfident learner to work through at a pace that suits you.
Free courses
Skills for Work
Our Employability skills courses focus on those core skills (or soft skills) which employers often say are missing from many job applicants. These courses cover areas like networking and communication, leadership, or working in teams. Each course consists of 24 hours of learning and reflection, designed to be studied over 8 weeks, although it is self-paced so you complete in more or less time. Each comes with a digital badge providing recognition of your work skills and helping you differentiate yourself at the next job application.
Free course
Skills for Life
Beyond our employability skills we offer a range of short courses around wider life skills in areas such as health and wellbeing, family and relationships and money and finances. Each comes with a digital badge providing recognition of your achievements.
Business and accounting
Business and accounting
Whether it is a junior accountant or business administrator you are aspiring to be these free courses will help get you started.
Free course
Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis
This free course, Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis, is designed to develop your writing skills for business. You will be taken step by step through the process of writing a SWOT analysis, with clear advice on selecting key information from a case study text, making concise notes, choosing an appropriate structure and using language effectively. You will learn how to write a formal report including recommendations, based on a case study analysis of the British company, Brompton Bicycle.
Free course
Operations, technology and stakeholder value
The management of processes or operations is the very essence of any kind of business enterprise, and it is critically important that they are designed and managed well. This free course, Operations, technology and stakeholder value, uses case studies and models to illustrate the importance of effective operations management and outlines the steps to preparing your own operations proposal.
Free course
Business models in strategic management
In this free course, you will be introduced to the theory and practice of business models as they have developed in strategy literature. In particular, you will explore the emergence of the business model idea, types of business models and how business models can be designed.
Free course
An introduction to business cultures
Disney and Google are just two companies renowned for their ‘business culture’. Have you ever wondered why the company you work for is different from others? This free course, An introduction to business cultures, explores how the concept of culture developed to the point where it is now possible to see and feel the difference between companies.
Free course
Companies and financial accounting
This free course, introduces you to the legal characteristics of limited companies and how limited companies raise finance through ordinary shares and loan capital. It also introduces the interests of company stakeholders, and looks at three different perspectives on companies and their role in society. Finally, it introduces the formats of company financial statements in comparison with those of sole traders.
Free course
Fundamentals of accounting
To start with you will learn about the fundamental difference between bookkeeping and accounting. In Week 1 you will also learn how the purpose of management accounting differs from that of financial accounting. In Week 2 you will gain some practical skills in numeracy, including learning about rearranging simple equations such as the accounting equation. In Week 3 you will gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts that underpin double-entry accounting.
Computing and IT
Computing and IT
Whether it is a Web and software developer or computer support technician you are aspiring to be these free courses will help get you started.
Free course
Introducing computing and IT
This free course provides a general overview of how digital technologies have come to dominate virtually every aspect of the modern world and some guidance on how to prepare for this digital life. It raises awareness of the importance of data security and online safety. It also provides an explanation of the internal structure and workings of a typical computer.
Free course
An introduction to software development
Software development is the practice of organising the design and construction of software, the beating heart of much technology fundamental to our personal and professional life. This free introductory course, An introduction to software development, discusses the engineering nature of software development, its challenges and some fundamental practice.
Free course
Approaches to software development
This free course presents an engineering approach to the development of software systems – a software engineering approach. The course pays particular attention to issues of software quality, in terms of both product (what is built) and process (how we build it).
Free course
An introduction to computers and computer systems
This free course challenges how we view computers through the examples of processors in kitchen scales and digital cameras, as well as examining the work of art that, at heart, is a computer. You will also explore how computers are connected together to achieve even more than when working alone.
Free course
IT: device to device communication
Computers are all around us: in cars, kitchen scales, digital cameras, etc. But how do they store the data they hold? This free course, Representing and manipulating data in computers, will help you to understand how the data in a computer represents something in the outside world. You will also explore how ASCII code and Unicode are used to control data.
Free course
Introducing ICT systems
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.