Skip main navigation
We use cookies to give you a better experience, if that’s ok you can close this message and carry on browsing. For more info read our cookies policy.
We use cookies to give you a better experience. Carry on browsing if you're happy with this, or read our cookies policy for more information.

The Open University

The Open University

About The Open University

The Open University (OU) is the largest academic institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible distance learning.

Since it began in 1969, the OU has taught more than 1.8 million students and has almost 220,000 current students, including more than 15,000 overseas. The Open University is rated one of the best in the UK for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The OU is one of only four UK universities to have consistently achieved more than 90% in the survey’s history. Over 70% of students are in full-time or part-time employment, and four out of five FTSE 100 companies have sponsored staff to take OU courses.

The UK’s latest Research Excellence Framework exercise (REF 2014) places The Open University in the top third of UK higher education institutions by ‘research power’ ranking. 72% of OU research submitted was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Regarded as Britain’s major e-learning institution, the OU is a world leader in developing technology to increase access to education on a global scale. Its vast ‘open content portfolio’ includes free study units on OpenLearn, which has had more than 26.7 million visits, and materials on iTunes U, which has recorded more than 60 million downloads. The OU has a 41 year partnership with the BBC which has moved from late-night lectures in the 1970s to prime-time programmes such as Frozen Planet, Bang Goes the Theory, James May’s Big Ideas and The Money Programme.

All Open University Science courses presented on FutureLearn are produced with the kind support of Dangoor Education.

Open University Courses

The Open University

Forensic Psychology: Witness Investigation

Discover how psychology can help obtain evidence from eyewitnesses in police investigations and prevent miscarriages of justice.
8 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Managing My Money for Young Adults

Learn how to make the most of your money and learn the skills you need to navigate the complex world of personal finance.
8 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Modern Empowerment in the Workplace

The 21st century is transforming the workplace. Explore the role of human resources (HR) in this modern empowerment era.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Advanced Machine Learning

Improve your understanding of machine learning. Explore advanced techniques and how to use them in your data science projects.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Bookkeeping for Personal and Business Accounting

Learn how to balance your books and develop the skills to manage finances in personal and business environments.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Childhood in the Digital Age

Delve into the lives of children and discuss the potential benefits and limitations of technology in their lives.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
Find out more
Università per Stranieri di Siena (UniStraSi)

English for Academic Purposes: a MOVE-ME Project Course

Develop the language skills you need to study in English and make the most of European student mobility programmes
6 weeks
4 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Introduction to Ecosystems

Gain an understanding of the natural world, how the web of life works, with illustrations from around the world.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Learning English for Academic Purposes: First Steps

Develop the academic language and study skills you need to learn in English at university.
6 weeks
4 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Listening and Presenting: Learning English for Academic Purposes

Improve your listening and note-taking skills, plus your understanding of academic vocabulary, then create your own presentation.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Making Teacher Education Relevant for 21st Century Africa

Play your part in transforming education in Africa - get teachers ready for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

The Business of Film

Explore the intriguing world of film production and find out about the complexities of development, distribution and finance.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Writing an Academic Essay: Learning English for Academic Purposes

Improve your academic reading, vocabulary and study skills and gain confidence in writing academic essays in English.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
Find out more
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Customer Engagement

Learn how to design business and marketing activities to engage customers through relationships instead of one-off sales.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Finance Fundamentals: Investment Theory and Practice

Look at the investment choices open to you, and the risks and returns of each. Start managing your financial future effectively.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Italian for Beginners 1: Meeting, Greeting and Eating

Learn how to order food and drink, greet people, and introduce yourself, in this first Italian for Beginners course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Spanish for Beginners 1: Meeting and Greeting

Learn how to greet people, and talk about where you live and what you do in the first of six Spanish for Beginners courses.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

The Digital Economy: Finance for Business Growth

Learn how to develop a funding strategy for your business. Explore different types of finance, and learn when and how to use them.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

The Science of Nuclear Energy

Discover the science behind nuclear energy and its role in energy provision in the past, present and future.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Growing as a Manager

Explore the foundations of successful management with this free online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Planning Your Personal Development

Focus on and plan your personal development as a manager with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
Università per Stranieri di Siena (UniStraSi)

Studying in Italian - Language and Literature: a MOVE-ME Project Course

Study Language and Literature in Italian and develop the skills you need when you take part in a European student mobility program
6 weeks
4 hrs per week
Università per Stranieri di Siena (UniStraSi)

Studying in Italian - Law and Economics: a MOVE-ME Project Course

Study Law and Economics in Italian and develop the skills you need when you take part in a European student mobility programme.
6 weeks
4 hrs per week
Università per Stranieri di Siena (UniStraSi)

Studying in Italian - Science and Mathematics: a MOVE-ME Project Course

Study Science and Maths in Italian and develop the skills you need when you take part in a European student mobility programme.
6 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Basic Science: Understanding Experiments

Get an introduction to science-based skills through simple, exciting, hands-on physics, chemistry and biology experiments.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

German at Work Intermediate 1: Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz

Develop your understanding of the German language and consolidate your communication skills for the workplace.
4 weeks
5 hrs per week
The Open University

German at Work Post-Beginners 1: Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz

Develop your understanding of the German language and consolidate your communication skills for the workplace.
4 weeks
5 hrs per week
The Open University

Managing Public Money

Explore and understand how you can manage public money effectively to create and demonstrate value for citizens.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Smart Cities

Explore the role of technology and data in cities, and learn how you can participate in the creation of smart cities.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

The Online Educator: People and Pedagogy

Design engaging courses, make your teaching more inclusive, navigate online research ethics and shape your digital identity.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Get Started with Online Learning

This free online course will explain how you can study online without putting the rest of your life on hold.
2 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Start Writing Fiction

Get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters, with this hands-on course.
8 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Challenging Wealth and Income Inequality

Explore the concerns about rising wealth and income inequality between different generations in developed countries.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

German at Work Intermediate 2: Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz

Develop your understanding of the German language and consolidate your communication skills for the workplace.
4 weeks
5 hrs per week
The Open University

German at Work Post-Beginners 2: Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz

Develop your understanding of the German language and consolidate your communication skills for the workplace.
4 weeks
5 hrs per week
The Open University

Introduction to Cyber Security

Our lives depend on online services. Gain essential cyber security knowledge and skills, to help protect your digital life.
8 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Learn to Code for Data Analysis

Learn to code in Python using Jupyter Notebook. Use your new programming skills to analyse and visualise open data.
4 weeks
5 hrs per week
The Open University

Make Change Happen

Understand how power dynamics, collaboration, opportunity and action can tackle injustice and bring positive change.
8 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Understanding Gender Identity: Trans People in the Workplace

Help to create a more trans-friendly workplace, by learning about trans people, the struggles they face and how to support them.
2 weeks
1 hr per week
Find out more
The Open University

Understanding Nuclear Power

Learn more about nuclear power – from the risks and the benefits, to the technology and its future use.
5 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Italian for Beginners 2: My Friends and Family

Learn how to introduce people, exchange information about them and talk about your family.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Spanish for Beginners 2: People and Places

Learn how to describe people and what they wear, and talk about your family and home in the second Spanish for Beginners course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

The Lottery of Birth

Birth is a lottery. Where, when and to whom you are born and the society into which you are born will influence your life chances.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

The Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology

Get an introduction to geology. Discover where materials that make up everyday objects come from and how to use them sustainably.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Effective Networking

Learn how to build and sustain your network to enhance your professional relationships and open up career opportunities.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Project Management

Gain the basic skills to manage all phases of project lifecycles effectively, using the most appropriate methods and tools.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Finance Fundamentals: Financial Services after the Banking Crisis

Explore the UK financial services landscape, how financial firms and products are regulated, and how consumers are protected.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Finance Fundamentals: Managing the Household Balance Sheet

Explore household assets (investments, property and pensions) and liabilities (debts). Find out how to manage each effectively.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

The Digital Economy: Effective Supply Chain Management

Learn how supply chains work in the digital era, and how you can make them more effective and efficient.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

The Digital Economy: Success through Market Segmentation

Explore how and why market segmentation can be used to improve customer satisfaction and business performance.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Basic Science: Understanding Numbers

Find out how you can use numbers to describe the natural world. Start making sense of everything from atoms to oceans.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

From Notation to Performance: Understanding Musical Scores

Find out how musicians turn the notation of a musical score into a memorable performance. Change how you listen to music.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Leading a Team

Develop a business plan and build a team with with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Well-being and Welfare at Work

Learn to support the development and well-being of the people you manage with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

The Science of Nutrition

Get an introduction to nutritional science. Explore the biology, chemistry and physics of food and how our bodies digest it.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Italian for Beginners 3: My Daily Life

In the third Italian for Beginners course, learn how to talk about your daily life and your leisure activities.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Spanish for Beginners 3: My Life

Learn to talk about daily life, what you do during the day and when things happen in the third Spanish for Beginners course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Effective Communication

Gain a practical grounding in communication to boost your personal effectiveness, save you time and reduce your stress levels.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Finance Fundamentals: Financial Planning and Budgeting

With household budgets feeling the pinch this course shows how to bring order to your finances and make good financial decisions.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World

Use literary and archaeological evidence to see how ancient Greeks and Romans approached health, well-being and societal issues.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Histology: Using Microscopy to Study Anatomy and Identify Disease

Get an introduction to histology – the study of anatomy at a microscopic level – and use histopathology to identify disease.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

In the Night Sky: Orion

Explore the night sky, discover how stars are formed and find out about exoplanets, all through the constellation of Orion.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Italian for Beginners 4: Likes And Dislikes

In the fourth Italian for Beginners course, learn to talk about your likes, dislikes and preferences.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Spanish for Beginners 4: Leisure Time

Learn how to talk about your hobbies and free time, and your likes and dislikes in the fourth Spanish for Beginners course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

The Digital Economy: Selling Through Customer Insight

Uncover new perspectives on the role and behaviour of your customers, to enhance your sales and marketing.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Italian for Beginners 5: Time To Travel

In the fifth Italian for Beginners course, learn to ask for information on trains and buy train tickets.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Spanish for Beginners 5: Getting Things Done

Learn how to make phone calls, book accommodation, shop for food and get things done in the fifth Spanish for Beginners course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Moons

Explore the many moons of our Solar System. Find out what makes them special and ask whether we send humans to our Moon again.
8 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Italian for Beginners 6: Out And About

In this sixth Italian for Beginners course, learn to book holiday accommodation and order a meal.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
The Open University

Spanish for Beginners 6: Out and About

Learn how to ask for directions, shop for clothes, and order food and drinks in the sixth Spanish for Beginners course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week

Contact

Contact FutureLearn for Support