University of Aberdeen program

Understanding the Body

Explore the human body with this flexible program of online courses. Earn 10 credits from the University of Aberdeen.

  • Overview 3 courses + 1 assessment
  • Duration 11 weeks
  • Learn Free
  • Credential $217 + £344 More info
  • Program Academic credential

Develop your knowledge of the human body and earn 10 credits from the University of Aberdeen

The Understanding the Body program consists of three short online courses that look at the workings of the human body. The program focuses on the different structures, components and systems that work together to keep us alive and healthy.

Accessible for free on desktop, tablet or mobile, the three courses can be taken in any order, although it’s recommended that you start with the What is the Body? course.

Courses and assessment

3 courses and 1 final assessment

How does our pricing work?

Start Learning Free
$217 USD - Course Upgrades
£344 GBP - Final Assessment

Can I learn for free?

Programs are made up of short courses, most of which you can join for free.

However, if you want to take the final assessment and unlock the award or accreditation for the program, you must upgrade each individual course or buy Unlimited to gain a Certificate of Achievement for all the courses in the program.

How do course upgrades work?

If you want to spend more time on course material and better demonstrate what you've learned, you may choose to upgrade each course. You can upgrade your courses at any point after you enrol.

When you upgrade a course, you get ongoing access to the course material for as long as the course exists on FutureLearn. This means you can return to the subject whenever you like.

You will also be given access to any course tests, and the ability to qualify for a downloadable and printed Certificate of Achievement to show what you’ve achieved.

How does Unlimited work?

If you have Unlimited, you will get access to all of the short courses in this program, plus thousands of other short courses and tests.

You have the ability to learn at your own pace throughout your subscription time and gain digital Certificates of Achievement on all your courses.

If you gain a certificate on a course, you will keep access to the course’s content beyond your Unlimited subscription time so you can revise the content whenever you need.

Unlimited costs $27.99/month. Find out more about Unlimited.

What is the final assessment?

The final assessment is designed to rigorously test your understanding of the subject. This test is marked by experts and enables you to demonstrate your learning to yourself and to employers.

The assessment is summative and may include a multiple-choice test, or tutor-marked assignment.

Passing the final assessment unlocks the academic or professional recognition associated with completing an entire FutureLearn program, plus a FutureLearn Award.

To be eligible for the final assessment, you must upgrade on each individual course or buy Unlimited and attain a Certificate of Achievement for all of the courses in the program. The final assessment must be purchased separately.

Are these the final prices?

Yes. There are no additional fees. The price you see here includes everything - such as test fees, tuition and any additional accreditation provided by the course.

The University of Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen is the 3rd oldest Scottish and 5th oldest UK University. With 14500 students from 120 countries, it is a world leader in medical research, energy, environment, law and business.

  • University of Aberdeen

Who will you learn with?

I'm a Teaching Fellow at the University of Aberdeen's Institute of Applied Health Sciences, specialising in nutrition. I have a particular interest in developing courses for online learning.

I am a senior lecturer with the University of Aberdeen. My main areas of interest are research methods and postgraduate skills development. I have a particular interest in digital learning

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and identify the basic components that make up cells, tissues and organs within the body, and explain their function
  • Describe the key molecules that make up the human body and compare their structure and function
  • Summarise the structure and relevance of DNA and describe the processes involved result in its production
  • Describe the key molecules involved in protein synthesis and compare the different stages of this process
  • Explain the importance and types of communication between different components of the body, and summarise the key principles involved
  • Describe the importance of homeostasis and synthesise examples of when and how this process is used in the body