In short: Free university-made courses open to anyone; certificates are of participation, not formal qualifications.
- Free (Creative Commons)
- 1,000+ units
- Participation certificates
- Not tested by us
Before you sign up
Checked 2026-09-28 · based on official and public sources · not tested by us
Free online courses from The Open University, with certificates of participation.
Data sheet
Compiled from the public sources linked below
| What it does | Free online courses from The Open University with certificates of participation. |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free (Creative Commons). |
| Sign-up | Optional free account for certificates. |
| Operator | The Open University |
| Caution | Serves anyone; UK-based. |
When to use it
Anyone wanting to try a university-level subject for free, whether for curiosity or career development.
Before you use it
Certificates are certificates of participation. You need a free account to get one.
How to use it
- Go to open.edu/openlearn
- Browse and pick a free course
- Create a free account to earn a certificate of participation
Why people use it
OpenLearn has been The Open University’s free learning platform since 2006 and offers more than 1,000 study units.
Checked 2026-09-28 · compiled from public sources; we have not tested it ourselves. Terms change, so check the official pages before you rely on it. · Official site · Wikipedia: OpenLearn