Free short courses

MOOCs are delivered through the Coursera platform. You can register for free on many of our short open courses. If you would like a certificate of completion, a one off payment is made to Coursera for individual MOOCs.

We offer specialisations in some subject areas including Business and Management and Computing and Information Systems. You can access individual courses in a specialisation for free (in audit mode) or pay a monthly subscription fee to complete the full specialisation and receive your certification. Financial aid is available for those who cannot afford the course fee.

Find out more about Coursera.

We currently have the following courses available (start dates differ):

• Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour Developed with London Business School.
   
• Business Sustainability in the Circular Economy Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Consumption, Marketing and Culture Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Corporate Strategy Developed with UCL.
   
• Explore Management Concepts through Metaphor and Music Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• How to Finance and Grow Your Startup – Without VC Developed with London Business School.
   
• Fundamentals of International Business Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Fundamentals of Marketing Strategy Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• International Business Capstone (part of the International Business Essentials specialisation) Developed by University of London.
   
• International Business Environment Developed by University of London.
   
• International Business Essentials (Specialisation) Developed by University of London.
   
• Management Skills for International Business Developed by University of London.
   
• The Manager’s Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Managing People at Work Developed with Birkbeck, University of London.
   
• Managing the Company of the Future Developed with London Business School.
   
• Operations Systems Excellence Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Professional Skills for International Business Developed by University of London.
   
• Quantitative Foundations for International Business Developed by University of London.
   
• Statistics for International Business Developed by University of London

We currently have the following courses available (start dates differ):

• 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• 3D Models for Virtual Reality Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Creative Programming for Digital Media and Mobile App Development Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Cyber Security Fundamentals Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Foundations of Data Science: K-means Clustering in Python Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• How Computers Work Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Introduction to Applied Cryptography Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Introduction to Computer Programming Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Introduction to Computer Science and Programming (Specialisation) Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Introduction to Computer Security Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Introduction to Meteor.js Development Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Introduction to network security Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Introduction to Virtual Reality Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Machine Learning for All Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Making Your First Virtual Reality Game Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Mathematics for Computer Science Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Object Oriented Programming specialisation Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Probability and Statistics: To p or not to p? Developed by University of London.
   
• Responsive Web Design Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Responsive Web Development and Design Capstone Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Responsive Web Tutorial and Examples Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Responsive Website Basics: Code with HTML, CSS and JavaScript Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Virtual Reality (Specialisation) Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.

We currently have the following courses available (start dates differ):

•  Applied Public History Developed with The School of Advanced Study.
   
• Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century: The Camera Never Lies Developed with Royal Holloway, University of London.
   
• Finding Your Professional Voice – Confidence and Impact Developed with The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.
   
• Global Diplomacy – Diplomacy in the Modern World Developed with SOAS University of London.
   
• Global Diplomacy: The United Nations in the World Developed with SOAS University of London.
   
• Global Energy and Climate Policy Developed with SOAS University of London.
   
• Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection Developed with The School of Advanced Study.
   
• Introduction to Who Wrote Shakespeare Developed with Goldsmiths, University of London.
   
• Refugees in the 21st Century Developed by University of London.
   
• Understanding Research Methods Developed with SOAS University of London.

We currently have the following courses available (start dates differ):

• Citizenship and the Rule of Law Developed by University of London.
   
• English Common Law: Structure and Principles Developed by University of London.
   
• Magna Carta and its Legacies: Freedom and Protest Developed by University of London.

We currently have the following courses available (start dates differ):

• Get Interactive: Practical Teaching with Technology Developed with Bloomsbury Learning Exchange.
   
• ICT in Primary Education: Transforming Children's Learning Across the Curriculum Developed by University of London.
   
• Teaching EFL/ESL Reading: A Task Based Approach Developed with UCL.
   
• What Future for Education? Developed with UCL.

Some of our MOOCs are designed to introduce you to themes that appear in our online degree programmes. We offer a range of postgraduate and undergraduate programmes that can be studied from anywhere in the world.

Our programmes are developed with prestigious member institutions. Your degree will be internationally recognised and valued across the globe. 

Browse our postgraduate degree programmes.

Browse our undergraduate degree programmes.

Many of our distance-learning and online degree programmes are split into courses or modules that can be studied individually.

If you later decide that you would like to continue your studies, you may be able to transfer the credit of any completed modules towards a full qualification.

Browse individual courses and modules.

The University of London’s distinguished history of distance learning dates back to 1858.

We are dedicated to fostering the development of expertise in the field of distance education through collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Read more on how we support teaching and research in distance learning.