OpenLearn: free Open University courses with a free statement
OpenLearn, from the UK Open University, says all its courses are free, with a free statement of participation. It says the statements carry no formal credit.
What it is
OpenLearn is The Open University's free learning site. Its home page calls itself "the home of free learning from The Open University", with courses, articles, videos and interactive activities. Its FAQ says it has over 1,000 free courses and "reaches over 6 million learners a year". The Open University is based in the UK, so many examples and subjects have a UK slant. It is not an AI tool. We included it as a free learning resource.
Is it free?
Yes. OpenLearn's home page says "Everything on the multi-award winning OpenLearn is free to everyone!" The FAQ says its free courses give you a free statement of participation, and some also give a free digital badge. Creating an account is also free.
What you can do with it
- Read most content without an account. The FAQ says you do not need an account if you only want to read content without taking part in activities.
- Enrol on free courses. An account lets you enrol and track progress. The site says courses have no start or end date and you can study at your own pace.
- Pick a level. Each course is marked introductory, intermediate or advanced, and the FAQ recommends introductory courses if you are new to higher education.
- Earn a statement or badge. To get a statement of participation you must enrol, read every page of the course and submit its quizzes. Badged courses include a formal assessment that you must pass. The site says the majority of badged courses are CPD accredited.
What to watch out for
- It is not a degree. The FAQ says the courses are not formally accredited by the Open University and finishing one does not make you a student or earn a student discount. The statement of participation "does not carry any formal credit towards a qualification". Employers may value it differently, so do not count on it as a qualification.
- You need an account to enrol or get a certificate. Account creation needs you to be 13 or older. The FAQ also mentions a known problem when 13 to 15 year olds sign up using Safari.
- Some content is UK-focused. We did not check how many courses suit learners in India.
Privacy and data
- The account page says to read the OpenLearn Privacy Statement for how personal data is handled. We did not read it in full.
- Your profile holds the courses you enrol on and your progress. You can ask for your account and data to be deleted through a contact form on the Open University site, which the page says may not work on Chrome.
India
- We did not find a page about availability in India. It is a website with no price. The account page lists a UK phone number for help, so expect UK office hours for support.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenLearn free?
Yes. The site says everything on it is free, including the statement of participation.
Do I get a degree credit?
No. The FAQ says the statements and badges carry no formal credit towards a qualification.
Do I need an account?
Not to read. You need one to enrol, track progress and get a statement. You must be 13 or older.
Sources: OpenLearn, FAQ, Why study a free course, Badged courses, My OpenLearn account. Checked 16 October 2026.
No Open University logo is used in this article. Independent guide, not affiliated.