Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

A MOOC is a free, open, online course designed to offer a taste of higher education to learners from across the UK and the world. The University of Birmingham is delivering new MOOCs in partnership with FutureLearn, the UK’s first MOOCs provider established by The Open University.

Delivered by world-class academics from the University of Birmingham, the courses enable learners worldwide to sample high-quality academic content via an interactive web-based platform from a leading global university, increasing access to higher education for a whole new cohort of learners.

The courses are developed by senior academic staff and their content is reviewed regularly, taking into account student feedback. The courses do not offer credits towards admission to the University of Birmingham.

Our MOOCs

Building character through youth social action

Description: Next start date to be confirmed. This course discusses social action as a form of character development, and explores the historical and theoretical roots of youth social action and character.

Education Research: Finding and Reading Research for Teachers

Description: Starts 16 September 2019. Research provides teachers with opportunities to improve their practice and gain new knowledge to pass onto their students. Learn how to make the most of education research with this course.

Electrical Engineering: Sensing, powering and controlling

Description: Next start date to be confirmed. Get a taste of an electrical engineering degree. Build your confidence in communicating ideas and using technical vocabulary.

Introduction to Randomised Controlled Trials

Description: Discover the importance of trials in evidence-based medicine and learn about the trial lifecycle from conception to publication.

Healthy Ageing: concepts, interventions and preparing for the future

Description: Course runs at various times throughout the year, and runs for 3 weeks. It will help anyone who wants to make a difference to older peoples' lives understand the consequences of ageing and how to maintain good health.

Improving your image: Dental Photography in Practice

Description: This course promotes the use of digital photography in dental practices, and gives participants the information and techniques to achieve good quality consistent results.

Liver Disease: Looking After Your Liver

Description: This course will teach you about the amazing roles the liver fulfils to keep you healthy and will show you how these functions are compromised when the liver is damaged.

Liver Transplants: The Ins and Outs

Description: This free, online course will teach you about the fascinating field of liver transplantation.

Transforming Citizen Participation

Description: On this course, you will explore innovative ways to communicate within the public sector

Attention and Autism

Description: On this course you will explore the concept of attention and its impact on autistic people

What is Character? Virtue Ethics in Education

Description: Next start date to be confirmed. This course will tap into this increasing interest and answer important questions such as what is character and character education, why is it important and can it be taught?

Further online learning

View our distance learning directory to find out about other online learning opportunities at the University of Birmingham.
As part of our 100% online postgraduate degrees in business and public administration, we also offer free case study webinars. Browse our library to learn about a broad range of industry hot topics.