Free Online Courses

This course explores the ancient city through real-life footage of archaeological remains in modern Rome with digital reconstructions of how these magnificent buildings would have looked around 1,700 years ago. By flying or walking through the virtual model, you’ll get a sense of how the city worked, functioned and appeared. You’ll explore the structures representing power and wealth such as the Forum and Colosseum, as well as seeing Rome as a working city, a place where up to a million people lived and died. You’ll discuss the testimonies that survive for us to read, the coins, inscriptions, pictures, statues and poems to build a picture of how the city functioned.

Find out more about Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

An archaeological excavation isn’t just turning up with a trowel to dig. Drawing on case studies from the Department of Archaeology's Field School, you’ll find out about every aspect of archaeology, from deciding where to dig, to the collection, recording and storage of artefacts. You’ll then examine the archaeological methods employed in the study of the dead. What can skeletal remains tell us about where someone lived, their occupation and their health?

This course has been developed for anyone interested in studying an archaeology degree at university but will also appeal to anyone with a passion for history.

Find out more about Archaeology: From Dig to Lab and Beyond  website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

The Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading has partnered with The Royal Meteorological Society for this three-week course, introducing the physical processes underlying the weather systems that impact on many aspects of our lives. As well as exploring the UK’s characteristic weather patterns, you’ll look at weather phenomena in other parts of the world and find out why they occur.

Find out more about Come Rain or Shine: Understanding the Weather on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

The University of Reading has partnered with The Institute of Environmental Analytics for this three-week course. You’ll hear directly from the data scientists and industry experts working on these projects about the benefits and challenges of working with big datasets. We’ll also invite you to download, analyse and visualise a dataset yourself, to gain a greater understanding of the complexities behind data science.

Find out more about Big Data and the Environment on the FutureLearn website and take a look at this video from the course to see what will be covered.

In this four-week course from the University of Reading Department of Computer Science, you'll learn about the history of robots and the jobs robots are now doing in a range of environments – from homes, to hospitals and even outer space. You'll also explore the fundamentals of robot design and understand how the sensors, moving parts and computer "brain" work together to allow the robot to complete its tasks. Each week, you’ll meet a range of robots used in teaching and research at the University of Reading to describe or demonstrate aspects of robotics.

Find out more about Begin robotics on the FutureLearn website and take a look the course video to see what will be covered.

Over five weeks, you’ll explore how anxiety and depression differ from ‘normal’ emotional states, dispel some common myths about these disorders and understand associated signs and symptoms. The course also looks at some of the factors that may be responsible for maintaining these mental health difficulties using a cognitive behavioural framework, and how CBT can be one of the ways in which both can be successfully treated. The course is delivered by experts in the Charlie Waller Institute and aims to encourage the conversation about mental health generally and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

This course has been accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and has been approved for distance-learning continuing professional development (CPD).

Find out more about Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

The consequences of untreated depression for young people are significant and it’s important not only to recognise these difficulties early on but also to offer appropriate support. This five-week course has been developed by leading experts at the Charlie Waller Institute and the Anxiety and Depression in Young People Research Unit. The course has been developed for parents of young people with depression and low mood, or teachers, school staff and healthcare professionals who play a role in detecting mental health difficulties.

Find out more about Understanding Depression and Low Mood in Young People on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

This course will improve your knowledge of how the heart works, the causes of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and heart failure and what you can do to avoid them. Each week you’ll be able to get hands on with a practical activity, helping you to apply the knowledge you’ll gain on the course, to better understand your own heart. You’ll learn the factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease and what you can do to lower the risk.

Find out more about Heart Health: A Beginner's Guide to Cardiovascular Disease on the FutureLearn website and take a look at one of the video to see what will be covered.

This course has been co-created by experts at the Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF) and Henley Business School at the University of Reading, specifically designed for 14-18 year olds looking to start, or find out about the possibilities of a career in Real Estate. Using the International Quarter London (IQL) regeneration scheme as a case study, you’ll explore what property is, the current issues affecting it and what the future holds for the industry. You’ll also be able to find out more about the Pathways to Property Summer School, which is free to attend and open to Year 12 students from UK state schools and colleges.

Find out more about Pathways to Propert: Starting Your Career in Real Estate on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

Aimed at existing managers and those about to take on managerial responsibility in any organisation, this program provides new insights into the science and art of management. By the end of the program, you will understand the strategies needed to engage your workforce and how to get the best out of the people you manage. You will develop skills in recognising good management practice and learn techniques in dealing more effectively with everyday management challenges.

This program has been accredited by European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the courses are Online Course Certification System (EOCCS) certified, an international quality benchmark for online courses.

Find out more about the different courses available in the Managing People program on the FutureLearn website.

Over this four-week course, you’ll hear from education experts, school staff and school children, all providing insight into how learning happens and the importance of both the learning environment, and of effective communication in a primary school setting. You’ll examine the impact of behavioural theories on learning in school, as well as reflecting on your own classroom experiences. You’ll build confidence and develop effective working practices to improve the support you provide in school.

Find out more about Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools on the FutureLearn website.

Over four-weeks, you’ll hear from education experts, school staff and school children, all providing insights into how learning happens and the importance of both the learning environment, and of effective communication in a secondary school setting. Through the course activities, you’ll understand the importance of language and communication in school, and will gain confidence in implementing best working practices through reflection of, and discussion about, your own classroom based experiences.

Find out more about Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary Schools on the FutureLearn website.

Over five weeks, our expert teachers from the International Study and Language Institute at the University of Reading will help you to organise an essay, write in an academic style and develop the skills you need to write academic English effectively. This course is a perfect introduction to academic writing for international students considering a pre-sessional English language course or a degree at the University of Reading or another English-speaking university.

Find out more about A Beginner's Guide to Writing in English for University Study on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

Whether you’re a prospective undergraduate or postgraduate student, or are currently undertaking university-level study, this five-week course will build on your ability to research, write and reference essays and extended writing projects.

This is the second course in our Guide to Writing in English for University Study Program which has been developed by experts within the International Study and Language Institute. The course can either be taken as a follow-on from the Beginner’s Guide to Writing in English for University Study (please see above) or independently.

Find out more about An Intermediate Guide to Writing in English for University Study on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

In this short two week course, you’ll explore the techniques that poets use and consider their impact on you as a reader. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to express yourself more effectively and have created an original poem of your own.

Find out more about A-level Study Boost: Unseen Poetry and the Creative Process on the FutureLearn website.

This brief course provides key decision dates, advice on making the most of university visits, and what your young person needs to know when completing their application. You will also have an opportunity to discuss common issues such as finance, learning support and student life.

Find out more about University Smart: A Parent and Supporter’s Guide to University Entry on the FutureLearn website.

For those thinking about going to university, there are likely to be lots of questions about what to expect: from choosing accommodation, how to budget, being independent and building personal, professional and academic relationships. This brief course will explain what you can do to prepare for the best possible start.

Find out more about Live Smart: Your Essential Guide to Living at University on the FutureLearn website.

In this four-week course, you’ll explore the challenges and responsibilities of different people in the food system, including the role of the consumer. You’ll assess how information available to consumers relating to food safety, nutrition and quality, and sustainability of production methods affect consumer trust. You’ll leave the course knowing more about where your food comes from and how you can make a difference in the food supply chain.

Find out more about Trust in Our Food: Understanding Food Supply Systems on the FutureLearn website and take a look at this video to see the type of content covered in the course.

In this three-week course, you’ll learn about major discoveries in the world of microbiology, and their impact on our everyday lives, from food and health, to the environment. You’ll explore the hidden world of microbes through the course activities, using 3D models to recognise the differences between microbes, lab demonstrations filmed here at the University of Reading to demonstrate how microbes are studied, and hands-on microbiology experiments for you to try at home.

Find out more about Small and Mighty: Introduction to Microbiology on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.

On this course, you’ll gain a better understanding of where our food comes from, how it’s produced, and the associated environmental, social and sustainability challenges for EU farmers.

As well as horticulture and arable farming, you’ll explore meat, dairy, and egg production, as you examine different farming systems. You’ll also learn about the innovative technologies available to farmers to boost sustainability so that you can better understand farming challenges, and how farming relates to your food purchases.

Find out more about Explore How Farmers Produce Food Sustainably on the FutureLearn website.

Consumers have never been confronted with so much food choice. Making a decision on what food to eat is affected by many factors, including media reports, diet research findings, and social media.

On this course, you’ll access leading research and expert insights to make sense of some of the most common food controversies - alternative proteins, palm oil, and probiotics.

You’ll understand the viewpoints of different stakeholders such as consumers, business and lobbyists and reflect on your own interest in each controversy. By improving your knowledge of these food debates, you’ll build the confidence to make more informed decisions about food.

Find out more about Engaging with Controversies in the Food System on the FutureLearn website.

Over three weeks, you’ll critically explore one possible approach – climate smart agriculture – which is based on three principles: mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaption to climate change, and stable or increased food productivity. You’ll discover how these principles could be translated into practice, using the examples of dairy farming and wine production in the EU. This course has been developed by the University of Reading School of Agriculture, Policy and Development with the support of Climate Smart Agriculture Booster

Find out more about The Future of Farming: Explore Climate Smart Agriculture on the FutureLearn website and take a look at the course video to see what will be covered.