The Student Room Group

List of Free Distance Learning University Modules

I thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of university modules/courses which you can study (in English) via distance learning for free. Maybe you're looking for a way to cut the cost of a degree, or perhaps you would like to do something a bit different to make your UCAS application stand out. Some of these modules require 60 ECTS (1 year of university study) to enrol, but the majority are open to everyone.

You can also visit Sweden's university admissions website and use the search function to find newer modules which may not be featured on this list.

Uppsala University

American History (7.5 ECTS)
American Politics (7.5 ECTS)
Ancient Near East: Introduction (7.5 ECTS)
Animation 2D 2: Theory and Projects (7.5 credits)
Animation in 2D 1: Theory and Practice (7.5 credits)
Applied Pharmaceutical Bioinformatics (5 ECTS)
Applied Pharmaceutical Structural Bioinformatics (5 ECTS)
Balochi B (30 ECTS)
Bioinformatic Analyses (5 ECTS)
Bioinformatics on the Web (5 ECTS)
Celtic History and Culture (7.5 ECTS)
Computer Architecture I (7.5 ECTS)
Current Perspectives on Food and Society: Culture, Migration and Health (7.5 ECTS)
Decision Analysis in Energy Planning with Focus on Wind Power (7.5 ECTS)
Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products (7.5 ECTS)
Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance (7.5 ECTS)
Energy and Environment (7.5 ECTS)
Fundamentals of Management (7.5 ECTS)
Hindi A1 (Beginners) (30 ECTS)
Human-Computer Interaction (5 ECTS)
Informatics Toolbox for Systematics (5 ECTS)
Information Technology (7.5 ECTS)
Introduction to Celtic Literature (7.5 ECTS)
Introductory Course in Turkic Languages (22.5 ECTS)
Irish Love Poetry (7.5 ECTS)
Modern Irish I (7.5 ECTS)
Modern Irish II (7.5 ECTS)
Modern Irish III (7.5 ECTS)
Modern Irish Reading (7.5 ECTS)
Motion Graphics: An Introduction (15 ECTS)
Neuroethics (7.5 ECTS)
Old Irish I (7.5 ECTS)
Old Irish II (7.5 ECTS)
Old Irish Reading (7.5 ECTS)
Peace and Conflict Studies A I (15 ECTS)
Peace and Conflict Studies A II (15 ECTS)
Pharmacognosy (15 ECTS)
Principles of Marketing (7.5 ECTS)
The Religions, History and Cultural History of India (7.5 ECTS)
Welsh I (7.5 ECTS)
Welsh II (7.5 ECTS)
Welsh III (7.5 ECTS)
Western Esotericism: Sex, Magic and Resistance from the Renaissance until Today (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Energy Calculations (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Power Basics (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Power Installation, Operations and Maintenance (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Power Planning and Economics (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Power Planning and Permission (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Power Project Development (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Power System and Grid Integration (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Resources (7.5 ECTS)
Wind Turbine Technology (7.5 ECTS)

Lund University

Cultural Sciences: Intellectual Property and Digital Information - Law, Politics and Culture (7.5 ECTS)
Economic History: The Global Economy (15 ECTS)
Globalisation and Culture (7.5 ECTS)
Globalisation and Gender Relations (7.5 ECTS)
Yiddish Language and Literature (Beginners) (15 ECTS)
Yiddish Language and Literature (15 ECTS)
Jewish World Literature in the 20th Century (15 ECTS)
Modern Jewish Culture and the Narrative Art of Sholem Aleichem (15 ECTS)
The Golden Age of Yiddish Cinema: An Introduction to Jewish Culture (15 ECTS)
e-Environmental Psychology (15 ECTS)

Malmö University

Caucasus Studies I (30 ECTS), modules include:
Introduction to Caucasus Studies
A language of the Caucasus (Georgian or Russian)
Post-Soviet developments in the Caucasus
History of the Caucasus

Caucasus Studies II (30 ECTS), modules include:
State and Nation Building in the Caucasus
Peoples and Languages of the Caucasus
Conflict and Conflict Resolution in the Caucasus
The Caucasus Region: Causes and Consequences of Migration

Creative Writing I (15 ECTS)
Creative Writing II (15 ECTS)
Gender and sports I (7.5 ECTS)

University of Gothenburg

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - Introduction (7.5 ECTS)
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - Part 2 (7.5 ECTS)
Introduction to Contemporary Arts and Politics (15 ECTS)
Latin American History and Present Time (15 ECTS)
Latin American Social and Political Movements (15 ECTS)

Stockholm University

BSc Earth Sciences (the majority of modules can be studied via distance learning)
Tellus I - Physical Geography (15 ECTS)
Tellus II - Physical Geography (12.5 ECTS)
Mathematics III - Complex Analysis (7.5 ECTS)
Mathematics III - Combinatorics (7.5 ECTS)
Tropical Marine Biology (7.5 ECTS)

Umeå University

Applied Sports Coaching (7.5 ECTS)
Democracy, human rights and gender: global perspectives in education (7.5 ECTS)
Geographic Information Systems 1 - Scientific Data (7.5 ECTS)
Geographic Information Systems 2 - Scientific Data (7.5 ECTS)
History of Technology (7.5 ECTS)
International Economic History (15 ECTS)
Law and Society: Introductory Course (15 ECTS)
The Physics of Virtual Environments (7.5 ECTS)

Linköping University

Swedish for Foreign Students (7.5 ECTS)

Linnaeus University

Digital Tools for Design Process I (7.5 ECTS)
Graphic Design and Typography I (7.5 ECTS)
Illustration I (7.5 ECTS)
Introduction to Transgender Studies (7.5 ECTS)
Graphic Tools (7.5 ECTS)
Digital Image Editing (7.5 ECTS)
Object Oriented Programming with C++ (7.5 ECTS)
Astrophysics (7.5 ECTS)
Typography and digital publishing in Adobe Indesign (7.5 ECTS)
Visual Identity from a Sustainable Perspective (7.5 ECTS)
Introduction to Game Programming (7.5 ECTS)
Computational Physics I (7.5 ECTS)

Dalarna University

Chinese I (Beginners) (30 ECTS)
Chinese II (30 ECTS)
Human rights as power and morals (30 ECTS)
English I (30 ECTS)
English II (30 ECTS)
Portuguese (Beginners) (30 ECTS)
Japanese (Beginners) (30 ECTS)
Italian (Beginners I) (15 ECTS)
Italian (Beginners II) (15 ECTS)
Mathematics for microdata analysis (7.5 ECTS)

University of Tromsø

An introduction to Circumpolar World (10 ECTS)
Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World (15 ECTS)
Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World 1: Economy (10 ECTS)
Land and environment of the Circumpolar World (15 ECTS)
Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World 2: Politics (10 ECTS)
High north politics and Barents cooperation (10 ECTS)
Culture and Identity in the Barents Region (10 ECTS)
Nordic and Russian Government in a Comparative Perspective (10 ECTS)

Nord University

Scandinavian Politics (10 ECTS)
History, Politics and Northern Resources (10 ECTS)
Northern Scandinavian Societies (10 ECTS)
(edited 5 years ago)

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Very useful, thanks! Are these courses in English or the language for which the country the uni is in?
Original post by Tiger Rag
Very useful, thanks! Are these courses in English or the language for which the country the uni is in?


All in English!
Reply 3
Original post by Snufkin
I thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of university modules/courses which you can study online for free. Maybe you're looking for a way to cut the cost of a degree, or perhaps you would like to do something a bit different to make your UCAS application stand out. Some of these modules require 60 ECTS (1 year of university study) to enol, but the majority are open to everyone.

This list is a bit of a working progress, I will add to it as and when I find new modules. :work:

Uppsala University

American History (7.5 ECTS)


This is very cool. :clap2:

So, just for example, the first course you list...
http://www.uu.se/en/admissions/master/selma/Kurser/?kKod=5EN712&typ=1
...has fees of SEK 11,250 (Swedish Krona) = almost £1,000 if you are outside EU. And yet they are completely free for EU...? That's amazing.

#VoteRemain :smile:

Oh wait... what about the SEK 900 application fee?

Can someone use these courses to accumulate enough ECTS to actually get a degree?
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 4
Original post by Snufkin
I thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of university modules/courses which you can study online for free. Maybe you're looking for a way to cut the cost of a degree, or perhaps you would like to do something a bit different to make your UCAS application stand out. Some of these modules require 60 ECTS (1 year of university study) to enol, but the majority are open to everyone.

This list is a bit of a working progress, I will add to it as and when I find new modules. :work:


are they accredited?
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by jneill
This is very cool. :clap2:

So, just for example, the first course you list...
http://www.uu.se/en/admissions/master/selma/Kurser/?kKod=5EN712&typ=1
...has fees of SEK 11,250 (Swedish Krona) = almost £1,000 if you are outside EU. And yet they are completely free for EU...? That's amazing.

#VoteRemain :smile:

Oh wait... what about the SEK 900 application fee?

Can someone use these courses to accumulate enough ECTS to actually get a degree?


Ah I forgot about the registration fee... although it is only a small fee at most universities, and I think you only pay it if you're doing a standalone module. I didn't have to pay a registration fee because I was registered on a degree. :smile:

I think you could do 120 ECTS worth of online modules and then transfer to the Open University, thus saving yourself £10,000. You might be able to do a full degree in online modules (that's what I'm attempting to do anyway). We shall see.

Original post by shawtyb
are they accredited?


Yes.
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 6
Original post by Snufkin
Ah I forgot about the registration fee... although it is only a small fee at most universities, and I think you only pay it if you're doing a standalone module. I didn't have to pay a registration fee because I was registered on a degree. :smile:

Well yeah, SEK 900 is approx £75. Good value :smile:

Original post by Snufkin
I think you could do 120 ECTS worth of online modules and then transfer to the Open University, thus saving yourself £10,000. You might be able to do a full degree in online modules (that's what I’m attempting to do anyway). We shall see.


So how will that actually work (and good luck!) - you accumulate the 120 ECTS and then what? You do a final year with the OU (to get the remaining 60), and they say yeah that's great, here's a degree? For what approx cost?

Is there a time limit to acquiring the 120?
Original post by jneill
So how will that actually work (and good luck!) - you accumulate the 120 ECTS and then what? You do a final year with the OU (to get the remaining 60), and they say yeah that's great, here's a degree? For what approx cost?

Is there a time limit to acquiring the 120?


Yeah, as far as I know that's pretty much how it works. You can transfer up to 120 ECTS to the OU from any accredited university, then do the final year with the OU (which would cost about £5000 if you live in England) to get an Open Degree. A degree for 5k isn't bad at all!

Of course, if you want a named degree then you will have to be more selective with what online modules you pick because they will need to be directly relevant to the OU degree you want to transfer into, so you may not be able to do 120 credits worth. But still, any saving is worthwhile.

I think you have up to 16 years to complete a degree with the OU, so as long as you've done all your online modules within that time frame, there shouldn't be a problem.
Reply 8
Original post by Snufkin
Yeah, as far as I know that's pretty much how it works. You can transfer up to 120 ECTS to the OU from any accredited university, then do the final year with the OU (which would cost about £5000 if you live in England) to get an Open Degree. A degree for 5k isn't bad at all!

Of course, if you want a named degree then you will have to be more selective with what online modules you pick because they will need to be directly relevant to the OU degree you want to transfer into, so you may not be able to do 120 credits worth. But still, any saving is worthwhile.

I think you have up to 16 years to complete a degree with the OU, so as long as you've done all your online modules within that time frame, there shouldn't be a problem.


Hmm... interesting.

So how far in are you?
Thank you, I'll definitely keep this bookmarked
:jumphug:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by jneill
Hmm... interesting.

So how far in are you?


Ah, well I'm doing things a little differently. I did 60 ECTS with the OU a few years back, but I'm transferring those credits into the degree I've just started. The degree is made up of 90 online ECTS, and I will probably make up the last 30 credits from other online modules at another university. I spent £2500 on my OU credits, so if all goes to plan that should be the total cost of my degree because everything else is free. :awesome:
Bookmarked and repped, great idea - I mostly use the MIT Edu open courseware but Coursera also has lots of good stuff
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 12
Original post by Snufkin
Ah, well I'm doing things a little differently. I did 60 ECTS with the OU a few years back, but I'm transferring those credits into the degree I've just started. The degree is made up of 90 online ECTS, and I will probably make up the last 30 credits from other online modules at another university. I spent £2500 on my OU credits, so if all goes to plan that should be the total cost of my degree because everything else is free. :awesome:


Is that you Ranulph?
Original post by jneill
Is that you Ranulph?


:snowman::iiam::mrfreeze:

Maybe...
Original post by Snufkin
Ah I forgot about the registration fee... although it is only a small fee at most universities, and I think you only pay it if you're doing a standalone module. I didn't have to pay a registration fee because I was registered on a degree. :smile:

I think you could do 120 ECTS worth of online modules and then transfer to the Open University, thus saving yourself £10,000. You might be able to do a full degree in online modules (that's what I'm attempting to do anyway). We shall see.



Yes.


do they count as legit qualifications though
Original post by shawtyb
do they count as legit qualifications though


No, most of them aren't qualifications in themselves. But does that matter?
Original post by Snufkin
No, most of them aren't qualifications in themselves. But does that matter?


id have prefer actual quals
This is the most useful thread I've ever come across, and the most dangerous one for someone like me who is so easily tempted to sign up to for-credit courses in bulk :biggrin:
Just look at all those language/science/computing/circumpolar study classes!
(I call my focus "everything", not lack thereof)

Thanks for THE LIST.
Just applied for Celtic History and Culture & Introduction to Celtic Literature. :excited:
Reply 19
Original post by Snufkin
Just applied for Celtic History and Culture & Introduction to Celtic Literature. :excited:


PRSOM!

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