College of the Sea

The Open University’s OpenLearn website gives free access to Open University course materials.

It’s called the LearningSpace, where you'll find hundreds of free study units, from access to postgraduate level.

Study independently at your own pace or join a group, or Learning Club, and use the free learning tools to work with others.

The Marine Society has set up a Learning Club for the Merchant Navy and there’s a group for those in the Sea Cadets who are studying the OU/MSSC Working With Young People

This is an excellent way to dip your toe into studying. Test the water, and see if it’s for you - with no commitment or outlay.

Because using OpenLearn does not mean that you become an Open University student, or that you will have a tutor, sit exams, or gain a degree.

It does mean that you have free, no-strings-attached access to high quality online educational material taken from Open University courses.

So, what do you need to do to get at this free material?

Well, the short answer is ‘not much’! It's all laid out for you in the LearningSpace.

To take full advantage of all the features and technologies that are available, and to be able to enrol on any or all of the free study units you will, however, need to register.

Registering is completely free, makes no future requirements of you, and ties you to The Open University or OpenLearn in no way.

It does however provide you with:

access to tools that will help you organise and make sense of your study

free and unlimited access to the OpenLearn community 

contribute to the discussion forums in the Learning Clubs

People in the OpenLearn community are there for the same reasons as you - they are interested in learning.

Connecting with other people in OpenLearn can help you learn more as you can share thoughts, questions, ideas and perspectives.