Micro​credentials

A microcredential course is studied entirely online. You’ll interact with your peers through collaborative forums, moderated by the course tutors. Each week you’ll have new learning materials, videos and quizzes to help inform your learning. And course tutors may also run live, online tutorial events, which are recorded, if you’re unable to take part.

As microcredentials are offered by our partner, FutureLearn, you’ll register directly with them. You’ll first need a FutureLearn account, which you can create through their website. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be able to register for your chosen microcredential.

Payments can be made by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or via PayPal.

After you have registered on the course with FutureLearn, you will have 14 days from the day the course starts to request a refund.

Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and time zone. There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards, if you aren’t able to participate in the live broadcast.

Everything else can be studied at your own pace, as long as you complete the final assessment by the specified date.

Microcredentials are designed to be studied from almost anywhere in the world.

Microcredentials are stand-alone products, designed to meet specific learner and employer needs and offer a credential in their own right. Those awarded by The Open University have a credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and this may in the future be used towards qualifications (for example, an honours degree, diploma of higher education or postgraduate certificate) at The Open University, or potentially at another university (subject to the agreement of the receiving institution).