Free places on microcredential courses

Supported by the Scottish Funding Council Upskilling Fund, we’re offering the opportunity to study a fully funded microcredential course in a variety of subject areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for developing key skills in the workforce. The OU are committed to supporting the upskilling and reskilling of individuals and organisations by offering a limited number of free places.

How to apply

You can apply for a place on one microcredential by completing our application form. You can only apply for a funded page through this page. There are a limited number of places available.

You are eligible to apply if you are:

domiciled in Scotland
UK citizen or have the legal right to live and work in the UK
18+ years of age
not in further or higher education when your funded course starts.

As we have a limited number of places, the criteria used to determine how to award the funded places will take into consideration the following factors:

Strength of personal statement.
Geographical representation across the whole of Scotland.
Balance across protected characteristics.
Employment status (priority will be given to applicants who are unemployed or at risk of redundancy).

The final deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday, 27^th August 2023.

What are Microcredentials?

Microcredentials allow you to gain specialist knowledge and skills to help advance your career.

In just 10–12 weeks you can gain:

cutting-edge knowledge in a specialised subject, informed by our world-class academics
practical skills that you can immediately apply to your work, or boost your CV
undergraduate or postgraduate credit you could in the future use towards further study.

With microcredentials, all your study is entirely online. You’ll use a combination of learning materials, videos, quizzes and experiences to develop your specialist professional knowledge.

What you can study

AWS: Machine Learning Foundations (TZFM261)

Machine learning is one of the most rapid and evolving growth areas in technology today. It’s becoming increasingly important to businesses and in our everyday lives, creating a huge demand for skilled professionals. On this microcredential, you’ll learn the fundamentals of machine learning to help you keep pace with this growth, upskill, and help advance your career.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 8

AWS: Solutions Architect (TZFM361)

Designing available, cost-efficient, fault-tolerant, and scalable cloud solutions is a valuable and highly sought-after skill. On this microcredential you’ll learn best practices and strategies to guide the implementation of cloud services on Amazon Web Services (AWS) technologies. This course will enable you to prepare for one of the highest paying IT certifications, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Business Management: Financial Accounting for Non-Financial Roles (BZFM306)

Designed for non-financial professionals, this course will give you the confidence to analyse financial information and understand accounting terminology effectively. You’ll learn how to interpret the financial data of any limited company, empowering you to make well-informed decisions on whether a particular business might be a dependable customer, a consistent supplier, a responsible employer, or a sound investment.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Business Management: Fundamentals of Management Accounting (BZFM305)

Learn the skills to interpret information, calculate costs, prepare a budget for planning and control purposes, and evaluate costing methods to make financial decisions. Designed for non-financial experts, you will gain confidence in understanding and using management accounting terminology. You’ll study critical business problems from a wide range of sectors and contexts to help you prepare for challenges you may face.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Business Management: Improving Organisational Practice
(BZFM302)

Organisational practice is the examination of how the structures and culture of a company shape the actions and behaviours of its workforce. On this microcredential, you’ll learn how to become a manager who can increase productivity and efficiency to empower your workforce and benefit the broader environment. You’ll achieve this by exploring different organisational structures and learning how to adapt to change.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice (BZFM301)

This microcredential introduces you to the core principles of marketing. You’ll cover digital and non-digital perspectives that will inform your professional decision-making, improve your effectiveness and adapt your approach to solving business challenges. Using practical examples of marketing in action, you’ll build a toolkit for creating products and services that meet your customers needs and that differentiate your product or service from your competitors.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Business Management: People Management and Leadership (BZFM303)

Good people management skills are vital in meeting the challenges faced by organisations of all shapes and sizes across the world. This microcredential will introduce you to frameworks and ideas that will help you become an ethical and inclusive people manager and leader. You’ll learn the critical tools and techniques needed to adapt and respond to the changing needs of your organisation, and further your career.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Business Management: Project Management (BZFM304)

The skills to manage a project are becoming increasingly important across all sectors. The ability to effectively deliver a project can set you apart from your peers and help you stand out in your organisation. This microcredential will introduce you to the core principles, tools, and techniques needed to lead, or successfully contribute to, projects that add value and deliver positive outcomes.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Cisco: CCNA - Introduction to Networks (TZFM162)

Networked systems form the backbone of modern information systems. As networks expand, so has the demand for people with infrastructure networking expertise within computing, digital technologies, and infrastructure engineering.On this microcredential from Cisco and The Open University, you’ll lay the groundwork for the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification, building your knowledge and skills in infrastructure networking.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 7

Cisco: DevOps using DevNet
(TZFM362)

Cloud computing, the internet of things, cybersecurity and infrastructure networking have become more complex. The disciplines of coding and network engineering have converged to offer a route for either ‘network engineers’ or ‘coders’ to develop DevOps focussed skills. Within the course, you will develop industry-focussed skills, knowledge, and experience using Python to code a range of data formats, using code, the DevOps methodology, and various micro services deploying applications.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Cisco: Python Programming (OpenEDG) (TZFM163)

Ready to upskill and learn one of the most in-demand and fastest-growing programming languages? Python is a popular programming language used for everything from web and software development to scientific applications across every sector and industry. On this microcredential, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the Python programming language as well as gaining hands-on experience and practical skills.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 7

Climate Change: Transforming your Organisation for Sustainability (TZFM320)

Climate change is the biggest challenge faced by society; it affects us all – and organisations of all kinds can play a significant role in the transition to a sustainable society. This microcredential will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and courage to transform your organisation’s response to the climate and ecological crisis, whatever your level, role or sector, and wherever you are in the world. If you’re wanting to make positive change in your organisation and are unsure how to go about it, or if you’re looking to advance your career in sustainability or add sustainability know-how to your skills set, this microcredential will give you the knowledge and practical skills you need.

Level: Undergraduate
Start date: 23 October 2023
Study duration: 10 weeks (approximately 10 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 10 credits at SCQF level 10

Agile Leadership and Management
(TZFM850)

Designed by The Open University and the Agile Business Consortium, this course combines research and evidence-based training with good practice principles and tools to provide a solid foundation and introduction to agile leadership and management. The course will equip managers, leaders, and those aspiring to move into leadership roles with strategies and tools to support team development at all levels.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Cyber Security Operations (Cisco) (TZFM862)

Learn how cyber security professionals respond to an imminent, active or recent cyber threat. You’ll explore how to go about resolving attacks and how to complete legal investigations of any potential cybercrime. Gain the skills and knowledge required to pass the Cisco-certified CyberOps Associate certification, which prepares candidates to work with associate-level cyber security analysts in security operations centres.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Developing Educational Leadership in Practice (EZFM803)

Education leaders have a key role to play in shaping the direction and culture of an educational setting. They need the skills to motivate others, adapt, and create strategies to respond to change rapidly - something that became increasingly important during the Covid-19 pandemic. This microcredential explores the latest theories and research in educational leadership, and provides a solid introduction to the skills, knowledge, tools and language needed to help you futureproof your career.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Management of Change: Organisation Development and Design (BZFM802)

With increasing digitalisation, it is essential that you and your organisation are equipped with the right tools, skills and understanding to effectively manage and lead organisational development. You’ll learn how to design a people centred strategy for change as well as implementing professional strategies to address the challenges of developing organisations and teams in changing environments.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action (BZFM801)

In a world of radical uncertainties, develop the skills and perspectives needed on this 15-credit microcredential. You’ll learn new ways of engaging with uncertainties, thinking critically about how they’re distributed in societies and organisations. In growing your resilience in the face of radical uncertainty and unexpected events, you’ll enhance your own capacity for leadership and action.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Mental Health: Working with Children and Young People (KZFM801)

This microcredential will support those working in health, social care, and education to develop essential skills to understand the mental health issues experienced by children and young people, and the interventions that can help to address them. With a focus on children and young people’s developmental stages and social environments, you’ll develop your understanding of theory and practice which will enable you to identify and implement appropriate support strategies.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Mentoring and Coaching in Professional Learning (EZFM802)

A successful mentor or coach can play a critical role in helping someone to achieve their professional goals. The benefits of mentoring and coaching are well documented and are known to include developing leadership skills, increased knowledge transfer and stronger internal networks, as well as job satisfaction and motivation. If you work in a learning, training, or professional development role, this microcredential will equip you with the practical skills and knowledge you need to provide crucial support to colleagues and peers.

Level: Postgraduate
Start date: 9 October 2023
Study duration: 12 weeks (approximately 13 hours of study a week)
On completion: Gain 15 credits at SCQF level 11

Free places on microcredential courses

How to apply

What are Microcredentials?

What you can study

AWS: Machine Learning Foundations (TZFM261)

AWS: Solutions Architect (TZFM361)

Business Management: Financial Accounting for Non-Financial Roles (BZFM306)

Business Management: Fundamentals of Management Accounting (BZFM305)

Business Management: Improving Organisational Practice
(BZFM302)

Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice (BZFM301)

Business Management: People Management and Leadership (BZFM303)

Business Management: Project Management (BZFM304)

Cisco: CCNA - Introduction to Networks (TZFM162)

Cisco: DevOps using DevNet
(TZFM362)

Cisco: Python Programming (OpenEDG) (TZFM163)

Climate Change: Transforming your Organisation for Sustainability (TZFM320)

Agile Leadership and Management
(TZFM850)

Cyber Security Operations (Cisco) (TZFM862)

Developing Educational Leadership in Practice (EZFM803)

Management of Change: Organisation Development and Design (BZFM802)

Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action (BZFM801)

Mental Health: Working with Children and Young People (KZFM801)

Mentoring and Coaching in Professional Learning (EZFM802)

For further information

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Free places on microcredential courses

How to apply

What are Microcredentials?

What you can study

For further information

Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice

Developing Educational Leadership in Practice

Mentoring and Coaching in Professional Learning

Business Management: Financial Accounting for Non-Financial Roles

Management of Change: Organisation Development and Design

Business Management: Improving Organisational Practice

Cisco: CCNA - Introduction to Networks

Cisco: Python Programming (OpenEDG)

Cisco: DevOps using DevNet

AWS: Solutions Architect

AWS: Machine Learning Foundations

Business Management: Fundamentals of Management Accounting

Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action

Global Development in Practice: Designing an Intervention

Online Teaching: Creating courses for Adult Learners

Online Teaching: Evaluating and Improving Courses

Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum

Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning

Online Teaching: Embedding Social, Race and Gender-Related Equity

Digital Photography: Creating a Professional Portfolio

Tackling the Climate Crisis: Innovation from Cuba

Agile Management and Leadership

Cyber Security Operations (Cisco)

Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice

Business Management: People Management and Leadership

Business Management: Project Management

Climate Change: Transforming your Organisation for Sustainability

Mentoring and Coaching in Professional Learning

Mental Health: Working with Children and Young People

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