- Courses
- Course types
- Short courses
You only need a few hours a week to study a short course with The Open University. Choose from a range of subjects that can help you build a new skill set, discover a new hobby, or give your career a boost through continued professional development.
Choose from: Chinese |
Communication and cultures |
Creative writing |
Film, media and photography |
French |
German |
Italian |
Music |
Project management |
Spanish |
WelshChinese
With a choice of Beginners (CEFR level A1) or Elementary (CEFR level A2) our Mandarin Chinese courses will let you discover a language and culture steeped in history.
Start learning Mandarin Chinese on a short course that’s perfect for beginners.
Expand your Mandarin vocabulary by exploring topics like food and leisure activities.
Ideal for those with a grasp of beginners’ Mandarin to improve their language skills.
Build positive, long-term business relationships using knowledge of Chinese culture and values.
Step up your basic knowledge of Chinese with our elementary course in Mandarin.
Take your Mandarin up a level with this elementary course covering feelings, opinions and the past.
Develop your Mandarin vocabulary, including how to apologise formally and give presents.
Communication and cultures
Communication helps build connections and understanding of the world we live in, both now and in the future. Develop this key skill with a short course.
Examine historical, ethical and social issues around Artificial Intelligence technology.
Improve your intercultural communication skills in the workplace.
Creative writing
Whether you want to develop your writing skills professionally or just for fun, our creative writing short courses will support and inspire you on your creative journey.
Develop your creative writing skills as you explore poetry, fiction and scriptwriting.
Learn how travel writers bring their journeys to life and begin writing about a journey of your own.
Film, media and photography
Delve into the fascinating world of film, media and photography with a short course, including some exciting new courses written in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI).
Trace the history of documentary film in Britain using the collection held by the BFI National Archive.
Explore film’s relationship with the environment, its past, present, and potentially, eco-friendlier future.
Discover how the relationship between media, politics and society impacts your everyday life.
Learn how a filmmakers’ choices help create their characters, narratives and ‘story-worlds’.
Broaden your photography skills with a course produced with The Royal Photographic Society (RPS).
French
Discover the French language and culture in your own time. Choose from Beginners (CEFR level A1) or Elementary (CEFR level A2) and learn through through handy, bite-sized blocks.
Kick-start your learning journey with this introduction to French designed for beginners.
Continue to build your French skills for communicating in everyday situations.
Enhance your knowledge of French to prepare for further language study.
Start to understand and produce more complex language with an elementary level course.
Explore exciting new subjects in French, such as employment, qualifications and studying.
Learn to talk about your health and improve your grammar by using past, present and future tenses.
German
We offer both Beginners (CEFR level A1) and Elementary (CEFR level A2) level courses in German so you can finally say ‘ja’ to learning one of Europe’s most widely used languages.
Learn the basics of German and discover the cultural diversity of German-speaking countries.
Study new topics like food, seasons, dates and time to build up your German vocabulary.
Further your knowledge of German by learning to give your opinion on new and varied topics.
Learn to express your opinions and start mastering everyday situations in German.
Step up your language-learning and start taking on more complex conversations in German.
Italian
Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Italy as you learn to read, write, and speak Italian with a Beginners (CEFR level A1) or Elementary (CEFR level A2) short course.
A perfect 'aperitivo'! Learn Italian starting with simple topics such as reading menus.
Build on your study and learn to talk about time, work, transport, and holidays in Italian.
Delve further into Italian language and culture by exploring geography, food and festivals.
Step up your progress in Italian with new vocabulary and key expressions.
Develop your Italian skills, including talking about the past and childhood.
Explore more complex topics in Italian, including social media and Italian migration.
Music
Broaden your understanding and appreciation of music, from how it is created, the equipment used, to the impact in our everyday lives and on society as a whole.
Discover the history of computer audio and music from the earliest computers to modern technology.
Explore the relationship between music, identity, and culture through the work of the country musician and songwriter Dolly Parton.
Learn about the cultural context and diversity of a variety of different sound systems.
Project management
Projects are how organisations make things happen. A short course can help you develop your knowledge of this methodology to apply in your own workplace or project.
Learn the key skills and techniques of project management to enhance your career.
Spanish
Join over 500 million people worldwide who speak Spanish with a Beginners (CEFR level A1) or Elementary (CEFR level A2) level short course.
Discover one of the world’s most widely spoken languages with this introductory course.
Learn to talk about time, your daily and weekly routine, work, interests and hobbies.
Begin conversing in this popular language using new topics to build your vocabulary.
Build on your beginners’ Spanish with new topics, including sport and grammar.
Advance your Spanish language skills with new topics, situations and phrases.
Welsh
In a few hours of study, a short course can open your world to other cultures. Discover hidden histories and forgotten traditions from around the world.
Learn basic Welsh language skills while exploring key aspects of Welsh culture.