Why Every Polymath Should be Using OpenLearn

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today, we're exploring OpenLearn, a brilliant free resource from the Open University where you can sate your appetite for knowledge—without spending a penny.

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let’s wander a little deeper into the world of learning.

OpenLearn s a delightful—well, not so little—corner of the internet. It's home to over 900 short courses, each offering a glimpse into Open University modules. And when I say short, I mean it. Many of these bite-sized chunks of education take just 6 to 24 hours to complete.

As a self-confessed polymath, logging onto OpenLearn feels like being a kid in a sweet shop. Naturally, I gravitate toward the history and classics courses (what else would you expect from me?), but the variety is incredible: finance, health, languages, the environment, computing, politics, science... it just keeps going.

It’s completely free—you simply need to create an account. If you're an Open University student already, you can log in using your OU credentials. Bonus points: many courses can be downloaded for offline study, which means learning in your comfiest blanket fort is absolutely encouraged.

I’ll be returning to full-time study in October, and I’m planning to use OpenLearn both as a refresher and as a way to ease myself back into the rhythm of study after a two-year break.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm.

🐾 This post was supervised by Index. No pens survived the writing process. 🐾