We have a number of different products on FutureLearn, each with different learning outcomes, time commitments, price bands and payment options:
Short courses
A short course on FutureLearn normally lasts between 2 and 8 weeks.
Our short courses can also be Sponsored, Premium or be part of an ExpertTrack.
Short courses that can be joined for free via the Limited Access option can be either Upgraded or are included in Unlimited. You can read more about Limited Access on this article.
Some are aimed at a beginner level for newcomers to the subject, while others may be for existing students or professionals and require prior knowledge.
To find out more about enrolling on a course - including pricing, requirements and scheduling - please visit the course description page and click on the 'Overview' tab; this will provide you with the details about this course.In this section, you will also find information about whether a course is accredited.
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Certificates are available for these courses, but you may need to pay to receive one. More on this below.
Sponsored courses
Sponsored courses are short courses that offer a free digital upgrade. This means that you will be able to access the entire course straight away, complete it at your own pace and receive a free digital certificate at the end of the course, once you've met the eligibility criteria.
You can see if a course offers a free digital upgrade on its description page; you will see Free under "digital upgrade".
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You can find a list of our courses with free digital upgrades here.
Upgrades
Upgrade courses are available to take for a Limited Access period for the length of the course (as shown on the course description page), starting on the course start date or the date you join (whichever is later). You can find out how to check the length of a course here: How to plan your studies
Please note: If you take a course with the 'Free' Limited Access option you won't receive a certificate.
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If you'd like to retain access to the course beyond the free Limited Access period and earn a certificate, you can purchase an upgrade. The upgrade price is stated on the course description page under the "Buy this course" option.
Unlimited
If you think you're likely to take many courses on FutureLearn, you might consider subscribing to an Unlimited membership. You can find out more about Unlimited here.
To see all the current courses included in Unlimited, select "Explore courses with Unlimited" from the Short Online Courses' section on the Homepage. You can also check by looking in the corner of the course card on the listings page or on the bottom of the course description page for the wording 'Included in Unlimited'.
Premium
Premium courses are usually for professionals as a type of ongoing learning or Continuing Professional Development.
Unlike our short courses with upgrades, you have to pay to access any part of a Premium course. None of the course content is available for free, and the course will not be included in an Unlimited membership.
You can tell if the course you are looking at is a Premium course because you won’t see the option to join for free, and the information banner at the top of the page will show the price.
If you click on the 'Start Dates' tab, you will be shown all the dates this course is due to start as a new run. If you join the "Available Now' option, you will be able to start the course as soon as you join.
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Once you join a Premium course, you can start on the day the course begins and you can complete the course at any time, at your own pace. You will receive a certificate once you meet the eligibility criteria.
Premium courses are not included in Unlimited.
ExpertTracks
ExpertTracks are for people wanting to develop skills for the workplace.
An ExpertTrack is a set of online courses designed to help you master new skills in specialist areas. They are available for a monthly subscription fee (which you'll find on the ExpertTrack description page), with a free two-day trial to allow you to sample the course material. You can check whether an ExpertTrack carries accreditation in the Requirements section of the description page.
You can find out more about how ExpertTracks work here.
ExpertTracks are not included in Unlimited.
Microcredentials
Microcredentials are accredited graduate or postgraduate-level courses, normally lasting around 12 weeks. They may carry university credit or lead to professional accreditation in a particular field or discipline.
To find out more about what's involved in a Microcredential visit the Microcredential description page. You can also learn more about Microcredentials here.
Microcredentials are not included in Unlimited.
Bootcamps
Bootcamps are short and intensive training courses designed to equip individuals with sector-specific skills and knowledge to kickstart their career in the chosen subject. To find out more about a Bootcamp course, click on the "Find Out More" button on the Bootcamp course page and fill in the contact form, and a member of the admissions team will get in touch.
Bootcamps are not included in Unlimited.
Degrees
FutureLearn also offers full degrees, accredited by the awarding institution. To find out more about a degree course you're interested in, click on the "Request Information" button on the degree description page and fill in the contact form, and a member of the University's admissions team will get in touch.
Some of our degrees have free taster modules available as short courses - this can be a great way to test the water and see if a degree is right for you.
Degrees are not included in Unlimited.
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