Free online courses for Scotland
Fully funded online short courses to help you upskill and reskill.
Thanks to the support of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Scottish Government, we’re able to offer a limited number of fully funded places on a range of online short courses.
Use our online courses to:
- add in-demand skills to your CV
- gain credits towards postgraduate qualifications
- fit university study around full-time work.
You can apply if you are:
- domiciled in Scotland (Scotland is your primary place of residence).
You’re welcome to apply even if you’ve received funding in previous years.
When to apply for a funded place
We’re releasing government-funded places in phases throughout 2023 and 2024:
- Phase One is now closed.
- Phase Two is now closed.
- Phase Three is open.
How to apply for a funded place
See what you can study below, then:
Apply using the online application form
Open now until 5pm on Friday 5 April 2024.
Go to online application formDo not apply via the course pages
You cannot access a funded place that way.
What you can study in Phase Three
Choose from the following flexible online short courses.
All start on 27 May 2024 unless otherwise stated.
What it’s like to study online with the University of Aberdeen
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.
We support thousands of online students each year. People join us from all over the world, from all walks of life, to enjoy flexible lifelong learning that works for them.
Where the funding comes from
Funding for these course places is being provided by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
More about the SFC
The SFC and Scottish Government are providing millions of pounds across Scottish universities and regions this academic year to upskill Scotland’s workforce. It’s providing this funding to help universities:
- tackle skills gaps identified in the Scottish economy
- provide more agile support for employees and employers to upskill and reskill
- fund individuals made unemployed, facing unemployment, or whose jobs are at risk as a result of Covid-19 and/or Brexit
- support sectors that have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and, through upskilling and reskilling interventions, move workers into growing sectors
- support the transition to net-zero by enabling more people to access opportunities in the emerging green jobs sector
- increase the number of people with advanced digital skills
- provide flexible learning options so that more people can learn while they work.
Apply using the online application form
Open now until 5pm on Friday 5 April 2024.
Go to online application formDo not apply via the course pages
You cannot access a funded place that way.