Moocs: Leeds and Open University offering course credits towards degrees for first time

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. FutureLearn’s higher education partners will then award a maximum of 30 credits against grades achieved, and those will count towards specific degree courses, with programs, alone, costing around £117. He said: “Allowing people to take part of a degree course with the flexibility offered by our platform means they can achieve meaningful qualifications while still being able to work and manage the other important parts of their lives.” University of Leeds’ vice-chancellor, Alan Langlands, said the move signifies the Russell Group institution’s ongoing commitment to widen access to higher education. Professor Neil Morris, director of digital learning, added: “We are making extensive use of the platform to offer higher education to anyone with access to the Internet, and to extend the learning opportunities for our campus-based students.” The Open University’s vice-chancellor, Peter Horrocks, said Moocs have the “disruptive potential” to offer more efficient, competitive, and learner-focused study options. He added: “It is a modern illustration of the OU’s historic mission to extend quality education to the greatest number of people possible.” Founded by OU in 2012, FutureLearn says it offers over 3.6 million learners free online courses from world-leading UK and international universities, centres of research excellence, and specialist education providers.