Masters taster courses

These online courses are designed for graduates or professionals who are considering progressing their studies and want to get a taste of different disciplines at masters level. 

The courses, delivered on FutureLearn or Coursera, are led by top academics at the forefront of their subjects and are informed by the latest research.  

Each course or collection of courses is focusing on a specific field of study and some of them may lead to formal continuing professional development (CPD) accreditation. 

Individual taster courses 

Transport Systems: Global Issues and Future Innovations (CPD)

Join this online course and discover how the transport sector can develop infrastructures that meet the needs of a 21st century population. In this course you will learn about the challenges faced by the transport sector and learn how emerging technologies can address global issues. The course is an excellent taster if you are considering a masters degree in transport. 

Sign up for Transport Systems: Global Issues and Future Innovations

Incarceration: Are prisons a Suitable Punishment? (CPD)

England and Wales have the highest incarceration rate in Western Europe. On this course, you will take a look inside the prisons of England and Wales, explore the ethics of imprisonment and identify prison alternatives. This course is an excellent taster if you are considering a masters degree in law or social sciences. 

Sign up for Incarceration: Are Prisons a Suitable Punishment

Business Ethics: Exploring Big Data and Tax Avoidance (CPD)

Learn why big data and tax avoidance are some of the biggest ethical issues facing businesses today. On this course, you’ll examine the benefits and ethical challenges inherent to big data, including the issues of privacy and data security. You will also learn what tax avoidance is and discover how globalisation is increasing the likelihood of its occurrence. This course is an excellent taster if you are considering a masters degree in ethics. 

Sign up for Business Ethics: Exploring Big Data and Tax Avoidance 

Collections of online courses 

Environmental Challenges (CPD - FutureLearn)

This collection of five online courses explores how human society interacts with the natural world, and the challenging and difficult decisions we face when managing natural resources.

Through case studies and lively discussions, you will learn how environmental management policies are developed and understand the challenges surrounding their formulation. These courses will introduce you to concepts explored by masters degrees in environmental management. 

You can access all courses within the collection for free and in any order, providing a flexible way to enhance your  knowledge.  

Learn more about the courses included in the Environmental Challenges collection

Managing Major Engineering Projects Specialization (Coursera)

This Coursera Specialization consists of three courses that deliver a rigorous exploration of the best practices for planning and delivering major engineering projects.  Each course within the Specialization is exploring a different aspect of project managing major projects from understanding how to measure their performance to their governance, and financing. At the end of the three courses, you may choose to complete a research project that will allow you o develop your skills further. 

The Specialization provides a pathway to the Online Msc in Engineering Management or can be completed by professionals aiming to improve their project management skills as applied to large engineering projects.  

Sign up for  Managing Major Engineering Projects