Taster courses for high school students Science, technology, engineering and maths

These online courses are ideal if you are interested in exploring STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.

If you are thinking of studying for an undergraduate degree and you are considering your next steps, then these courses might be for you. Join an online course to get a taste of the subject explored and expand your understanding of a specific topic.

Individual taster courses

Chemical engineering: shaping a sustainable future

Chemical engineers are providing answers to global challenges such as climate change, food security, and effective healthcare. Join this online course to explore the exciting world of chemical engineering and learn how chemical engineers develop and design chemical manufacturing processes to provide sustainable solutions.

Planet Earth: understanding and protecting our environment

Discover the processes of the hydrosphere, the geosphere, and the biosphere and explore the impact of human activity and climate change on our planet. You will learn how scientists are addressing environmental problems such as food management and invasive species in a sustainable way and find out about research at Leeds that helps monitor the effects of climate change. This course is designed to give you a taste of what it is like to study for undergraduate degrees in physical geography and environmental science.

Food science and nutrition: from the farm to you

Follow the fascinating journey of food from the farm into your body and explore new food technologies and nutrition around the world. In this course, you will find out about the food supply chain and how food processing can make food healthier. You will learn how food science and nutrition help us to study the fascinating world of food. This course will give you a taste of what it is like to study for undergraduate degrees in food science and nutrition.

Ecology and wildlife conservation

Discover how the work of conservation biologists and the study of ecosystems can help conserve the world’s biodiversity. Explore the impact of wind farms on populations of seabirds, and investigate advanced techniques for studying different ecosystems such as coral reefs. This course is a taster to undergraduate degrees in conservation biology, biology and zoology.

Exploring cancer medicines

Explore what it is like to study for an undergraduate degree in medicinal chemistry by looking into the topic of cancer chemotherapy. Find out what cancer chemotherapy is, how it was developed and how the development of effective medications for the treatment of cancer remains a significant challenge to scientists. You will also explore how science is communicated to the general public, and learn the skills needed to become an effective science writer.

Collection of online courses on FutureLearn

Medical Technology Futures

Join our MedTech programme and explore the latest in medical technology. Learn about digital health, wearable devices, genomics, AI, and robotics. Perfect for anyone interested in medical device design, personalised medicine, and regenerative therapies. Our free courses are easy to access on any device and can be taken in any order.

Learn more about the online courses included in the Medical Technology Futures collection.

Discovering Science

Join our Discovering Science programme and delve into the wonders of chemistry. Learn about science writing, medicinal chemistry, global challenges, chemical products, and atmospheric chemistry through five engaging online courses. Perfect for those curious about how chemistry shapes our world, these free courses are accessible on any device and can be taken in any order. Start with Discovering Science: Science Writing to enhance your experience with the other courses.

Learn more about the online courses included in the Discovering Science collection.