The Free Leadership and Followership Course from The Open University is now open for enrollment, and it's completely free — no tuition, no hidden fees, and no application deadline. Over 8 self-paced weeks (about 3 hours per week), you'll learn how to lead with confidence and follow with purpose, then walk away with a CPD-accredited digital badge and a statement of participation you can add to LinkedIn or your resume today.
This guide breaks down exactly what the course covers, who qualifies, and how to enroll in under five minutes — plus the details most listicles skip, like why "free" doesn't mean "low value" in this case. Ready to start now? Apply directly on the Open University portal here.
Key Takeaways: Free Leadership and Followership Course
- Provider: The Open University (OpenLearn), UK — a globally recognized public institution.
- Cost: Completely free. No hidden fees, no application charge.
- Duration: 8 weeks, roughly 3 hours per week, fully self-paced.
- Credential: Free digital badge + statement of participation, worth 24 CPD points.
- Eligibility: Open to anyone aged 13+ worldwide — no prior experience required.
- Deadline: None. Enrollment is open year-round.
What Is the Free Leadership and Followership Course?
This is an introductory-level (Level 1) online course built by The Open University and hosted on its OpenLearn platform. It's designed for anyone who wants to understand what actually makes leadership work — not just from the top down, but from the perspective of the people being led.
Instead of generic motivational content, the course leans on real organizational scenarios. You'll examine both effective and ineffective leadership examples, unpack why common leadership breakdowns happen, and practice applying frameworks to your own work or study environment. It closes with a personal development plan, so you leave with something more useful than a certificate: a roadmap.
Why This Free Course Is Worth Your Time
Free online courses have a reputation problem — many are thin, unaccredited, and forgotten the moment you close the tab. This one is different for three concrete reasons.
- Institutional credibility: The Open University is one of the world's largest and most respected distance-learning universities, with decades of experience in adult and professional education.
- Recognized CPD value: The course carries 24 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points, which many employers and professional bodies formally recognize toward ongoing training requirements.
- Dual perspective: Most leadership courses ignore followership entirely. This one treats it as a skill in its own right — arguably more useful, since most people spend more of their career following than leading.
Course Snapshot
| Offered By | The Open University (OpenLearn) |
| Format | 100% online, self-paced |
| Duration | 8 weeks (approx. 3 hours/week) |
| Level | Introductory (Level 1) — no prerequisites |
| Cost | Free |
| Credential | Digital badge + statement of participation (24 CPD points) |
| Minimum Age | 13 years and older |
| Application Deadline | None — rolling, year-round enrollment |
What You’ll Learn: Curriculum Breakdown
By the end of the eight weeks, you should be able to confidently do the following:
- Identify different leadership styles and recognize which ones align with your own personality and working habits
- Evaluate your current leadership strengths and pinpoint specific skill gaps
- Define followership from both the leader's and the follower's point of view — and understand why the distinction matters
- Apply leadership principles to solve common workplace and team-based challenges
- Build a personal, actionable plan to keep developing your leadership skills after the course ends
Who Is Eligible to Apply to Free Leadership and Followership Course
Eligibility here is intentionally broad — this is not a competitive scholarship, so there's no selection committee to impress.
- Open to applicants of any nationality, worldwide
- No application fee at any stage
- Minimum age of 13 to create an OpenLearn account and track progress
- Learners aged 13–15: use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, which can cause account-creation issues
There are no academic prerequisites. Whether you're a student, a first-time team lead, or a mid-career professional brushing up on soft skills, you qualify.
How to Enroll to Free Leadership and Followership Course: Step-by-Step
- Go to the official course page on the Open University's OpenLearn platform.
- Click "Sign in" in the top right corner. First-timers should click "Create account" instead (13+ only).
- Once logged in, click the "Start this free course" button to begin.
- Work through the eight weekly units and quizzes at whatever pace suits you.
- After finishing all quizzes, download your free digital badge and statement of participation.
👉 Apply Now: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=143830
Official Course Page: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/learning/leadership-and-followership/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab
The Free Certificate and Digital Badge: What You Actually Get
On completion, you receive two things: a downloadable statement of participation and a shareable digital badge issued by The Open University. Worth flagging honestly — the badge is not a formally accredited university qualification, and it won't substitute for a degree or a professional license. What it does well is signal initiative: it's concrete, verifiable proof that you completed structured, university-backed training, and the 24 CPD points behind it carry real weight if your employer or professional body tracks continuing education.
Frequently Asked Questions on Free Leadership and Followership Course
Is the Leadership and Followership Course really free?
Yes. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no hidden cost to enroll, study, or receive your digital badge and statement of participation.
Do I need any experience to join?
No. This is an introductory-level course with no prerequisites — it's designed for complete beginners as well as people already in leadership roles.
Is there an application deadline?
No. Enrollment is rolling and self-paced, so you can start any time during 2026 and beyond, as long as the course remains listed on OpenLearn.
Is the digital badge formally accredited?
The badge itself is issued by The Open University but is not a formally accredited academic qualification. It does, however, reflect 24 recognized CPD points.
How long does the course actually take?
Officially 8 weeks at roughly 3 hours per week (about 24 hours total), but because it's self-paced, you can move faster or slower depending on your schedule.
Why Trust This Guide
This breakdown was compiled and fact-checked by the Strive Consultancy Hub editorial team, which specializes in vetting free education, scholarship, and professional-development opportunities before they're published. We cross-reference every course detail — provider, cost, duration, credential, and deadline — directly against the official source page rather than relying on secondhand listings, and we update this article whenever the Open University changes its course terms. If you ever spot an outdated detail, we encourage you to verify directly on the official link above before applying.
Final Verdict: Should You Enroll?
If you want a low-risk, zero-cost way to formalize soft skills that are otherwise hard to quantify on a resume, this course clears the bar. It's backed by a credible university, it's short enough to finish in a month if you're motivated, and the followership angle fills a gap most "leadership" content ignores entirely. The only real cost is your time — and at three hours a week, that's a modest ask for a CPD-recognized credential.
Start your free course today: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=143830
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