The University of Southampton

Free online courses

Leading academics have come together to develop a range of free online courses, giving you an insight into some of the world-changing research and inspirational teaching taking place across Electronics and Computer Science. These courses are all hosted through FutureLearn.

The Power of Social Media

The Power of Social Media

Explore and understand how social networks have evolved over the last decade to play a fundamental role in our lives.

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This course has been developed by ECS Associate Professor David Millard, founding member of the Web and Internet Science Group (WAIS) at ECS, and Dr Lisa Harris, Director of the Web Science Institute  and programme leader for the University’s MSc in Digital Marketing. They draw on their extensive interdisciplinary expertise in tackling the pressing global challenges facing the World Wide Web and wider society today. David's innovative educational research interests include developing the smartphone storytelling technology, StoryPlaces.

Secure Android app development

Secure Android app development

Get an introduction to mobile app security and learn how to develop secure Android applications, with this free online course.

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The University of Southampton has a leading role in cyber security research and education and this course draws on our expertise and excellence in this field. The course has been developed by Dr Gary Wills, Dr Toby Wilkinson and Zeyad Aaber - Gary is the programme leader for our GCHQ certified MSc in Cyber Security. We also offer an undergraduate MEng in Computer Science with Cyber Security.

Linked data and the semantic web

Introduction to Linked Data and the Semantic Web

Learn the power of Linked Data, explore how it’s revolutionising the web and get to grips with it by writing queries in SPARQL.

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This course has been developed with Elena Simperl, Professor of Computer Science in ECS, and Dr Luis Daniel Ibáñez. Elena served as programme and general chair to major Semantic Web and Linked Data events, including the European Semantic Web Conference and the International Semantic Web Conference. She is project director for Data Pitch, a Europe-wide data accelerator, and leads ODINE, an EU-funded incubator for open data businesses. Elena is also the programme leader for our MSc in Data Science.

Web Science

Web Science: how the web is changing the world

Explore how the web has changed our world and what the future might hold, with this free online course introducing Web Science.

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Southampton has played a significant role in the creation and development of the Web, including the foundation of the innovative discipline of Web Science over 10 years ago. This course has been developed by the Web Science Institute (WSI) and is led by WSI directors, Professors Leslie Carr and Susan Halford.

Inclusive learning and teaching environments

Inclusive learning and teaching environments

Explore the barriers experienced by disabled students and learn how to overcome these barriers through inclusive practices.

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Digital accessibility

Digital accessibility: enabling participation in the information society

With a better understanding of users' needs, technologies can be developed to be accessible and provide a more inclusive environment

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These courses have been developed by Professor Mike Wald, Dr Abi James and E.A. Draffan of the ECS Accessibility Team. In developing the course, the team draws on their extensive expertise and experience in e-learning and assistive technologies. Results of their research includes STEMReader - a software tool that assists with reading aloud mathematical symbols and notation, Synote - a low cost accurate captioning system, and the world’s first culturally specific Arabic symbol dictionary.