University Of Cambridge Open Courses

Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the one of the oldest, most picturesque colleges — and one of the top 10 schools in the world.

Since not everyone has the means to relocate to the English countryside, Cambridge offers some of its prestigious courses for free through online platforms like edX and FutureLearn, joining other famous schools like Harvard, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, and Cornell in providing accessible online learning opportunities.

It also offers an edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries ($1,432.80), an eight-course program that, if completed, provides a certificate to add to your LinkedIn and resume as well as 30 college credits you can use towards a Masters of Studies in Writing for Performance at the University of Cambridge, if accepted into the program (you can learn more about edX MicroMasters here).

You can also audit almost all of the courses for free, just for fun. We rounded up 9 Cambridge courses that are completely free of charge, from playwriting and stand-up comedy to teaching English online.

9 University of Cambridge courses you can take online for free:

Finding Your Voice as a Playwright
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Learn everything from how to develop strong characters to flesh out compelling themes for your play, as well as how to effectively structure it so your audience stays engaged. This course is perfect for beginners, and is the first course in the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Writing Successfully for the Stage
Red theater curtain
Monica Silvestre/Pexels
Focusing on structure, this course teaches you how to write interesting dialogue, nail the pacing for your play, and effectively self-edit so your work is polished enough to attract producers and directors. This is the second course in the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Building Your Screenplay
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If you’re interested in writing for film or TV, this course teaches you how to structure your screenplay, tell visual stories, and know what the global industry is looking for in screenwriters. This is the third installment of the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Business Success in the Screen Industries
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Learn the nitty gritty of the film and television industries, from pitching your ideas to producers to working in a writer’s room or even starting your own production company. This is the fourth course in the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Digital Platforms in Performance
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To broaden your creative reach, this course teaches you how to apply your skills to emerging digital platforms such as YouTube videos, podcasts, radio broadcasts, and even video game scripts. This is the fifth course in the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Reconceiving Space: Installation and Performance Art
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If experimental art is more your jam, this course shows you how to transfer performance and communication skills to art installations and abstract performance art by learning about some of the best artists in the field. This is the sixth installment of the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Stand Up!; Comedy Writing and Performance Poetry
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Ethan Miller/Getty Images
If you’re looking to actually perform your writing, this course covers communication basics such as structuring a comedy set or using narrative form in poetry performances. This is the seventh course in the edX MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries.

FREE FROM EDX
Teaching English Online
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Provided by Cambridge Assessment English (part of the University of Cambridge), this course is intended for practicing English teachers who want to broaden their reach via online tutoring. Teachers cover everything from forming online lesson plans to improving their performance via feedback. Learners can receive grades and a certificate of completion for $64.

FREE FROM FUTURE LEARN
TEFL Course Online: Explore English Teaching
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Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels
Also from Cambridge Assessment English, this course provides an overview for anyone interested in TEFL, or teaching English as a foreign language. Students learn the basics of ELT (English Language Teaching), including common terminology and global work opportunities.

University of Cambridge Cost of Attendance 

The three major expenses of the international students at the University of Cambridge are the tuition fees, college fees and living expenses. The tuition fees for the international students are variable based on the course types. Following is a list of the average expenses of the international students:

University of Cambridge Scholarships 

The university manifests a profusion of scholarships for international students. Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust is the highest funding provider for international students providing 500 annual scholarships. The trust also supports around 1100-1400 resident students every year. The financial support for international undergraduate students is limited. Following are some of the best University of Cambridge scholarships for the international undergraduate students:

The University of Cambridge spends 100 million GBP per year on postgraduate scholarships. A number of generous colleges, universities and the government research council funds contribute to the postgraduate scholarships of the university. The university puts no bar on the external scholarships. The renowned postgraduate scholarships at University of Cambridge are listed below:

• Gates Cambridge Scholarships: It bears the full cost of the postgraduate degree.
• Cambridge Trust Scholarships: The trust offers co-funding to MBA or MFin programs and full cost scholarships for other programs.
• Cambridge Snowdon Scholarships: The scholarship program offers graduate program students up to 30,000 GBP.

University of Cambridge Alumni 

Cambridge University has more than 400 alumni groups around the world. All the alumni of the university have a CAMCard, the official alumni card which is available for free and provides a wide range of opportunities. The alumni organization schedules Cambridge Conversations on various topics with social importance. The alumni community is also pragmatically involved with travel and other recreation activities. Some of the notable alumni of the University of Cambridge are as follows:

• Charles Darwin, the renowned scientist, best known for his contributions to evolution.
• Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists and mathematicians of the world.
• Stephen Hawking, the famous physicist, cosmologist and author.
• William Wordsworth, the famous English romantic poet.
• Rajiv Gandhi, the 6th Prime Minister of India.
• Amartya Sen, the renowned Indian Economist and philosopher.

Note: These are only a few names from the huge number of global achiever alumni of the University of Cambridge.

University of Cambridge Placements 

The University of Cambridge offers excellent career opportunities to international students. The best paying degree at the university is MBA with the alumni earning an average salary of 131,000 USD per year. The following table indicates the average annual salary of the University of Cambridge graduates according to their professions: