Introduction to the UK Parliament: People, Processes and Public Participation (FutureLearn)

Offered by Houses of Parliament,
Introduction to the UK Parliament: People, Processes and Public Participation (FutureLearn)

Learn about the UK Parliament with this free online course - explore the work of Parliament and find out how it’s evolving. This free online course will introduce you to the work and role of the UK Parliament. From setting the age at which we start school to deciding pension policy, the UK Parliament makes laws that impact our lives, our work and our wider society.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Learn what Parliament is and does
You will begin by looking at what Parliament is, how it is different from government and how it has changed and evolved over hundreds of years. You will find out about the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and discover how things work in the Chambers and beyond on a day-to-day basis.

Learn how Parliament scrutinises government
Parliament is vital in scrutinising the work of government; on this course you’ll learn what this looks like in practice. You will consider the different tools MPs and members of the House of Lords use to check and challenge the work of government to ensure its decisions are transparent, efficient and fair. You will examine the purpose and role of different types of questions, discover some of the conventions of debate and explore the work of select committees.

Learn how Parliament is evolving
Towards the end of the course, you will examine the process of law making and discover the journey of a Bill. You will also explore the range of opportunities open to citizens, which enable you to engage with and influence the UK Parliament.
The course will begin on November 14th to coincide with UK Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy (Coursera) Coursera
University of North Carolina

Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy (Coursera)

Environmental law may be the one institution standing between us and planetary exhaustion. It is also an institution that needs to be reconciled with human liberty and economic aspirations. This course considers these issues and provides a tour though existing legal regimes governing pollution, water law, endangered species, toxic substances, environmental impact analyses, and environmental risk.

Oct 30th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Research, Policy and Management for Social Transformations (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
UNESCO

Inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Research, Policy and Management for Social Transformations (FutureLearn)

Find out how to promote informed policies towards equity and social transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Use strategies to fight against social issues. Inequality is one of the main challenges facing Latin America and the Carribean and is a constant concern for their governments. Faced with these increasingly complex scenarios, a fluid dialogue between social research and public policy is essential.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
UK Parliament Explored: Petitions (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Houses of Parliament

UK Parliament Explored: Petitions (FutureLearn)

This course looks at how petitions to the UK Parliament work and explores their role in raising awareness and instigating change. This course explores the role of petitions to the UK Parliament. Find out how petitioning the UK Parliament works, the possible impacts and outcomes petitions can have and the range of themes and issues people petitioned Parliament about in 2015-17.

No sessions available
2 Weeks
Pets, Politics and Pandemics (Coursera) Coursera
Columbia University

Pets, Politics and Pandemics (Coursera)

This course is designed to be a fun and accessible introduction to the topic of systems theory. Systems theory describes a number of fundamental concepts that undergird a broad array of phenomena across many different social, political and natural arenas. It is from this broad applicability that the course derives its title: Pets (social), politics (political and economic) and Pandemics (natural).

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Justice (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Justice (edX)

Justice, one of the most famous courses taught at Harvard College, is an introduction to moral and political philosophy, offering an opportunity to discuss contemporary dilemmas and controversies. Taught by lauded Harvard professor Michael Sandel, Justice explores critical analysis of classical and contemporary theories of justice, including discussion of present-day applications.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Découvrir la science politique (edX) EdX
LouvainX,Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL

Découvrir la science politique (edX)

Décrypter des enjeux politiques actuels à partir d’une boîte à outils: des notions importantes, une démarche analytique et une perspective critique. Le politique nous concerne tous : chaque jour, des décisions publiques sont adoptées qui impactent notre quotidien. Dans quel contexte ces décisions sont-elles adoptées ? Au 21ème siècle, de nombreux paradoxes brouillent la vision que nous pouvons en avoir.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Systems Thinking and Complexity (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
UNESCO UNITWIN Complex Systems Digital Campus

Systems Thinking and Complexity (FutureLearn)

Learn how to use systems and complexity thinking to address a variety of social, managerial and policy problems. This free online course addresses the practical problems that arise in social systems in the context of management and public policy at local, regional and global levels. It is problem-oriented, providing you with both the theoretical understanding and practical tools, to find and implement solutions to organisational and social problems.

No sessions available
2 Weeks
Understanding Financial Crisis: Business Cycles and Policy (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Uppsala University

Understanding Financial Crisis: Business Cycles and Policy (FutureLearn)

Discover the relationship between history, financial crises and business cycles, with this free online course. Economic crises often have severe consequences - for everyone from governments and corporations to you and I. But crises can be seen as an essential part of an evolving economy, along with structural adjustments and institutional changes. In this course you will learn more about the role of financial crises, their history and how they can be interpreted.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Gender and Development (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Deakin University

Gender and Development (FutureLearn)

Does gender matter in international and community development? Find out in this free online course. Explore the relationship between gender and development. This online course explores why gender matters in contemporary international and community development, asking you to: explore the challenges for achieving gender justice throughout the world; examine the concepts of gender, development and what brings gender and development together.

Jul 3rd 2023
2 Weeks
Power, Politics, and Influence at Work (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Manchester

Power, Politics, and Influence at Work (FutureLearn)

Discover the causes of global employment inequalities, how workers gain a voice through unions, and the future of work itself. Help build workers’ rights and a better future for employment and society. With the world of work in unprecedented flux, the role of workers’ rights has never been more pressing, as society grapples with issues such as how to ensure better employment equity and safety.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Ecologie Politique: défi de la durabilité pour les démocraties (Coursera) Coursera
University of Lausanne

Ecologie Politique: défi de la durabilité pour les démocraties (Coursera)

De quoi parle-t-on lorsque l’on parle d’environnement ? Existe-t-il une crise écologique ? L’environnement se résume-t-il à la pollution ? Est-on vraiment fondé à parler de risques environnementaux ? L’environnement a-t-il affaire à la politique et si oui pourquoi ? Pourquoi et à partir de quand a-t-on pu parler d’écologie politique ? Quelles en sont les différentes expressions ? Les démocraties et leurs expressions courantes ne suffisent-elles pas à répondre aux problèmes écologiques ? Et si ce n’est pas le cas, quels sont les apports éventuels et potentiels de l’écologie politique ? Ce cours se propose à répondre à ces questions, l’objectif global étant de comprendre les tenants et aboutissants de l’interface écologie et politique.

Oct 26th 2026
4 Weeks