FANUCFree
Free courses · Engineering
Free engineering courses online (UK)
Are there free engineering courses online in the UK? Yes. EDWartens UK has 199 free engineering courses and 3,295+ hours of lessons in PLC, SCADA, electrical, maintenance, robotics and AI, including UK standards such as BS 7671 and PUWER. Learning is free. A certificate is optional (£19 including VAT) and is not accredited.
Free engineering courses online (UK): guide
Pick by goal
- Automation: PLC courses, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, SCADA and industrial automation.
- Electrical and UK standards: free electrical courses UK and the BS 7671 courses.
- Maintenance: the UK maintenance engineer path and maintenance and reliability.
- Water and process: the process control path, instrumentation and Water Industry Automation (UK).
- Robotics: industrial robot programming courses.
- AI for engineers: free AI courses UK.
UK standards and practice
Most free engineering courses online are general. These are written for UK work:
- Wiring Regulations in Practice and BS 7671 Inspection and Testing Essentials: BS 7671:2018+A4:2026.
- PUWER and UKCA: Machinery Safety for UK Engineers.
- Water Industry Automation (UK): AMP8, treatment processes, telemetry and SCADA.
- Reading UK Electrical Drawings and Food and Drink Automation and Hygienic Design.
How a course works
Each course is a set of video lessons from respected creators and manufacturers, credited on the course page, with our notes, a quiz after each module and a final exam. You can read any course page without an account. A free account lets you track progress and take the quizzes and exam. Most courses run in simulators or free software, so you need only a computer.
How this compares with other free options
Checked 24 October 2026
Well-known free options include OpenLearn, FutureLearn and Alison. This compares free access and certificates in what we checked, not the quality of their teaching.
| Provider | Free access | Certificate | Industrial coverage in our check |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenLearn (Open University) | Free courses | Free Statement of Participation (PDF), no formal credit | The electronics course we checked is about 10 hours. No PLC content found. |
| FutureLearn | Free access limited on some courses, 3 to 4 weeks in those we checked | Upgrade needed for a certificate; the UK price was not confirmed | Academic electronics (University of Birmingham). No PLC or industrial automation found. |
| Alison | Free to learn; the PLC course is 5 to 6 hours | Paid; the price varies by location | One beginner PLC course in our check. Ads on the page. |
| EDWartens UK | All lessons, quizzes and final exams free | Optional, £19 including VAT, checkable by number and QR code | PLC, SCADA, electrical, maintenance, robotics, AI and UK standards. |
From each provider's public pages and search summaries on 24 October 2026. These change often, so check them before you decide.
What the certificate is, and is not
The EDWartens certificate of completion costs £19 including VAT and is optional. It has a number and QR code that anyone can check at edwartens.co.uk/verify. It is not a regulated qualification, it is not accredited, and it is not issued or endorsed by any software vendor or professional body. How certificates work.
In Ireland
The same courses are open to learners in Ireland. Irish electrical rules are based on ETCI rules, so the BS 7671 courses are UK-specific, though the IEC 60364 method they teach carries over. Check with a qualified Irish electrician before you rely on any UK-specific content.
All courses
All 199 free courses
Search, or narrow by subject, brand, level, length and learning path.
Showing 12 of 199 courses
- Vendor-neutralFree
- Vendor-neutralFree
- Vendor-neutralFree
- Vendor-neutralFree
- Delta ElectronicsFree
- SiemensFree
- SiemensFree
- Allen-BradleyFree
- BeckhoffFree
- CODESYSFree
- SiemensFree
Next steps
Practise, then apply
Job simulations (practice, not employment)
Free simulators in the EDWartens Lab
Questions
Common questions
Are these courses really free?
Yes. Every lesson, quiz and final exam is free, with no card needed. Only the optional certificate costs money (£19 including VAT).
Do you give a free certificate?
No. The certificate is optional and costs £19 including VAT. It is issued after you pass a final exam and can be checked by number and QR code.
Are the courses accredited?
No. The courses and certificate are not accredited and are not issued or endorsed by any vendor, awarding body or professional body.
Do I need hardware or paid software?
Usually not. Courses use simulators, free software or trials, and the Lab's simulators run in a browser. Each course page lists what it needs.
How long does a course take?
From a few hours to around 35 hours, depending on the course. The hours are shown on each course card.
Can I use them for CPD?
These courses carry no CPD accreditation. Each lists its study hours and the certificate is verifiable, and some institutions accept self-directed learning with evidence, but we cannot say yours will. Check with your professional body.