Topic outline

  • General

  • ATAR Information

  • MOOC - Massive Open Online Course

    What is a MOOC?

    A MOOC is a Massive Online Course, which is a free online course available to anyone that wants to take the course. They are similar to online courses in terms of teaching and learning methods videos, group chats, assignments and tests but they do not generally provide academic credit for use in other traditional courses, now will you have much (if any) interaction with the lecturer.

    Where can I study a MOOC?

    The course content for MOOCs is developed by staff from prestigious universities delivered on major MOOC platforms such as Coursera, edX ,Futurelearn and Udacity . Universities from around the world have included their courses on these major MOOC platforms. The National University of Singapore, Trinity College Dublin, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are just some of the leading global universities that have joined the MOOC revolution.

    Australian universities have also been developing their own MOOCs, with institutions such as the Australian National University, Monash University and the University of Queensland appearing on some of the global MOOC platforms. Recently, Open Universities Australia (OUA) has developed its own MOOC platform, Open2Study, on which a number of Australian institutions have added their MOOCs.

    Five benefits of studying a MOOC

    They're free. The biggest drawcard of the MOOCs is that they are free. Unlike traditional online units and degrees, you do not have to pay a fee to take the course, although many of the MOOC providers do charge a fee if you want your achievements officially recognised with a certificate of completion.

    There are no entry requirements. There are no barriers to entry you do not need to achieve a high ATAR score or sit an interview to participate, just an interest in the subject matter and a thirst for knowledge!

    Try before you buy. MOOCs are a great way of seeing what a field of study is like, or what the teaching quality at an institution is like, before you invest three years of your life studying for a degree. They also provide a realistic indication of the demands of higher education study and the amount of work that is required to complete a module or unit of a degree.

    Learn from the best. MOOCs are taught by some of the foremost specialists in their fields. You don't need to be sitting in a lecture theatre at a prestigious university to take advantage of their teaching staff's knowledge.

    Collaborate with students worldwide. There is the potential for thousands of students to be taking the same MOOC as you and, at any time of the day or night, there is bound to be someone to chat to across the globe about the details of your course.

    Explore the world of MOOCs

    Why not start a MOOC today? There are hundreds of courses online and we have selected some MOOCs for you to get a flavour of what's available. Click on one of the fields of study below to start exploring...



    • Big History Project

      What is 'Big History: Connecting Knowledge'?

      Big History: Connecting Knowledge is Macquarie University's first ever Massive Open Online course (MOOC) on the COURSERA® platform. Join us on this epic transdisciplinary journey through 13.8 billion years starting at the Big Bang and travelling through time all the way to the future.

      A history of everything

      Explore how our universe and our world has evolved from incredible simplicity to ever-increasing complexity. Experience our modern scientific origin story through Big History and discover the important links between past, current, and future events.

      Face global challenges

      The global challenges we face do not neatly fall into disciplines. They are complicated, complex, and connected. By connecting knowledge across disciplines we can create solutions for a better future.

      Six modules to spark your curiosity

      - Big History, Critical Thinking and Transdisciplinarity

      - The Universe, Stars and Planets

      - The Evolutionary Epic

      - Human History

      - Modernity

      - The Future

      Join the global community and enrol today in Big History: Connecting Knowledge on Coursera. 

      Big History UAC Rank Bonus Points Scheme

      Am I eligible?

      UAC rank bonus points are available to Australian domestic students, or international students studying Australian curriculum overseas, who have verified completion of the Big History: Connecting Knowledge MOOC on COURSERA®. The Big History: Connecting Knowledge MOOC is a powerful foundation for university study in any field. Students who verify their completion of the MOOC will automatically receive 3 bonus points on their UAC rank for admission to Macquarie University.


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