Free course: The science of nutrition and healthy eating (OpenLearn)

Key facts

• From The Open University's free OpenLearn site (UK). Not a Mereka course.^[1]
• Free, 24 hours of study in eight weekly sections, Level 1 (introductory).^[1]
• Start straight away with no sign-up. A free account (age 13 or over) saves your progress and unlocks the quizzes and a statement of participation.^[1][2]
• An optional digital badge goes to people who finish the course and pass the quizzes. Neither the badge nor the statement is a qualification.^[1][2]
• Some of the advice is British. Malaysia's Ministry of Health has its own dietary guidelines and food pyramid.^[1][3]

What you'll do

The eight weeks run from the basics of food (protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibre) to digestion, hydration, food labels, energy in food, what people eat, allergies and intolerances, and finally hunger, taste and eating behaviour^[1]. By the end you should be able to explain how your body processes food, read a food label and work out the energy in it, and compare healthy eating advice from different countries^[1].

No Mereka Academy course covers health yet, which is why this one comes from another provider^[4].

What it costs and how to start

It is free, and you can open Week 1 right now without signing up^[1]. To track your progress, take all the quizzes and get the statement of participation, make a free OpenLearn account; you must be 13 or over to have one^[1][2]. There are no start dates. The course is in English. It was first published in January 2018 and last updated in April 2020^[1].

Who it suits

You, if the science side of Health & Science appeals and food is part of the reason: dietetics, nutrition, food science, sports science or public health. It builds on SPM Biology and a little Chemistry, and it fits around STPM, a foundation year or a job.

What this means for you

• Twenty-four hours is a proper test of interest. If you are still curious after Week 4 on food labels, that tells you something.
• Week 6 uses the UK's Eatwell Guide^[1]. Malaysia's Ministry of Health published its own Malaysian Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid for 2020^[3]. Comparing the two is a good way to practise the course's "advice differs between countries" skill.
• The badge shows effort, not ability. Mention it in an interview if it helps, but do not list it as a qualification.
• Week 8 covers eating disorders^[1]. If that topic is hard for you, skip it or study it with someone you trust.
• For Malaysian training routes and what they cost, read the library's Health & Science money guide and post-SPM pathways overview.

Your next step

1. Open the course and read Week 1 this week: The science of nutrition and healthy eating(opens in a new tab)
2. When you reach Week 4, pick one packaged food at home and read its label the way the course shows you. Ask the programme team at your 30-day check-in how nutrition and dietetics training works in Malaysia.

Availability and age check

Catalogue and cost observations are dated 23 October 2026. Re-check the provider page before starting, and stop if a payment or unavailable course appears. The linked Mereka Connect agreement sets a minimum age of 16^[5]. It is not an Academy-specific registration policy; check the current Academy terms and any guardian-permission step before enrolling. Use the verified direct sign-in link below if the ordinary login screen omits the Mereka option. External courses use their own accounts and terms.

Access checked 24 October 2026: sign in to Academy with your existing Mereka identity(opens in a new tab). On first use, choose your country and continue; no second password is needed. The ordinary Academy login screen may omit the Mereka button, so use this link or the course button. External course providers use separate access rules.

Availability note, 24 October 2026: some Academy pages kept loading after sign-in during our check. If this happens, keep your work here and use an open-reading alternative or contact the First Move team. Do not enter another password or pay to get past a loading page.