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RGU Upskilling

Undertaking an online RGU short course can help you to develop or change your career or support your business to grow.

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is delighted to offer a range of online short courses tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses and individuals. Benefits to studying an online course include:

  • flexible online study to fit your schedule,
  • career advancement,
  • specialist skills development,
  • new job opportunities,
  • expansion of professional network,
  • have the opportunity to gain a degree or postgraduate qualification through building your learning with RGUflex.

Identified and created in collaboration with industry, these 15-credit online courses are designed to enhance employability for individuals and help organisations looking to upskill their workforce. 


Application process

Upon submission you will receive a confirmation email that we have received your application. Following this, around 2-4 weeks before the course start date, you will receive offer details with confirmation of your funding status. Enrolment information will then be sent in advance of the course starting. 

Once enrolled you will then gain access to Moodle, where your course materials will be. Please note there is no early access to materials or timetables, everything will be released on the course start date. 

Should your application be submitted within 2 weeks of the course start date you will receive your offer letter and enrolment information within 2-4 working days.

Fee-waiver places

If you are domiciled in Scotland, you may be eligible for a fee-waiver place, meaning you can study for free.

To be eligible for funding, you need to have 'settled status' in Scotland, with no restrictions on how long you can stay here. For example, this can be from birth or Right to Remain visa.

Eligibility is assessed on application and further evidence may be required.

All other applicants

Applicants who are not eligible for a fee-waiver place can pay to study the course - £500 for the entire course


Our courses

Available courses - apply now!

person at a laptop with a calcuator and cash

This course is designed to allow participants to understand the nature, context, and format of financial information of companies and to develop knowledge of financial and management accounting techniques to support business decision making.

a hand holding building blocks with sustainability icons

The CCUS Short Course imparts a thorough grasp of CCUS principles, technologies, and applications for curbing GHG emissions. It empowers professionals, researchers, and policymakers to engage adeptly in CCUS projects.

Commercial Contracting

Enhance your business knowledge and understanding of contractual obligations.

Person in hard hat and safety jacket looking at engineering through a mobile device

Explore machine learning and computer vision for image/video analysis with real case studies.

Data Analytics For Business Decision-Making

Learn how to unlock deeper insights from the data available to you to inform future decisions.

printed report with graphs

Explore world energy markets and the evolution of, and challenges facing, the carbon economy. Consider the role the economics of energy transition plays in the decision making within the energy industry. Examine the direction and pace of the clean energy transition and sustainability.

Oil industry with anchor and drill

Study this unique cross-industry data management course for new and current practitioners.

Person holding a pencil at a meeting

Explore energy, sustainability, and climate issues, assess supply dynamics, and analyse policy to support the transition to a low carbon economy.

wind turbines on a hill

Explore the technical, financial, commercial, and contractual activities involved in energy transition.

a hillside landscape with air vents causing gas clouds

This course offers a strong geothermal energy foundation, covering science, technology, and business aspects. It equips participants to utilize geothermal energy for decarbonization, assess market opportunities, and fulfil UN SDGs 7 & 11.

woman reading a book

Understand public health promotion with evidence-based models and approaches.

anatomy figure

Develop your understanding of basic anatomy and physiology throughout the lifespan and in relation to common health conditions.

aerial photo of the globe at night

This course highlights hydrogen's global importance in the energy transition, covering production, storage, and usage technologies. It equips participants with skills to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals, fostering hydrogen-powered sustainability.

Introduction to Data Science with Python

Explore the techniques available and issues surrounding the use of Python in data processing.

person at a laptop

Gain an understanding of fundamental Python programming principles, concepts, and the software lifecycle.

Aerial photo of lots of shipping containers

Learn how integrated supply chains contribute to the achievement of organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

Solar panels in a field

Explore the operation of renewable systems and the impact and challenges involved.

person typing on a laptop

Security Operations provides a comprehensive understanding of security principles, threat detection, incident response, and mitigation strategies. Students learn to analyse security risks, implement defensive measures, and manage security incidents effectively.

Strategic Digital Marketing

Explore the digital marketing landscape, strategy, tools & tactics for effective communication.

person holding a pencil with laptops and notepads on the desk

Learn about the key principles of risk management in the professional working environment.

wind turbines at dawn

To develop knowledge of concepts and principles applicable to wind energy extraction, design and operation of offshore wind turbines under different environmental conditions, and an awareness of the role of offshore wind energy in decarbonising global economies.

Upcoming courses

Find out about our other online short courses available in the future.


Student experiences

I am a well engineer in the oil and gas industry looking at the possibility to retrain in the renewables market. I saw the course as a good introduction to some of the technologies and challenges in the renewables sector.
Previous Online Short Course student
Due to my personal circumstances with a young family, I have not attempted any taught courses but completing this has given me a lot of confidence to attempt further learnings.
Previous Online Short Course student
This is just the kind of robust and high quality course which Robert Gordon University can be relied upon to deliver to equip the student with practical skills that are highly relevant to industry and for use in the global workplace.
Previous Online Short Course student


Short course support

RGU offers flexible and supportive short courses that can be completed entirely online. The courses allow you to interact with subject experts and other learners, and each course has a dedicated Short Course Leader for direct support. RGU provides a range of support services, and the courses cover various areas of study to suit different professional development needs.

Student partnership and feedback

Providing feedback is crucial in improving the learning experience for students at RGU. The university values student opinions and encourages them to provide feedback through multiple channels such as discussions with peers and staff, engaging with RGU:Union, and participating in university events and questionnaires. RGU short course students have the opportunity to contribute their feedback through an end-of-course questionnaire, which will be used to enhance future courses. Specific and constructive feedback with suggestions for improvement can make a real difference in shaping the university's approach to learning and benefiting future students.

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