Online course
Online Harms
- Qualification: Microcredential
- Duration: 10 weeks
- Delivery: Online
- Workload: Total of 50 hours of learning
- Next enrolment: 25 January 2027

Introduction
How can we protect ourselves from online harms?
Safety standards are well established for physical products. Similar safeguards must be implemented in digital environments to help prevent online harms and protect users.
This online microcredential, part of a postgraduate-level suite in Digital Trust and Security, explores the different forms of online harm in digital environments and the impact they can have on individuals and organisations.
Examining issues such as misinformation, online radicalisation and the exploitation of vulnerable users, you will consider how online and offline factors influence these harms, the responsibilities of individuals, platforms and organisations, and the challenges of balancing safety with privacy and freedom of expression.
By the end of the course, you will be better equipped to recognise different forms of online harm, critically assess information online, and make informed decisions about how to respond in personal and professional contexts.
Key features
Applied insight
Explore real-world examples and guided activities to understand what drives online harms.
Responsible decision-making
Develop a clearer understanding of how to recognise online harms and make informed decisions about how to respond to them.
Research-led perspective
Learn from the University’s expertise in digital trust and security, informed by current research into online harms and emerging technologies.
Part of our suite of Digital Trust and Security Microcredentials
The microcredentials cover the following topics:聽
- Core Issues in Digital Trust and Society
- Understanding Digital Society
- Digital Markets and Trust
- Online Harms
Key information
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Course type
Microcredential
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Delivery
Online, asynchronous
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Level
Postgraduate / FHEQ Level 7
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Duration
10 weeks, 50 hours of learning鈥�
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Start dates
January 2027 cohort
Start: 25 January 2027
End: 18 April 2027
Payment deadline: 11 January 2027
May 2027 cohort
Start: 31 May 2027
End: 8 August 2027
Payment deadline: 17 May 2027 -
Fees
拢630 per microcredential. Discounts available for individuals and corporate customers.
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Certification
Upon completion and relevant assessment, you will receive an official electronic certificate detailing your achievement.
Fees and funding
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拢630鈥痯别谤鈥痬颈肠谤辞肠谤别诲别苍迟颈补濒.
Discounts available for individuals and corporate customers.
Entry requirements
There are no formal prerequisites for this course.
Course overview
Who this course is for
The Online Harms course is designed for both individuals and organisations who want to better understand how online harms can occur and how to respond to them.
For individuals, it is particularly relevant if you want to understand the different forms of harm people, including young people and vulnerable users, may encounter online. You'll explore how digital platforms and online behaviour can contribute to these harms, develop the skills to recognise potential risks and make more informed decisions about how to respond.
For organisations, this course provides an opportunity to build employees' awareness of online harms and their potential impact on colleagues, workplace wellbeing and the wider organisation. It is particularly relevant for organisations looking to understand how workplace practices and digital technologies can contribute to risks such as cyberbullying, misinformation and the exploitation of vulnerable users.
No prior technical knowledge is required. The course is designed to be accessible while still providing the depth needed to apply learning in real-world contexts.
What you will learn
You will develop a clear understanding of the range, nature and impact of online harms.
This includes:
- how digital technologies and online environments can enable and amplify different forms of harm;
- how misinformation, online radicalisation, harassment and relationship-based cyber abuse emerge and affect individuals and communities;
- how online safety is governed, including the challenges of balancing harm prevention with privacy and freedom of expression;
- how to recognise, assess and respond to online harms in personal and professional contexts.
You will also explore the responsibilities of individuals, organisations and digital platforms in preventing and responding to online harms and consider the wider challenges of creating safer online environments.
Where and when you will study
This course is delivered fully online over 10 weeks, with approximately 50 hours of learning.
You will progress through structured materials at your own pace, including short lectures, case studies and guided activities. Learning is entirely self-paced, with no scheduled teaching sessions.
How it will benefit your career
Through engaging with this course you will develop a greater awareness and critical understanding of online harms, helping you recognise potential risks and assess digital information more effectively through informed decisions. You will also gain a clearer understanding of the responsibilities involved in preventing and responding to online harms.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- understand the range and nature of online harms facilitated by digital technologies, and the conditions that enable and amplify such harms;
- understand the approaches taken to mitigate online harms, and the ethical and professional challenges involved in designing effective interventions;
- identify when someone may be vulnerable to online harm, understand the factors that put them at risk, and identify when harm may be occurring or escalating;
- understand how workplace practices and digital technologies can contribute to these risks and the responsibilities organisations have in preventing and responding to harm.
Course units
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Topics鈥痽ou will explore in this microcredential include:鈥�
- Week 1: Introduction to online harms
- Week 2: Information disorders and conspiracy theories
- Week 3: Online harassment
- Week 4: Online radicalisation and hate speech
- Week 5: Relationship-based cyber abuse
- Week 6: Online exploitation of vulnerable users
- Week 7: Countering online harms
- Week 8: Conclusion and assessment preparation
- Week 9-10: Assessment
Course structure
The course is organised into weekly units, each focusing on a key aspect of online harms.
Each unit introduces key concepts and explores them through real-world examples and structured reflection, helping you understand how online environments and human behaviour contribute to different forms of online harm and their wider consequences.
The course builds from foundational concepts such as online harassment, conspiracy theories and hate speech, through to more complex issues such as relationship-based cyber abuse, online exploitation of vulnerable users and countering online harms. Your final week will conclude with preparation for your assessment.
Course learning aims
By the end of the course, you will:
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understand the range and nature of online harms facilitated by digital technologies, and the conditions that enable and amplify such harms;
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understand the approaches taken to mitigate these harms, and the ethical and professional challenges involved in designing effective interventions;
- recognise the impact online harms can have in personal and professional lives.
Teaching and learning
This is a fully online, asynchronous course.
Learning materials include video and audio content, written explanations and interactive activities. The course focuses on applied understanding, with regular opportunities to reflect on how the material relates to your own context.
You will receive support via email from the Course Lead and delivery team where needed.
Technical requirements
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Regular access to a computer鈥痮r smart phone鈥痺ith internet access fast enough to stream video.
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A computer that meets the software requirements of video conferencing and other software, broadband internet connection,鈥痙esktop鈥痮r laptop PC with windows 10 or later, 4GB RAM, 6GB disk space for installation (administrator rights are鈥痳equired鈥痶o install software).
- A smart phone on Android 11.0 or greater, or iOS 11.0 or greater, as鈥痽ou'll鈥痭eed to鈥痷se鈥痬ulti-factor authentication鈥痶o access your learning materials.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment is designed to support application.
You will complete regular reflective responses based on weekly prompts, applying the material to a real-world context.
For the final assignment, you will be asked to select a specific form of online harm and examine how it may arise within a sector you have experience working in or would like to work in and propose evidence-based recommendations for how organisations could respond.
You will be expected to produce a 1,000 - 1,200 word resource, or a 10-minute pre-recorded presentation.
Written feedback is provided within three weeks of submission.
Admissions information
Entry requirements
Professional entry qualification
There are no formal prerequisites for this course. The content is suitable for learners from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds.
Technical requirements
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Regular access to a computer鈥痮r smart phone鈥痺ith internet access fast enough to stream video.
-
A computer that meets the software requirements of video conferencing and other software, broadband internet connection,鈥痙esktop鈥痮r laptop PC with windows 10 or later, 4GB RAM, 6GB disk space for installation (administrator rights are鈥痳equired鈥痶o install software).
- A smart phone on Android 11.0 or greater, or iOS 11.0 or greater, as鈥痽ou'll鈥痭eed to鈥痷se鈥痬ulti-factor authentication鈥痶o access your learning materials.鈥�
Application and selection
How to apply
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Head to our鈥�
鈥痑nd choose your fee level.
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Add the course to your basket and complete the registration and payment process.
- Once鈥痽our鈥痯ayment is confirmed,鈥痽ou鈥檒l鈥痳eceive your enrolment information two weeks before the course begins.鈥�
If you have any questions or need support, please contact:鈥� learningsupport@manchester.ac.uk
Corporate customers
If you are a corporate customer eligible for a discount and would like to arrange payment via invoice or make a group booking, please contact us at鈥� learningsupport@manchester.ac.uk
Fees and funding
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拢630鈥痯别谤鈥痬颈肠谤辞肠谤别诲别苍迟颈补濒.
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Loyalty discount:
5% off when you enrol in more than one micro-credential.
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51福利社 Alumni discount:
5% off for returning鈥疷oM鈥痩earners鈥�(email鈥痩earningsupport@manchester.ac.uk鈥痺ith鈥痯roof of your alumni status e.g. your degree certificate). This discount can be used in conjunction with the Loyalty discount.
- 51福利社 Staff discount: You may be eligible for a discount on your course fees. Please speak to your line manager before applying.
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| Group size | Discount |
| 5-10 learners | 5% |
| 11-20 learners | 10% |
| 21+ learners | 15% |
To discuss corporate enrolment鈥痑nd payment by invoice, please contact:鈥� learningsupport@manchester.ac.uk
Ways to pay
Reserve your space鈥痸ia our You can pay using a credit or debit card.
To discuss corporate enrolment and payment by invoice, please contact: learningsupport@manchester.ac.uk
Additional cost information
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).
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