Nov. 3, 2012, 3 a.m.

THE NUMBER of people enrolled in free online subjects at Melbourne University has overtaken enrolments at its campuses in less than two months.

The university became the first Australian institute to join online education provider Coursera in September.

Since then more than 52,000 students have enrolled in the university's free massive open online courses, which will begin next year.

According to MyUniversity website, Melbourne University has 47,561 students enrolled in its undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The university's principles of macro-economics free online subject is most popular with 12,053 enrolments. It offers 10 free online subjects including climate change, animal behaviour and exercise physiology.

Melbourne University provost Margaret Sheil said the course included lectures, videos and quizzes. Students discuss ideas in chat rooms. Most courses run for about seven weeks.

''I think we're all surprised at the take-up,'' she said.

The rise of the courses was helping generate interest in learning and could encourage students to continue into full-fledged degrees, she said.

Students receive a certificate of completion after successfully finishing a course, but they cannot gain qualifications or degrees.

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People flock online for free university education