What free courses are available on Coursera?

Coursera offers thousands of free courses across topics like data science , business , health , computer science , personal development , and more. While you can explore lectures and course content at no cost, some features—like assessments and certificates—may require payment.

Can I earn a certificate from a free Coursera course?

Yes, but certificates are typically not included in the free version of a course. To earn a certificate, you’ll usually need to pay for the course or apply financial aid if available. You can still learn all the material for free through audit mode.

How do I enroll in a course for free on Coursera?

To start a course for free, choose the “Audit the course” or “Enroll for free” option during sign-up. This lets you access video lectures and some assignments without payment. Look for courses labeled as “Free” or those that offer a free audit option.

What’s the difference between auditing a course and paying for one on Coursera?

Auditing a course gives you free access to the learning materials, like videos and reading content. Paying for a course unlocks graded assignments, assessments, and a certificate upon completion—which may be useful for showcasing your skills or professional development.

Are free Coursera courses from top universities?

Yes, many free courses are taught by instructors from top institutions like Stanford , Yale , University of Pennsylvania , and companies like IBM . These courses offer an accessible way to learn from leading educators and professionals around the world.

Top Free Courses - Learn Free Online

Status: Free Trial

Michigan State University

Game Design and Development 4: 3D Platformer

Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Game Design, Video Game Development, C# (Programming Language), Animation and Game Design, Conceptual Design, Microsoft Visual Studio, Computer Programming, Social Studies, Ideation, Socioeconomics, Business Ethics, Peer Review

Status: Free Trial

Duke University

Python Programming Fundamentals

Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Debugging, Algorithms, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Software Testing, Programming Principles, Development Environment, Data Manipulation, Python Programming, Microsoft Development Tools, Software Development, Data Analysis, Computer Programming

Status: Free Trial

University of California, Davis

Principles of Secure Coding

Skills you'll gain: Secure Coding, Application Security, Software Design, Programming Principles, Debugging, Program Development, Computer Programming, C (Programming Language), Software Development Methodologies

Status: Free Trial

Codio

Java: Linear Data Structures and Trees

Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Java, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP)

Status: Free Trial

LearnQuest

Python Scripting for DevOps

Skills you'll gain: Containerization, Package and Software Management, Unified Modeling Language, Software Testing, Docker (Software), Unit Testing, Plot (Graphics), Development Testing, CI/CD, Test Automation, Pandas (Python Package), Scripting, Data Modeling, NumPy, Programming Principles, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Structures, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Command-Line Interface

Status: Free Trial

Dartmouth College

C Programming: Modular Programming and Memory Management - 3

Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Computer Architecture, Embedded Software, Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Program Development, Data Structures, Linux, Debugging

Status: Free Trial

Rice University

Algorithmic Thinking (Part 1)

Skills you'll gain: Graph Theory, Algorithms, Computational Thinking, Data Analysis, Data Structures, Theoretical Computer Science, Network Analysis, Analysis, Python Programming, Computer Programming

Status: Free Trial

Codio

Java: Algorithms

Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Data Structures, Java, Java Programming, Theoretical Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking

Status: Free Trial

Codio

Java: Non-Linear Data Structures

Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Algorithms, Java, Theoretical Computer Science, Performance Tuning, Computer Programming

Status: Free Trial

Codio

Java Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects

Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Documentation, Java, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Computational Thinking

Illinois Tech

Introduction to Open Source Application Development

Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, Debugging, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Python Programming, Computer Programming, System Programming, Pseudocode, Software Design, User Interface (UI), Data Structures, File Management

Status: Free Trial

Scrimba

Learn Python: 1

Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Programming Principles, Python Programming, User Interface (UI), Scripting, Scripting Languages, Computer Programming

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