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

Dartmouth College

C Programming: Language Foundations - 2

Skills you'll gain: Computer Programming Tools, C (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Embedded Systems, Program Development, Computer Engineering, Development Environment, Algorithms, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Debugging

Status: Free Trial

University of Colorado System

Algorithms, Data Collection, and Starting to Code

Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Data Collection, Microsoft Visual Studio, Program Development, C (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Algorithms, Development Environment, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Debugging

Status: Free Trial

University of Colorado System

Abstraction, Problem Decomposition, and Functions

Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Problem Management, Program Development, Data Storage

Status: Free Trial

University of Colorado System

Data Analysis and Representation, Selection and Iteration

Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Data Analysis, C (Programming Language), Statistical Analysis, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Descriptive Statistics

Status: Free Trial

University of Colorado System

Simulation, Algorithm Analysis, and Pointers

Skills you'll gain: Simulations, C (Programming Language), Computational Thinking, Automation, Algorithms, Data Structures, Programming Principles, File Management, Distributed Computing, Debugging

Status: Free Trial

EIT Digital

Development of Real-Time Systems

Skills you'll gain: Real-Time Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, Computer Programming, C (Programming Language), System Design and Implementation, OS Process Management, System Requirements, Computer Architecture, Simulations, Verification And Validation, Algorithms, Servers

Status: Free Trial

Infosec

Introduction to C++

Skills you'll gain: Secure Coding, Computer Programming Tools, C and C++, C++ (Programming Language), Software Development Tools, Software Engineering Tools, C (Programming Language), Debugging

Status: Free Trial

Codio

Intro to Operating Systems 4: Persistence

Skills you'll gain: File Systems, Operating Systems, Data Integrity, Debugging, Systems Design, Distributed Computing, Data Storage, C (Programming Language), System Programming, Computer Systems, Command-Line Interface, Computer Hardware, Scalability, Version Control

Status: Free Trial

University of Michigan

Building Objects in C

Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), C (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Structures, Computer Programming, Software Design, Python Programming, Java, Algorithms, Debugging

National Taiwan University

計算機程式設計 (Computer Programming)

Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, Computer Science, Algorithms, Computational Thinking, Debugging

Status: Free Trial

Edureka

Advanced Golang Concepts

Skills you'll gain: Restful API, Go (Programming Language), API Design, Web Services, Application Programming Interface (API), Performance Tuning, Web Development, Software Design Patterns, Debugging, Software Testing, Back-End Web Development, Databases, System Programming, C (Programming Language), Network Protocols, Data Structures

Status: Free Trial

University of California, Davis

Identifying Security Vulnerabilities in C/C++Programming

Skills you'll gain: Secure Coding, Application Security, C and C++, Linux, Vulnerability Assessments, Security Engineering, User Accounts, Data Validation, Debugging, Cryptography, C (Programming Language), Identity and Access Management, Encryption, File Management, OS Process Management

Free Courses

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