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

EIT Digital

Embedded Hardware and Operating Systems

Skills you'll gain: Embedded Systems, Embedded Software, Internet Of Things, Operating Systems, Real-Time Operating Systems, Wireless Networks, System Programming, Hardware Architecture, Simulations, C (Programming Language), Network Protocols

Status: Free Trial

Duke University

Interacting with the System and Managing Memory

Skills you'll gain: Maintainability, Program Development, C (Programming Language), Software Engineering, System Programming, Programming Principles, Software Development, Simulations, Command-Line Interface, Operating Systems, User Interface (UI), Data Structures, Debugging, Data Import/Export, File Management

Status: Free Trial

Codio

Intro to Operating Systems 2: Memory Management

Skills you'll gain: Operating Systems, C (Programming Language), Performance Tuning, System Programming, Virtualization and Virtual Machines, Linux

Status: Free Trial

Dartmouth College

C Programming: Advanced Data Types - 5

Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Embedded Systems, Data Structures, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Linux, Computer Programming Tools, Debugging

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

Dartmouth College

C Programming: Getting Started - 1

Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Software Documentation, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Embedded Software, Debugging, Development Environment

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

Dartmouth College

C Programming: Pointers and Memory Management - 4

Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, System Programming, Operating Systems, Computer Programming Tools, Data Structures, Debugging, Linux

Status: Free Trial

Dartmouth College

Linux Basics: The Command Line Interface - 6

Skills you'll gain: Command-Line Interface, Linux Commands, Linux, Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Linux Servers, Computer Engineering, File Systems, Unix, Operating Systems, C (Programming Language), File Management, Computer Programming Tools, Performance Tuning, Open Source Technology, OS Process Management

Status: Free Trial

Dartmouth College

C Programming: Using Linux Tools and Libraries - 7

Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Linux, Embedded Systems, System Programming, Build Tools, Command-Line Interface, Operating Systems, Program Development, Software Installation, Development Environment, Application Development, File Systems

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

Free Courses

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