Are Coursera courses free for students? – Discover if Coursera offers free courses for students

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Introduction

Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses and programs from top universities around the world. But are Coursera courses free for students? In this article, we will explore the different options available on Coursera and help you determine whether you can take advantage of their free courses.

Free Courses on Coursera

Coursera does offer some free courses, but they are not available to everyone. The platform has a number of different types of courses, including Specializations, Degrees, and Professional Certificates. However, only some of these courses are available for free.

Specializations on Coursera

Specializations are a series of courses that are designed to help you learn a specific skill or subject area. These courses typically take around 4-6 weeks to complete, and they are usually offered by top universities and organizations. While not all

Specializations on Coursera

are free, some of them do offer a selection of free courses.

For example, the “

Introduction

to Artificial Intelligence” Specialization from Stanford University is completely free, as are many other courses on the platform. However, if you want to earn a certificate for completing the Specialization, you will need to pay a fee.

Degrees on Coursera

are another type of course that can be taken for free or with a fee. These degrees are offered in partnership with top universities and provide students with the opportunity to earn a degree from a recognized institution. However, not all

Degrees on Coursera

are available for free.

For example, the “Bachelor of Business Administration” from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is available for free, but students will need to complete an internship and take additional courses in order to earn a full degree.

Professional Certificates on Coursera

are designed to help professionals develop new skills and knowledge in their field. These certificates typically consist of a series of courses that are designed to be completed within a specific timeframe. While not all

Professional Certificates on Coursera

are free, some of them do offer a selection of free courses.

For example, the “Data Science Specialization” from University of California, Berkeley is available for free, but students will need to pay a fee if they want to earn a certificate for completing the program.

Case Studies: Real-Life Examples of Coursera Courses

To help you better understand how Coursera works and whether their courses are free, let’s look at some real-life examples.

John Smith is a high school student who wants to take up computer science as a career. He has heard about the “

Introduction

to Artificial Intelligence” Specialization from Stanford University on Coursera and decides to enroll in it. While the course is completely free, John decides to pay for the certificate to demonstrate his knowledge and skills to potential employers.

Jane Doe is a working professional who wants to learn more about data science. She enrolls in the “Data Science Specialization” from University of California, Berkeley on Coursera. While the course is available for free, Jane decides to pay for the certificate so that she can add it to her resume and increase her chances of getting a promotion at work.

Research and Experiments

There have been several studies conducted on the effectiveness of online learning platforms like Coursera.