How to get Coursera Courses for free with Certificate in 2024

how to get coursera course for free

Do you want to enhance your skills with Coursera courses but are held back by the cost? You’re not alone! Many learners face this challenge.

But guess what? Effective ways to access Coursera courses for free and even earn certificates exist. In this blog, you’ll discover all the strategies and tips to unlock valuable Coursera content without spending a penny.

Read on, and I promise you’ll love it. Imagine accessing premium Coursera courses for free and even getting a certificate.

Let’s dive in and make it happen!

What is Coursera

Coursera is a leading online learning platform that collaborates with top universities and companies worldwide to offer courses, specializations, and degrees in various subjects. Founded in 2012 by Stanford University professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, Coursera provides accessible, flexible, and affordable education to millions of learners globally.

The platform features courses in various domains, including computer science, business, arts, humanities, and personal development.

There are many benefits of doing a Coursera course, I have listed just some of them below:

  • High-Quality Content: Courses designed and taught by experts from prestigious universities and companies.
  • Comprehensive Learning: Access to lectures, readings, quizzes, and hands-on projects for a complete understanding and practical application.
  • Flexibility: Study at your own pace, making it easy to fit learning into busy schedules.
  • Free Courses: Many courses are available for free, with the option to pay for a certificate.
  • Recognized Credentials: Certificates that validate achievements and can be added to resumes or LinkedIn profiles.
  • Specializations and Professional Certificates: Curated series of courses that provide deep expertise in specific areas.
  • Career Advancement: Demonstrates proficiency and commitment to continuous learning, valuable for career growth.
  • Up-to-Date Content: Partnerships with industry leaders ensure content is relevant to current job market demands.
  • Global Access: Learn from anywhere in the world, making high-quality education accessible to everyone.

How to get Coursera Courses for Free

1. Audit Method

Auditing a course on Coursera grants you free access to most of the course materials, including lecture videos, course readings, and discussion forums. However, you won’t receive a certificate or academic credit, and you won’t be able to submit assessments or homework. But don’t worry later in this article I will tell you how you can get the course as well.

Step 1. Create a new account in Coursera from the button below:
Step 2. Search for any course that you want to learn. (Let’s say if you want to learn JavaScript, search it)
Step 3. Come to the specialization section, right click the first course and open it in new tab.

After you right-click, a new page will appear:

Step 4: Click on the Enroll for Free button.
Step 5: A new window will appear, click on “Audit” link.

After you do these steps, you will immediately get an email from coursera for enrollment in the course. Just click on the Go to lecture button, and you would be able to get the content of that paid course for absolutely free.

Here is the course:

You have to follow the same process for getting access to other lectures as well. Just right click, open the course in a new tab, click on the enroll button, Audit the course and your course will be there.

How to Get the Certificate for Free?

I recommend completing all your lectures first before using this method. Once done, enroll in the 7-day free Coursera Plus subscription, which gives you access to all Coursera courses. During these 7 days, focus on completing the assignments, homework, and projects for your course. Make sure to finish everything within this period to earn your certificate, and then cancel the free trial before it ends.

2. Using Coursera Financial Aid

Coursera offers financial aid to learners who can’t afford course fees, allowing them to access all course content and earn certificates for free. The aid program aims to make education accessible to everyone, especially in developing countries. Learners must apply and explain their financial situation and motivation. A new payment page design has doubled the number of financial aid recipients. Stories like Michael Tumwesigye’s from Uganda show the program’s impact, helping him gain skills, start a social enterprise, and support his community.

Steps to Apply for Coursera Financial Aid

Step 1: Search for any course on Coursera that you want to learn.
Step 2: Click on the “Financial Aid Available” link at just right side of the enrollment button.

Step 3: Click on “Continue to the Application” button.
Step 4: Now you have to fill a form, explaining the issue of why you can’t afford the course.
Step 5: A screen like this will appear, and within 16 days they will inform you whether you are eligible for the course or not.

Bottom Line

If you can’t afford Coursera courses, I recommend checking out UpBeator for free courses that come with certificates. If you’re unable to purchase a new course, you can use the methods shared in this article. However, if you can afford it, investing in a course for the skill you want to learn is highly beneficial. Learning a skill is always a good investment and can offer a high return on investment. If you face any issue in the steps shared in the article let me know in the comment section; I will try my best to help you with that.

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