What Is Coursera?
Coursera is a global online learning platform that offers anyone, anywhere, access to online courses and degrees from leading universities and companies.
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What is Coursera?
Coursera is an online learning platform featuring courses, degrees, certificate programs, and tutorials in a wide range of subjects. Over 300 leading universities and companies provide instruction, including Stanford, Duke, Google, and IBM. Learning experiences range from targeted hands-on projects to comprehensive, job-ready certificates and degrees.
We envision a world where anyone, anywhere, can transform their lives through learning.
Signing up for Coursera provides access to over 7,000 courses—many of which are free to audit. Join our global community and start learning right away!
What is Coursera Plus?
How does Coursera work?
Coursera prioritizes top-quality learning through evidence-based online teaching and learning strategies. The average rating across courses on the Coursera platform is 4.7 out of 5 stars, with 73 percent of learners who complete courses reporting positive career-related outcomes. You can learn more about our methods and data in our research analysis, Drivers of Quality in Online Learning.
Learn on your terms.
You can learn from top institutions anywhere, anytime, at your own pace. Coursera’s mobile app makes it easy to download videos so you can learn on the go.
What is a Coursera certificate?
Coursera certificates are credentials that prove you’ve successfully completed a course or program. They are secure URLs stored on the Accomplishments page of your Coursera account. You can share them online, post them to your LinkedIn, or download them as a PDF file to print. Each Coursera certificate includes the course name, instructor’s signature, and the logo of any affiliated partner institution. Confirmation that Coursera has verified your identity will also be included alongside a verification URL you can share with employers or anyone who may want to check the authenticity of your certificate.
What is a Professional Certificate on Coursera?
Professional Certificates are designed to focus on job-ready skills, making them an excellent choice for those starting a new career. They are training programs led by industry experts such as IBM, Meta, Google, Salesforce, Microsoft, and CVS. Upon completion of the program, you’ll earn a Professional Certificate from the offering institution confirming your successful completion of the training. You can browse Professional Certificate programs here.
What is a Coursera Specialization?
Similar to Professional Certificates, Specializations are course series centered around helping the learner master specific subject matter. Specializations include a Capstone project or a hands-on assignment applying the skills you learned throughout the Specialization. (Not all Capstone Projects are named Capstone.) Depending on the subject, they may be research papers, software applications, or case studies that you can use to build your portfolio. In some cases, you may need to enroll in your Capstone separately after completing all of the other courses in the Specialization. Upon completing a Specialization, you’ll earn a certificate recognizing your completion. You’ll also earn a Coursera certificate for each course you complete in the Specialization.
What is a Guided Project on Coursera?
Guided Projects are short, targeted training sessions similar to tutorials. They are designed to help learners master specific skills by applying them to complete a hands-on task. Unlike tutorials, Guided Projects include step-by-step guidance from expert-level instructors.
Can I earn a degree on Coursera?
Yes! Coursera partners with leading universities to host fully online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, data science, public health, computer science, engineering, social science, and more. With tuition well below most on-campus degree programs, online degrees on Coursera are designed to allow students to invest in their education and increase their earning potential post-graduation. Upon graduation, you’ll earn a credential from the university you studied with and become a part of that institution’s alumni network. Financial aid and scholarships are available enrollment options.
What is auditing a course?
Coursera strives to provide online learning opportunities suitable for any budget. Many of our courses are available to try for free. Auditing a course grants access to class instruction and most course materials. If you want to obtain assessments of your work or earn trusted credentials for completion, you can upgrade to a paid version anytime.
How to choose a learning path on Coursera
Change can be scary, but if you’re here, you’ve already committed to taking the first step. Now, all you have to do is keep up the great work! When you’re ready to begin planning your learning path, start by clearly defining your goals. Many of our learners are pursuing one or more of the following aspirations.
Start your career
Are you looking to start a new career that aligns with your interests, fulfills you, and provides growth opportunities? Would you prefer to focus your studies on in-demand skills to prepare for the job market? Does your desired outcome include a certificate or micro-credential to enhance your resume? If so, consider the following options:
| Get tips to start your career | Explore career paths | Practice new skills | Customize your path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just getting started? Check out our most popular resources for starting a new career. | Ready to explore careers in top-growing fields? Explore programs that help you get job-ready—no prior experience required. | The best way to learn is by doing. Practice your new skills with a two-hour project that you can showcase in an interview. | Build your own learning path with a Coursera Plus subscription by combining courses, certificates, projects, and more. |
Coursera has helped me expand my knowledge through several important courses that are extremely impactful and helpful for my career.
Switch your career
Pivoting to a new career path? Whether you’re switching from a related role or building upon transferable skills from a job in a different industry, you have several different learning paths to choose from:
| Get our top career switching tips | Explore career paths | Develop your skill set | Customize your path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Considering a change? Check out our most popular resources for making a career switch. | Ready to explore careers in top-growing fields? Explore programs that help you get job-ready—no prior experience required. | The best way to learn is by doing. Practice your new skills with a two-hour project that you can showcase in an interview. | Build your own learning path with a Coursera Plus subscription by combining courses, certificates, projects, and more. |
After my supervisor saw my coursework, she was confident that I was the right person for the job. Thanks to the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, my family gets to see me finally achieve my dream of being in IT.
Advance your career
Is your primary goal to strengthen your expertise and open new doors for your career? Are you considering Coursera to show your employer that you’re ready for a promotion? Check out the recommended career advancement opportunities below:
| Get our top career-advancing tips | Get certified | Earn your master’s | Customize your path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just getting started? Check out our most popular resources for advancing your career. | Nothing says I’m promotion-ready more than a new certificate. Gain career-building skills with these programs. | You don’t need to quit your job or move to earn a top-quality degree. Explore master’s degree programs. | Build your own learning path with a Coursera Plus subscription by combining courses, certificates, projects, and more. |
For the first time, finishing my degree seemed realistic. It was online with a flexible schedule. It felt like this program was made for my situation.
Become a lifelong learner
If you’re content in your career but still motivated to learn by curiosity or pleasure, you’re a lifelong learner. Welcome to the club! Here are a few ways you can stay in the loop:
Browse Articles on Coursera to gain industry knowledge and guidance throughout major career changes. For example, you can learn about today’s most impactful generative AI models or read a step-by-step walkthrough of how to write an effective cover letter.
Follow Career Chat, Coursera’s weekly newsletter on LinkedIn. We answer frequently asked career questions, such as how to discuss strengths and weaknesses in a job interview.
Audit classes. Many Coursera courses are available online for free. If you don’t need to earn credentials or have your work assessed, auditing classes can be a great way to explore a new subject without the pressure of grading. Browse free courses here.
Upskill your team
Not alone on this learning journey? Here are a few ways you can help more people learn without limits:
| Get our top learning and development tips | Upskill a team or organization | Explore Coursera Academies |
|---|---|---|
| Curious about how to bring learning to your organization? Explore case studies, webinars, and more. | Bring Coursera to your team, or explore one of our enterprise solutions for businesses, governments, and campuses. | Explore Coursera Academies in Data Science, Marketing, and more to find curated learning experiences in high-demand topics. |
We love that the Coursera platform allows us to provide a breadth of high-quality programs and a learning experience that our employees can self-select into to drive their own personal development.
-Laurent R., L’Oreal
Not sure where to focus your studies yet?
No problem! Try browsing Coursera Articles to identify subjects or career paths that motivate you. If you already have an area of expertise in mind, consider exploring articles related to your desired field:
For more general guidance about jobs or academics, check out the Career Advice and Degrees hubs.
Take the next step today with Coursera
Whether you're getting job-ready for an entry-level role, preparing to switch jobs, or advancing your career with a certificate or degree, you can do so with access to world-class universities and leading institutions on Coursera. Browse the Coursera catalog or take advantage of unlimited learning with Coursera Plus, which gives you access to over 7,000 courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs from top companies and universities for one monthly price.
Looking to upskill your team? Prepare your employees for Generative AI and other tech accelerations with job-aligned skills, data-driven insights, and trusted content and credentials.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.