Chevron Left
Back to Excel Skills for Business: Essentials

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Excel Skills for Business: Essentials by Macquarie University

4.9
stars
48,074 ratings

About the Course

In this first course of the specialization Excel Skills for Business, you will learn the essentials of Microsoft Excel. Within six weeks, you will be able to expertly navigate the Excel user interface, perform basic calculations with formulas and functions, professionally format spreadsheets, and create visualizations of data through charts and graphs. Whether you are self-taught and want to fill in the gaps for better efficiency and productivity, or whether you have never used Excel before, this course will set you up with a solid foundation to become a confident user and develop more advanced skills in later courses. The best way to learn Excel is to use Excel. In this course, learners will solve a broad range of business problems as they apply the Excel skills and techniques they learn along the way. This course uses downloadable Excel workbooks and full data sets with applied examples and practical challenge exercises. This provides learners with countless opportunities to practice their Excel skills while discovering new and useful productivity features of Excel for a variety of business contexts. Spreadsheet software is one of the most ubiquitous pieces of software used in workplaces across the world. Learning to confidently operate this software means adding a highly valuable asset to your employability portfolio. At a time when digital skills jobs are growing much faster than non-digital jobs, make sure to position yourself ahead of the rest by adding Excel skills to your employment portfolio....

Top reviews

RV

Nov 6, 2022

They (the instructors and other people in the background) are best at what they do. Great course. Great structure. Gave me a solid foundation on the topic. Many thanks for them (you know who). Cheers.

KS

Jun 29, 2020

This is an amazing course for learners. I am having a lot of fun completing this course from the starting point. It is very much enjoyable and the way the course teachers deliver every lecture superb.

Filter by:

101 - 125 of 10,000 Reviews for Excel Skills for Business: Essentials

By Segio D

•

Feb 23, 2018

ITS NOT FREEE

By Jillian V

•

Sep 13, 2020

In 7 minutes the teacher covers about 5 key elements. There is no pause for you to try. I'm aware you can hit pause at any time. This course feels very centered around vocabulary rather than the topic being hands-on. To top it off the teacher talks so fast. Try a different class or Youtube.

By Richard W

•

Jul 2, 2022

Questions that come up on the tests are not thoroughly explained during the course. Test materials are inaccurate and it uses a version of Excel that is older than mine, making it very confusing to follow along. Not recommened.

By Yaseen A

•

Sep 4, 2020

very long for basics

By Jin H T

•

May 3, 2021

I highly recommend people to take the course and learn about Microsoft Excel. I devoted days to complete the course and I am very happy and proud of myself that I have learned more about the software. Throughout the course, I am amazed by what I discovered from Microsoft Excel and how incredible and powerful it is. This happens while I am watching the videos and also using Microsoft Excel on my computer to follow what they did and also when I practised myself and doing tests and assessments. I like the exercises which are rigorous and ensures that learners internalise and apply what they have learned and have a firm grasp of what is taught in the course. The quizzes and assessments can be challenging but making mistakes are how we learn. I think the only slightly annoying thing is that the course is more towards Microsoft Windows users rather than Apple Mac users and I was a Mac user. I was able to figure out the shortcuts anyway. I feel motivated to carry on my learning to the next level such as going on to the intermediate level. Microsoft Excel is an essential, important and critical skill as well live with digital technologies and in a data-driven world. One would feel a sense of accomplishment such as being able to create charts.

By Frances A

•

Sep 2, 2021

Thanks #Coursera and #MacquarieUniversity! The best Excel course EVER... The instructors go slow so you don't miss a thing, the Challenges only reinforce what you learn in the videos, and the small quizzes after each video drove home what you just learned. Repetitiveness is key here- it can be quite easy to forget even the smallest of functions, so keep practicing and practicing! Excel was about the only thing missing from my resume until now. I tried many times over the years to learn- but to no avail. Finally a course so good- I completed my first final exam with a 96.66%! HOLY CROW! This Excel course is by far the most superior I have come across. Bonus: each video is no longer than about five minutes long (no long boring lectures or Power Point Presentations, AND the Toolbox feature is a must!). The Toolbox feature has excellent tips and provides all the Terminology you need to succeed- I personally copied it all down for my own personal records. Also, Ninja Tips. Cool beans.

This course, the instructors, and the way the courses are so well organized, turned this Excel skeptic, into a believer! I'm already excited to start course #2!

By Kathleen S

•

Sep 20, 2020

This course was GREAT, I am so pleased in the information and the manner in which it was taught. I actually completed it and understood what I learned but was so upset with myself being the one question I missed was because when I selected my formatting for currency I inadvertently selected the one with a comma in it and it was very clearly stated what the format should be. I had the answer correct but that one dumb mistake. What I took away from that mistake however is the importance of ensuring that what you do in Excel carries over and if you are not careful your information can be altered with one slip of the finger. Do I regret my error of course I am a perfectionist, however I took away a lesson with it so it was a valuable mistake. The instructors were very knowledgably and I feel what I needed to obtain from this class was received. I thank you for the opportunity and look forward to taking additional courses on line when I am employed. I would highly refer this process of learning to my friends, family and co-workers.

By Mr H P

•

May 28, 2020

This is a very well organized, excellently presented, top quality course. I highly recommend it. I already know some Excel and regularly use Power Query to query Oracle and SQL Server databases and generate pivot tables. Yet I learned many new things from auditing just week 1 of the course. I love the pace. There is a short video and then a graded quiz, then more videos and more quizzes. The quizzes sometimes covered material that was not in the videos. I suppose this is intentional to make the students learn to find things out themselves. I downloaded the exercises as Excel workbooks. The exercises are very well thought out. I thought the instructors would have Australian accent and I would have problem understanding them. I was wrong. They spoke perfect American English with no accent. Coursera would not grade the quiz at the end of the week unless I pay to upgrade, but this does not bother me because I can check my own work. I look forward to finishing the course and taking the other courses in the series.

By Anurag K G

•

Aug 17, 2023

I recently completed the "Excel Skills for Business: Essentials" course, and I am absolutely thrilled with the experience! From the very beginning, the course structure and content are incredibly well-designed. The progression from basic concepts to more advanced functionalities is seamless, making it suitable for beginners like me as well as those looking to refine their existing skills. The video lessons are concise and engaging, with crystal-clear explanations that even the most complex Excel functions easy to grasp.

In conclusion, "Excel Skills for Business: Essentials" exceeded my expectations in every way. If you're looking to enhance your Excel proficiency in a practical, engaging, and comprehensive manner, I wholeheartedly recommend this course. Whether you're a beginner or someone seeking to elevate your Excel game, this course is an invaluable investment in your professional development. Kudos to the instructors for crafting such an outstanding learning experience!

By Maria E A

•

Feb 22, 2024

I absolutely adore this course! It is incredibly well-structured and remarkably easy to follow. The content is presented in a clear and concise manner, making it accessible even for those who are new to Excel. Each module builds upon the previous one, gradually expanding your understanding and proficiency with the software. One of the aspects I appreciate the most is the practical approach taken throughout the course. Rather than just learning theoretical concepts, you're immediately given the opportunity to apply what you've learned to real-world scenarios. This hands-on approach not only solidifies your understanding but also ensures that you're equipped with the practical skills needed to excel in various professional settings. Furthermore, the instructors are engaging and knowledgeable, making the learning experience enjoyable and enriching. They provide clear explanations, helpful tips, and insightful demonstrations that enhance the overall learning process.

By Hugo E V

•

Sep 27, 2021

Great Course! The first time I had contact with Excel, it was with Windows 3.11. I studied Excel in a wide book. It was hard to learn in it, ,but I got the basics. The second time I studied Excel was with Excel 98, The books improved a lot. There were very colorful pictures and practical knowledge. The third time I studied Excel was with Excel 2006. There I could see that the interface changed a lot, and I began having trouble with it, ,but I passed the course. This is the fourth time I studied Excel, and I love the way you planned the course. That conversation format between the instructors is very cool! I really feel more comfortable using Excel now. I must share with you, that before this course I remembered that Excel could do many things, ,but I spent a lot of time trying to find the right tool. In many cases, I could not repeat the procedure that I used in previous versions, because Excel has improved a lot. I thank you very much! This was a great course!

By Mr C D B

•

May 7, 2020

I would class myself as quite a competent Excel user, but (as most probably like most!), all self taught with little or no 'formal' qualifications. So I wanted to follow a specialization route to gain these 'approved competencies). Having followed other online training before, I can honestly say that the presentation both in terms of delivery and content is as good as I've ever seen. Really well constructed, with a plan and focus to take you from week 1 to week 6. Great structure that builds upon the previous weeks knowledge and also contains detailed examples with enough data content that allows you to 'play' around and practice. It delivers on it's essentials tagline, as the topics are relevant and focused to provide a great base to 'overcome' any fears of using Excel, so that you can build upon good knowledge in the workplace.

From start to finish one of the best online courses that i've ever seen and participated in.

By Talha A

•

Nov 29, 2023

I am Talha from Pakistan, employed in the large-scale manufacturing sector. In my daily work routine, I extensively utilize Excel for manual calculations and creating data-based tables/charts. Previously, my approach to Excel tasks was primarily based on trial and error, resulting in hours wasted on experimenting with formulas, functions, formatting, and printing. However, after completing the course, I can confidently assert that this is one of the best courses for me. Instructors Nicky and Prashan have done an excellent job explaining all the basics of Excel in a very accessible manner. The inclusion of practice exercises and immediate assessments following the learning of each Excel functionality has significantly strengthened my skills in using Excel. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Nicky, Sean, and Macquarie University for providing such a valuable learning experience.

By Thomas A P d C

•

Aug 3, 2023

The activities, the video classes with correct subtitles in 98% of the cases and the corrections generated after the activities are very useful for learning the basics of Excel. However, all materials are entirely in English without the option of translating through Google Translate as the Google Translate plug-in is not compatible with the texts within the Coursera website, which may limit many students who wish to attend, but are blocked by the language barrier. I would recommend to fix the plug-in to make the Google translator work inside the Cousera activites. I myself had some trouble understanding certain technical terms in the professional market that have slightly different meanings in my maternal language. Overall, a 4/5 course, somehow easy to use, and the excel files sometimes need to be changed into google sheets to be properly downloaded and read to your local Excel

By Tony O

•

Apr 28, 2023

Do yourself a favor and TAKE THIS COURSE!! I started learning immediately...like IMMEDIATELY

I had no idea I was using Excel incorrectly all this time. I was self taught in Excel and had NO CLUE about how much harder I was making things for myself.

The instructors actually make this fun...which is not something I thought I would find myself saying when I enrolled in a Microsoft Excel Course. Nikki Bull and Dr. Prashan bring some major charisma and fun to a subject that I was not expecting to be even remotely interesting.

Each Video-Lecture is accompanied with downloadable spreadsheets, so you can follow along and explore in REAL TIME. You are 100% learning as you go, and the Quizzes for each section provide new challenges for you to work through and inspire some real critical thinking skills while you build upon what you've just learned.

By Giulia C

•

Dec 30, 2022

Il s'agit d'un cours en Anglais tenu par deux profs Australines, un homme et une femme qui vous expliqueront point par point les instruments essentiels pour utiliser Excels dans votre quotidien et au travail. Un cours très bien expliqué à partir des bases de compilation jusqu'à la création des graphiques, surtout en traitant une grande quantité des donnés. Il y a beaucoup d'exercices pour chaque aspet de l'apprentissage de Excel. Vous trouverez aussi des exercises supplémentaires à fin de semaine pour vous entrainer de plus.

Je ne suis pas sure si les entreprise considèrent ce cours valide, mais je l'ai trouvé bien structuré et complet. Je vous le conseille aussi pour ceux qui veulent pratiquer et améliorer la langue Anglaise comme L2.

I thank Macquarie University for creating this course on Coursera. Looking forward for a new one.

By Rudolph G

•

Dec 16, 2020

This was a very good online course! In many online courses, it seems that several steps are avoided by the designers and teachers of the course, but not here, at least, not for the most part. I was very impressed by the direct communication from the two teachers to the online students for each week's topical presentation. They made an excellent effort to communicate with students, to spend significant time and effort to explain the concepts and methods related to Excel at the essentials level. I appreciated very much both Nicky and Prashan's enthusiastic and warm, genuine interest in our needs and abilities to learn and understand the materials of the course. I truly felt supported in my progress through this six-week essentials course, and I look forward very much to signing up for the second course in the four course-sequence.

By Mr. C K W

•

Jun 25, 2023

The course provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the software's functionalities, including chart creation, conditional formatting, sorting/filtering and more. The instructional videos were particularly helpful, as they were easy to follow and provided clear explanations of each topic. Additionally, the quizzes and notes that were provided at the conclusion of each section were instrumental in consolidating my newfound knowledge. The assessments were suitably challenging and closely resembled real-world scenarios that one might encounter in a professional environment. After completing the course, I have gained confidence in my ability to use Excel for both personal and professional purposes, such as budget management and work-related tasks. Overall, my experience of learning Excel was both educational and enjoyable.

By Deep S

•

Jun 13, 2020

One of the best courses on Coursera. The syllabus is so perfectly designed.I thought i knew the basics of Excel but only once when you undergo formal training you know that there's lot in Excel which I never thought about. I came to know about this in the beginner's course only, then just think about the rich high-quality content in the other courses in this specialization. The teachers are fantastic. The instructor for this course is only Nicky Bull Mam but Yvonne Breyer Mam and Prashan Karunarate Sir will also teach in further courses in this specialization. All three are excellent above-par teachers and leave no scope for doubts. Do take the practice challenge and quizzes because much extra-information is given there. Excel is all about practice and exploring. Prashan Sir will make sure to get this into our heads.

By Dharmendra S

•

Aug 25, 2020

Really learned quite a bit about Excel and while learning I enjoyed it. For that credit goest to both the instructors who are excellent and made a bit difficult topic easy to understand. So perfect score for them. Also course is well structured and modules are good mix of text and video lessons and practical exercises. One suggestion I would really want to share that while on such platform 'Forum' works well but for one's queries he/she might have to wait endlessly. So there should be some mechanism to resolve one's query/problem. For that matter if some very good answers by participants/moderators are readily availabe say 2 years back than that response should appear against that query. It should not go unanswered. But overall a good begining into the world of spreadsheets!

By Deleted A

•

Apr 7, 2023

I have taken couple of Excel Courses from other platforms but I was not confident to navigate Excel spreadsheet confidently and even perform basic calculation on large sets of data. There were a lot of gaps in my learning and I was not sure enough of how to use basic tools such "Find and Replace", "Number and Date formatting" "Pulling data from other sheets" and so on. But after taking this course I am really confident enough because the content in this course and the example files provided with this course have really challenged me to focus and find the correct answer in thousands of rows. Now I am sure that I can continue others courses in this specialization and learn Microsoft Excel Professionally. Best course to learn Microsoft Excel as a beginner. Thank You Coursera!

By Ahadul I

•

Jul 13, 2020

This course is, in one word, awesome! Even if you think you know Excel, you never know ;)

The course is elegantly designed. At the start of every week, the instructors sit together and explain what the learners will be coming across in the coming week. The explanations in the lectures are nice and vivid.

All the Excel courses out there have seasoned instructors and all of them have ample knowledge to share. But what actually sets this course apart, from all the other courses, is that the exercises are comprehensive and when you complete those exercises, you are already using the tools, which you may have forgotten if you didn't go through.

Excellent primer for any one wanting to learn Excel. It is equally good for anyone who thinks he needs some polish in his basics.

By Ubaid u R

•

Sep 18, 2023

Absolutely, I can't emphasize enough how crucial Excel is for one's career. This course is truly outstanding and stands as the best option on the internet. I strongly recommend enrolling in the full specialization rather than individual courses, as it surpasses any other available options. What's even better is that you can access it through Financial Aid. Coursera is an incredibly generous platform, especially for individuals like me who may not afford hefty monthly subscription fees. However, I must highlight the 'Excel Skills for Business Specialization,' which is taught by the amazing instructors Ma'am Nicky Bull and Sir Dr. Prashan S. M. Karunaratne. Their teaching style is not only informative but also engaging and enjoyable, making learning a daily delight.

By Abdul A H

•

Jul 25, 2020

Very impressive, the sessions are a very good introduction to Excel skills for business! The tutors are excellent at explaining terminologies effectively and it is easy to understand. The detailed explanations throughout this course has definitely enabled me to become more proficient in using excels tools and I have learnt loads more even though I have used Excel before this course. Thank you! It is also very easy to learn and follow the tutors instructions and practice along using the videos, exercise workbooks and also practice questions. Overall, I feel encouraged to learn more and I thank everyone involved for making this course. I encourage anyone looking for an introduction to Excel or to improve core Excel skills to take this course, it is very worthwhile!

By Larry G

•

Sep 3, 2020

I really enjoyed taking this course. The curriculum was direct and to the point. The material covered in my opinion was relevant to how Excel is being used in today's company's. The practice videos, and the quiz that followed each lesson was really helpful. Thanks Coursera and Macquarie University for providing the course to those of us who are looking to increase their knowledge and skill level. I'm very optimistic about securing employment that requires me to utilize Excel daily and fill confident about executing the various tasks to complete effective spreadsheets/reports, charts and graphs, etc. Dare I ask Coursera to find another resource that offers the chance to learn advance to expert level Excel Skills and knowledge. Again, thank you so much!!