Upskillwise.com is fully supported by its readers. If you register or buy a course using our links, we may receive a commission. This does not affect our ratings, methodology or partners.
Is Coursera as good as all the hype it gets?
Well, let’s get started. It is one of the most prestigious online educational platforms out there offering courses on Data Science, Business, Health and much more. Coursera offers different learning programs from courses to specializations and degrees.
Sounds pretty good right?
On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that the learning programs that Coursera is offering are right for you. So let’s delve in a little deeper and find out more in this in-depth Coursera review.
Coursera has partnered with 300+ top Universities and Organizations like Imperial College, Stanford University, Google and IBM to create its learning programs.
Affordable Courses & Degrees
Its course prices are affordable and is degrees programs are significantly lower than on campus-based degrees.
Free Courses
Coursera offers more than 6,000+ courses for free on a wide variety of subjects for learners of all skill levels. Be mindful that you won’t receive a certificate with a free course, but you do have the option to upgrade at anytime.
Learn Offline
Coursera’s app allows you to download course material for when you are offline. Allowing you to learn and study on the go, perfect for a plane trip.
Quality Of Courses
Courses taught by top experts in their field from world-class Universities and Organizations. Plus its Beta Testers are a way to keep the course content to the highest standard and up to date.
Flexibility
The majority of Coursera’s courses are learning at your own pace, on a schedule that suits you.
Confusing Pricing
There are many different pricing subscriptions which can make the exact price of the course seem confusing and unclear for many users.
Prior Knowledge
Some courses may require prior knowledge due to the nature of the course material. It’s not always beginner-friendly.
Heavy Workload
Some of Coursera’s MasterTrack and Degree programs can be quite challenging. Before committing to a program, ensure that you are prepared for the time and effort you must commit to it.
Limited Feedback
Depending on which course or learning program you choose, you may find that teachers aren’t available to give you personalized feedback.
Coursera Review Verdict
Coursera is one of the leading online learning platforms on the market, providing a vast variety of courses and learning programs. It ranges from individual courses, Guided Projects, Professional Certificates, MasterTrack and Degree programs. Coursera collaborates with world-class Universities and Companies to develop its course offerings and learning programs. Coursera offers a variety of payment plans, from completely free courses, to paid programs, and even monthly or annual subscriptions. Its courses stand out for their flexibility, affordability and career focus. Coursera Plus includes a free trial to get you started, and refunds can be requested within two weeks of payment for either individual courses or Coursera Plus.
Who Is Coursera For?
You may be asking yourself, is Coursera right for me?
That really does depend on what you are looking for, but the fact Coursera offers such a wide range of affordable courses and different learning programs, that there is a high chance you may find it. Coursera partners with top Universities and Companies to create the following course types.
Courses
Coursera offers over 6,000+ courses for free with the option to upgrade if you decide you want to receive a certificate and access to additional course features. All its courses are built in partnership with world-class Universities and Companies and taught by top instructors.
Learn job-relevant skills in under 2 hours. A short interactive course that is taught by subject-matter experts, with 760+ to choose from, starting at $9.99 USD.
A series of related courses ideal for someone wanting to master a career skill. You could decide to take only the one course related to that career skill or the series of courses which would cover all aspects of that skill. It offers 2,250+ specializations that start at $49 USD per month.
Training programs which prepare you for a job or a particular industry. Some professional certificates are recognized by an organization or school. You can pick from 90+ Professional Certificates which start at $49 USD per month. All of which come with a 7-day free trial and can be completed in less than 6 months.
Online modules of a Master’s degree program that can be used as credit to go towards a degree. Currently, Coursera offers 25+ MasterTrack Certificates which start at $2,000 USD.
Coursera has partnered with top Universities like Princeton and Yale to provide learners with affordable Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees. Its pool of 35+ Bachelor, Master’s degree’s and Postgraduate Programs start at $9,000 USD.
Note: Coursera collaborates with 300+ leading Universities and Companies. So, when you receive your completion certificate it is verified by the collaborating partner, which often are recognized by future employers.
Coursera offers a range of 11 different topic areas, you can pick from the following; Data Science, Business, Computer Science, Personal Development, Information Technology, Language Learning, Health, Math and Logic, Social Sciences, Physical Science & Engineering, Art and Humanities.
Each one of these topics has a variety of subtopics to explore. If you are looking to learn a skill in one of the topics mentioned, Coursera maybe the right platform for you. But if after reading this you know Coursera isn’t the platform for you, check out our article on the Best Online Learning Platform.
Coursera for business
As well as individual learning, Coursera for Businesses offers an Enterprise plan for larger organizations. You will get unlimited access to the platform’s courses, skill metrics, user analytics and integration to drive success. Coursera works with businesses as big as 15000+. If you are wanting to find out more, you will need to contact them directly for a quote.
Like Coursera for Business, is the option for teams, which is aimed at a smaller workforce. Its plan is designed to provide your team with access to 5,000+ courses, specializations and Guided Projects. This plan is designed to pay per user for 1 year and a 14-day refund policy is guaranteed.
Coursera for Campus focus is to empower any University to offer job-relevant (credit ready) online education to students, faculty and staff. As well as that Coursera offers this plan for free to a student looking to learn job-ready skills for free. The plan gives you access to unlimited Guided Projects and 1 free course per year. To get started, you just need to enter your school email.
Coursera for Campus
The Coursera for Campus Student Plan is available to full-time, part-time, community college and university students from all over the world. Its courses are accredited by world-class universities and companies like Yale and Google.
Coursera offers a pretty diverse range of pricing due to the fact it has so many different learning programs. Its Courses and Guided Projects start as low as $9.99 USD and its online degrees go up to $50,000 USD. As well as offering one-time payments, you have the option of monthly or annual subscription plans with Coursera Plus.
Free Courses
Coursera offers a wide variety of over 2,900+ free courses, covering topics from Arts and Humanities, Business and Computer Science (see image below). The platform’s filter system lets you narrow down your choices by several criteria like; Language, Level, Duration, Subject, Skills, Partner and Learning Product, making it easier to find a course that fits your needs. If you decide you’d like to earn a certificate for successfully completing the course, there is an option to upgrade to the paid version of the course (see image above), you can upgrade at anytime. Opting for the paid version, you’ll also get a few extra features like assessments, exams and feedback from the instructor.
Guided Projects
Its Guided Projects start at $9.99 and are designed to quickly learn a job skill or industry tool. The purchase of the Guided Project includes all learning materials, free download of what you create, split screen video step by step and instant access to necessary packages. Coursera currently offers 760+ Guided Projects to choose from.
Specializations
Its Specializations focus on mastering a specific skill. Its starting price is $49 USD per month and can take between 1–3 months to complete. A day 7-day free trial is available for all Specializations and will give you full access.
Professional Certificates
Its Professional Certificates are for getting you job-ready and to earn a career credential. Its starting price is $49 USD per month and can take between 1–6 months to complete. Like Specializations, a 7-day free trial is available and Financial aid is available.
Coursera’s bachelor or master degrees start at $9,000 and take between 2–4 years to complete. Its degrees are from leading universities like Penn and the University of London. You will need to apply and complete an application form.
Coursera Plus
Coursera Plus is a subscription plan, giving you unlimited access to 7,000+ courses, Projects, Specializations and Professional Certificates. There is no limit to courses you can enroll in or course certificates you can earn. The only thing that it doesn’t include is degrees and MasterTrack Certificate programs.
Coursera Plus
You can choose to pay for the Coursera Plus either Monthly or Annually:
Coursera Plus Monthly – $59 USD/ month(includes a 7-day free trial)
Coursera Plus Annual – $399 USD/ year(includes a 14-day money-back guarantee)
If you compare it to the cost of a single learning program ($49-$79 USD) and have the intention of taking multiple courses, then Coursera Plus will definitely save you money. Plus, the monthly and annual plan include a free trial and a money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
> Try out the Coursera Plus here. You are entitled to a full refund within 14 days of purchasing.
Coursera Business & Teams
Coursera offers two different plans for organizations: Coursera for business and Coursera for teams. The main difference is Coursera for business is for larger organizations and has a custom pricing. Whereas Coursera for Teams is for a smaller workforce organizations and costs $399 USD a user each year with a 14-day refund guarantee.
Coursera for teams
Each of these plans focus on integrating learning into the team’s workflow, so you can set your own deadlines and certifications awarded on each course completion. Coursera has worked with top companies like L’Oréal, Danone and P&G.
Financial Assistance
If you can’t afford to pay for a course or certificate, you can apply for Financial Aid or a Scholarship. You can find the link to apply next to the homepage of the course. You will need to fill out an application that includes information about your educational background, career goals and financial circumstances. Most courses offer Financial Aid or Scholarships.
We have a detailed pricing guide for Coursera that talks in more detail about this topic, you can check it out here.
How To Open A Coursera Account?
The registration process for Coursera is really straightforward. Just in case you are unsure I have broken down the registration process which looks like this:
Add your Full Name, Email and Create a Password (or use Google or Facebook)
You will be sent a confirmation email
Once you are signed up, you can click on Explore and begin browsing the different courses on offer.
Coursera explore courses
After you have selected a subject or learning program, you can choose one of the subcategories, which will take you to all the relevant courses.
How To Request A Refund With Coursera?
After paying for either an individual course or a Coursera Plus subscription, you can request a refund within 2 weeks of your payment.
To request a refund follow these easy steps:
Open your My Purchases page
Find the course or Coursera Plus subscription that you want to refund
Below the Refund deadline column, click Get Refund
If you have purchased another type of learning program, like a Specialization, sadly these aren’t refundable. The only other option is that if you have a subscription payment on another learning program, you can cancel it to end future payments.
Most Popular Coursera Courses
I thought it would be interesting to highlight the most popular courses based on each learning programs. The most popular courses are based on previous students’ ratings and opinions.
Courses
Machine Learning – A free course to learn the science of getting computers to act without being programmed. It has had more than 4,000,000 students enrolled on the course and a 4.9 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. The course instructor is Andrew Ng the Co-founder of Coursera. You have the option to upgrade and purchase the course, where you will earn the certificate for$49 USD.
The Science of Well-Being – A free course designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. It has had more than 3,500,000 students enrolled on the course and a 4.9 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. The course instructor, Laurie Santos, is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University. You have the option to upgrade and purchase the course, where you will earn the certificate for$79 USD.
Guided Projects
Getting Started with Power BI Desktop – A 2-hour long project-based course, where you will learn the basics of using Power BI Desktop software. It’s offered by Coursera project network for beginners, with over 30,000 already enrolled and a 4.7 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. It costs$9.99 USD to take this guided project.
Spreadsheets for Beginners using Google Sheets – A 2-hour long project-based course is an introduction to spreadsheets. It’s offered by Coursera project network for beginners, with close to 40,000 already enrolled and a 4.7 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. It costs$9.99 to take this guided project.
Specializations
Python for Everybody Specialization – A Specialization to learn to program and analyze data with Python. It has had more than 1,000,000 students enrolled in this specialization and a 4.8 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. The course instructor is Charles Russell Severance and partnered with the University of Michigan. It will take approximately 8 months to complete, and costs $49 USD a month, with a 7-day free trial available.
Business English Communication Skills Specialization – A Specialization to build English skills for Business to improve your ability to speak, write and understand English in professional settings. It has had more than 90,000 students enrolled in this specialization and a 4.8 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. The course instructor is Richard Moore and partnered with the University of Washington. It will take approximately 6 months to complete, and costs $49 USD a month, with a 7-day free trial available.
Professional Certificates
Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate – A Professional Certificate to launch your career in social media marketing to build job-ready skills and credentials. It has had more than 50,000 students enrolled in this professional certificate and a 4.9 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. The course instructor is Anke Audenaert and partnered with Facebook. It will take approximately 7 months to complete, and costs $49 USD a month, with a 7-day free trial available.
IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate – A Professional Certificate to unlock your potential in data analytics and build job-ready skills as a data analyst. It has had close to 30,000 students enrolled in this professional certificate and a 4.7 (out of 5) rating from student feedback. The course instructor is Rav Ahuja and partnered with IBM. It will take approximately 11 months to complete, and costs $39 USD a month, with a 7-day free trial available.
MasterTrack Certificates
Machine Learning for Analytics – In this 4-course program, you’ll develop skills in statistics and machine learning to advance your career as a data science professional. The certificate is partnered with The University of Chicago and will take you 5 months to complete. You can either do a 1 off payment for$3,900 USD or 4 payments for $1,000 monthly.
Social Work: Practice, Policy and Research – In this 6-course program, you’ll build skills you’ll need as a social worker to empower individuals, families and communities. The certificate is partnered with The University of Michigan and will take you 4-6 months to complete. You can either do a 1 off payment for$1,900 USD or 4 payments for $500 USD monthly.
Online Degrees
BSc Computer Science – Earn a Bachelors Degree with University of London to give you a strong foundation in Computer Science and specialized knowledge of topics such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Web Development. The Bachelors degree should take you 3-6 years and will cost you between £11,229 – £16,790 ($15,230 – $22,872 USD). You will need to apply for the Bachelors Degree.
Master of Science in Management – Earn a Master’s Degree with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Management to build a strong foundation of fundamental business skills. The Master’s degree should take 1 year and will cost you $11,052 USD. You will need to apply for the Master’s Degree.
My Coursera Experience
The best way for me to get a real insight into the Coursera platform is by taking a course myself. I decided on Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, a program offered by Google. It’s a course that quickly piqued my interest, as not only does it have a 4.8 rating, but no prior knowledge is needed.
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Courses
The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is made up of 8 courses, that will help prepare you for a job in Google Data Analytics. From working just 10 hours a week, you can complete the certificate in less than 6 months. The 8 courses are broken up into the following;
Course 1 – Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Course 2 – Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions
Course 3 – Prepare Data for Exploration
Course 4 – Process Data from Dirty to Clean
Course 5 – Analyze Data to Answer Questions
Course 6 – Share Data Through the Art of Visualization
Course 7 – Data Analysis with R Programming
Course 8 – Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study
If you are undecided between which course is right for you. I have put together 7 tips to help you to choose the perfect course.
Use the filter feature
A very useful feature to use is the Filter by feature (see image above) which will help to narrow down your search. For example, if I were to select a category like ‘Nutrition’, I could then select from the various filters (e.g. Skills, Job Title, Level, Language, etc) and click ‘apply’ which would then show the relevant courses related to these filters – see image below.
Coursera filter feature
About this course
You are able to read the description of the course, the topics which are included and the different areas the course will focus on.
Coursera about this course section
In the About this Course section, you will find the Skills you will gain (see image below). If your objective is to get specific knowledge from your chosen course, this can be a quick way to check out a course and determine if it will meet your needs.
Coursera skills you will gain
Syllabus of the course
By reading the syllabus for each of the courses you can see how each week is broken down and how long it will take you to complete it. This includes the videos, reading material and quizzes.
Coursera syllabus
Read reviews at Coursera
Every Coursera course has reviews and ratings from past students which can be a really helpful way to get a comprehensive feel for the course and what have others gained from it.
Coursera reviews
Within the reviews, you have the option to Filter by with All Learners, All Stars and Sort by. Allowing you to focus on reading the reviews that are relevant to what you are searching for and filter out anything you don’t want to read.
Coursera reviews filter
Check out the instructor
An instructor rating is included in the course description. You can then click to read his or her bio along with prior experience. They also include their websites and social media handles and other courses they teach (if any). This is an ideal way to find more about who will be teaching the course.
Coursera instructor bio
Try for free
Anyone enrolling for a paid course or a Specialization will get access to a 7-day full access free trial period. It really is the perfect way for you to try a course and see if it is for you before you commit to pay. If you are unhappy with the course or the instructor, simply refund it.
Coursera try for free
Audit the course
The Coursera interface can be a little confusing and will lead you to pay for the course, but if you are looking to take a course and click Audit the course it will mean you can take the course for free, but you will not receive a certificate at the end of it. The link to Audit the course can be found on individual course pages (see image below).
Coursera Audit the course
The Audit option is not available on Specialization, Mastertrack or Professional Certificates so you need to navigate to the individual course page first.
Criteria
Comment
Ease of use
Opening an account is really straightforward, you just need to add your name, email and create a password.
The design and layout of its platform is easy to navigate around thanks to its minimalistic design. My favourite part is the professionalism of the site and the fact you feel like you are on an established educational platform.
Convenience
The majority of courses you can take at any time and learn at your own pace, there are some courses which have a start and end date.
If you have enrolled on a paid course or specialization you will be able to take the 7-day free trial and if you decide to cancel before the 8th day you won’t need to pay anything.
Courses are available to watch offline on its app which can be pretty handy if you are learning on the go or have a plane trip to take.
Available platforms
Coursera courses are 100% online which you can access from a desktop, laptop or via the Coursera app with a smartphone (for Android and iOS).
The Coursera app has a 4.8 rating with both the IOS and Google Play store Apps.
Official certifications:
Coursera provides accredited certificates that are recognised by employers. Coursera doesn’t create its own learning material. However, it works alongside educational institutions, government agencies and top universities to facilitate its online courses.
So you’ll be able to earn a certificate from Coursera backed up by the university that organizes the course.
Categories
Coursera currenty offers more than 5,800+ courses, professional certificates, degrees and more. Its programs are broken down into 6 types; Courses, Guided Projects, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Mastertrack Certificates and Online Degrees which are taught by top instructors from renowned Universities and Organizations.
As well as individual learning is Coursera for Business. It offers two plans Coursera for Enterprise and Coursera for Teams. Both of these plans give access to 5,400+ courses from top institutions, access to guided projects, assessments, quizzes and verified certificates.
Free courses
When you land on the Coursera homepage and click on Explore, you can find ‘Take a free course’ where you will be taken to more than 2,700+ free courses. There is also the option to find a course and choose to Audit the course, which means you will have access to the course for free but won’t receive a certificate at the end of it.
Be aware that some courses, specializations and degrees don’t offer the Audit option.
Content quality
Since Coursera’s content is built in collaboration with leading universities and companies, you can be rest assured of the quality of its courses and programs.
On top of that, it has Beta testers who are experts and enthusiasts to review and give feedback on its courses to ensure the quality is of the highest standard, this is all done before its courses are published.
Languages
Coursera courses have a wide range of languages available which include the following: English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Arabic.
The majority of the video lessons have an interactive transcript (also available on the mobile app) which you can follow along with during the class.
Instructors
Every course on Coursera is taught by well-recognised instructors from top universities and companies including instructors from Stanford and Duke University, and experts from Google and IBM.
Course requirements
As Coursera offers many different types of courses, its requirements all vary.
Coursera courses normally are 4-6 weeks. Each course includes several hours of video lessons every week, graded assessments, quizzes and forum participation with peers. Some of these courses have final exams.
Coursera Specializations can combine 4-5 courses into a group. Some of the shorter specializations have only 3 combined courses and can take 4-6 months to complete. Whereas the longer specializations can combine 10 courses and take a year to complete.
If you take a degree program with Coursera who are partnered with a top University it will usually take 1-3 years of study.
Course structure
Every Coursera course is created by a partnered University or Organization, which follows a specific curriculum and syllabus.
Its courses are based around video lessons, graded assessments, quizzes, forum participation and, at times, final exams.
Quizzes & tests
Quizzes are normally auto-graded. Peer-reviewed papers are evaluated by a subject matter expert and feedback is given within 3 days.
Some courses also have teaching assistants to help assist with your learning.
Payments & refunds
You can make payments on Coursera with the following Credit and Debit Cards Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, American Express (only for courses priced in $USD) and Paypal.
Depending on the subscription you have chosen, the refund policy differs. For example, the month-to-month subscription does not offer refunds.
The Coursera Plus, One-time Course, Specialization and Coursera for Team all offer a 14-day refund. The Degree and Mastertrack Certificate Programs vary as the refund policies are established and administered by the University.
Coursera also offers Financial Aid and Scholarships to those needing financial assistance.
Support
Coursera offers a Help Center with covers many topics and you can find the answers for. It also offers a support via chat, which allows you to send them an query or issue you may have. Lastly they have a Contact Us which should help to answer any doubts or questions you have.
Overall rating
Coursera is one of the most popular online learning platforms on the market. Its diverse range of courses and learning programs make it a standout platform. It’s an ideal choice for someone looking for a career change, study a degree online or simple learn a new skill. Its courses and programs are designed in partnership with top Universities and Organizations, means you are learning from the very best. It is an inexpensive and convenient way to learn and if you aren’t ready to commit, you can get started with one of its free courses.
Will Coursera Help Me With My Career?
Coursera courses are ideal for someone wanting to further their higher education or career skills by studying an online degree or taking a specialization learning program. The fact that it is partnered with so many well-established universities and businesses means that the final certificate accreditation is recognized worldwide and something definitely worth adding to your Curriculum Vitae or LinkedIn profile and recognized by future employees.
Coursera certificate example
If you already have a full or part job, then studying with Coursera could be an ideal option for you. Many of its learning programs have flexible hours and the cost is just a fraction of what a traditional university course would cost.
Is Coursera Recognized & Accredited?
You won’t be the first one asking if Coursera is recognized and accredited? It’s a valid question, and something that leaves many of us (including myself) a little confused about.
What’s does accreditation mean?
So to give you a bit of background, for a course or learning program to be accredited, the College or University offering that course or learning program has to be approved by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Department of Education. The CHEA is a US Organization that accredits Colleges and Universities in the US, accreditation can look different depending on the Country you are in, so it’s important you are aware of this before deciding on the purpose of the course or learning program you are wanting to take.
As for Global Organizations like Apple and Microsoft, they must partner with training institutions who are accredited to teach a course or learning program. Which means on behalf of the tech company they have the right to teach, test and certify the student learning on its course or program.
Therefore, when the student successfully completes a course, program or degree they will receive a certification that is officially recognized.
Is Coursera accredited?
The platform Coursera is not accredited by CHEA or the Department of Education, but the majority of courses and learning programs that Coursera offers are.
Its really important that before you decide on which type of Coursera course or learning program you want to take, you understand what each of them mean. It offers 6 different types of learning programs.
Individual Courses: Enrolling in an individual course with Coursera can mean two things. You can choose to audit the course (learn for free) or decide to pay for a Coursera certificate, which you will receive when you successfully complete it. The certificate will display your name, course title and logo of the University providing the course. The course may go towards a credit or a degree program, but this is something you would need to check in the course FAQ. This certificate is not an official qualification or transcript from the University.
Guided Projects: These projects are a quick (normally under 2 hours) and cheap way to fill the gap on a topic area that you are lacking. You will receive a shareable certificate to showcase what you have learned, but it isn’t accredited, and the purpose is for your own individual learning.
Specializations: Are where you combine related classes together on a specific subject area, and they work in a similar way to the individual course. You will either pay for a one-off payment or it is included in your monthly subscription. When you successfully complete the Specialization, you will receive a certificate with your name, course name and University logo. The same applies as the individual course, if you are looking for it to go towards a credit or degree program, you will need to inquire in the course FAQ. This certificate is not an official qualification or transcript from the University.
Professional Certificate: These are Coursera’s version of industry recognized certification, that are closely aligned with the Company’s certification syllabus like Microsoft, Google and IBM. The certificate you will receive is similar to the individual courses and Specializations, including your name, the course title and the company logo.
MasterTrack Certificate: These programs can count towards a University degree and like Specializations they are a collection of classes, but the difference is they have a set start and end date. The points you collect from these programs can be credit towards a degree program. You will receive a certificate from the University, which is an official document from the accredited University.
Degree Programs: Online degree programs at Coursera are accredited by the University and when you successfully complete it, you will receive an official transcript with your final grade from the University, as well as your official degree certificate.
In short, its important that:
You enrol on the right course or learning program for your needs
If applying to a University, contact them first to know what you require to apply
Know that a certificate isn’t always official
Read Course FAQ’s before committing
Finally, Coursera courses and learning programs are cost-effective and will benefit you in terms of your knowledge base, and adding another skill to your CV or Resume can only benefit you.
Something which many of you ask when considering elearning communities is: Is this course legit?
It is completely normal to have these doubts, especially if you are considering one of the more expensive Specializations programs or Online degrees at Coursera.
Coursera was founded in 2012 by two Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with their headquarters located in California. It has had well over 150 million course enrollments and collaborates with 275+ partners.
Coursera is part of the growing Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) movement and their elearning platform focuses on their partnerships with universities and corporations. It also attracts instructors from top universities and businesses who are experts in their field and who teach top-quality courses.
Coursera partners with a mix of Universities, Businesses, Governments and Non-profits. In many cases, Coursera personally reaches out to these Institutions to partner with them. Coursera hasn’t made its conditions and contracts clear when working with an Institution, but I would imagine it varies from one to another. If you are interested you can complete the University or Industry Partnership Inquiry Form which will ask you a series of questions.
Like the Institutions who partner with Coursera, there is also the option for an individual to collaborate with them and become a Project Instructor. In this role you will create guided projects.
Some of the perks include:
Growth: Developing your career and reputation by sharing your expertise through hands-on projects.
Resources: Become part of the instructor community and get the support and tools to create high-quality projects.
Income: Earn your income remotely on a per-project basis once your project is reviewed and approved.
Impact: Use your expertise to help learners around the world gain valuable career skills.
If you want to further your academic knowledge by studying for a degree or Masters, or develop your career opportunities by studying on a specialization program, then Coursera is definitely the right elearning platform for you. It has such a wide range of learning programs, from Data Science to Health that are taught by top instructors and experts from prestigious Universities and Businesses.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to learn a new skill or hobby and not wanting to gain an accredited certification, then platforms like Udemy and Skillshare are probably a better fit.
You will love Coursera for its:
Accredited Certificates
Top Instructors and Experts
Networking Opportunities
High-quality courses
Variety of learning programs
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions, and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Review Updates:
10/02/23 – Coursera FAQ – Updated
09/16/23 – Coursera Free Courses – Updated
08/18/23 – Coursera Costs Updated
08/07/23 – Coursera Who is it for? Updated
07/27/23 – Content Verdict Updated
07/10/23 – Content quality rating updated
06/22/23 – Are Coursera certificates worth it?: FAQ
Hey. I am Catherine and I have been working as a freelancer for many years now. In 2005, I graduated from a BA honours in Art & Design from BCU and then went onto complete a Master’s Degree in Teaching from UEL. The skills I gained from learning and teaching have led me to create Upskillwise, a place for learners like myself to find the best possible resources and courses to train and upskill themselves, either personally or professionally. If you have a question, please feel free to ask me anything or leave me a comment.
edX:offers over 3,000 online elearning courses that are partnered with established universities and companies. It offers both self-paced or instructor-paced learning programs.
Udacity: comes with a smaller number of courses around 200. Its courses are focused on gaining skills for careers in the tech and business industry. Although its courses aren’t accredited it is still highly recognized by Industry experts.
LinkedIn Learning: has over 16,000 courses in business, technology and creative skills. Even though it’s not an accredited institution you will receive certificates on completion.
FAQ
Is Coursera worth it?
The simple answer is Yes! Coursera is a legit and a well-renowned platform that offers high-quality courses, specializations and degree programs. It partners with top Universities and Organizations to create its courses and programs. On top of that, it’s a really cost-effective way to get a high-quality education.
Are Coursera certificates worth it?
With all things considered, Yes! If you are looking for a new career path, a promotion at work or just to simply learn a new skill. Its certificates are valued and recognized and provide credibility with future employers.
Are Coursera courses recognised?
When you successfully complete a paid Coursera course or program, you’ll receive a verified certificate. Which may go towards college credits or proof to a future employer you have the skills for a particular job role.
Thanks for your comment Jay. This is helpful for future learners to consider, before choosing a course or learning program 🙂
Harsha
1 month ago
Hey catherine i want to know that any course related to commerce field with no fee I’m pursuing my ug in college I hope you reply this as soon as you possible.
Yes, not only e-commerce subject related to financial accounting are also useful to me and i want certificate courses available for free.
Alex
2 months ago
Do colleges recognize Coursera certificates if you take them as a highschooler?
Doug
2 months ago
I was going to sign up with Coursera to take a few classes and tried to find a phone number to call but none was found and there is no link to send an email. I am skeptical of online services with no way of connecting to someone.
My question is if the classes are live classes or recorded classes that you can review on your own time?
Hey Doug. Thanks for your comment. You can be completely trust Coursera, it is a legitimate Online Learning Platform. All its courses are pre-recorded, so you learn at a time that suits you. If you aren’t ready to financial commitment you can try out one of its free courses here
SATISH KUMAR
4 months ago
Hi, I am college student and also doing course Full stage from coursera but my course deadline is over & now asking for More money to extend deadline. Is there any way to extend deadline without extra fee
Hey Satish. As I am not sure which course you are studying on at Coursera and what the original requirements were. I would say it’s best to reach out to Coursera support to ask them about your specific case. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Lebogang
5 months ago
Hi, is CAPM and PMP couraes offered by cousera accredited by PMI?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Commerce for project management and I would like to study CAPM, or PMP.
And later do Agile Foundation and Practioner.
Hello. Are there courses or certifications for the field of cancer data analyst? I would like to extract data with regards to cancer research. Would there be something available for me with this interest? Thank you
Hey Julie, Thanks for your comment. I checked and these are all the cancer related courses I could find on Coursera . I’m not sure if you will find exactly what you are looking for. My only other suggestion is to reach out to Coursera support to get advised. Good luck 🙂
Abdullah Abadi
8 months ago
What do you recommend, guys, taking psychology courses at Coursera or IAP Career College? I’m not sure. Can anyone help me? Because I have searched of Coursera, and it has a D- grade from the Better Business Bureau. IAP has a high grade from Better Business Bureau.
Hey Abdullah. I would recommend reaching out to the teachers and reading previous students experiences on both courses, to help you decide. Plus if there is an option to audit the courses, you could go ahead and do that to try them out both financially committing. I hope that helps 🙂
Your blog is very useful for those who want to know about “Coursera Review: How Popular Is This Elearning Platform?”, and in this blog you have explained a lot more about” Coursera Review: How Popular Is This Elearning Platform?”. Today, many people are confused about “how to earn college credit online”, but I feel that your blog will put an end to that dilemma.
Hey David, Thanks for your question. There are many factors to consider that include: time, budget, flexibility for your learning experience? Which course are you considering to study? 🙂
Eric
1 year ago
Wouldn’t recommend I was doing my course then on the last test for the course it said I need to subscribe again to finish so when I contacted Coursera they said there was a technical error on there end and ill need to pay twice this month but it shouldn’t happen again and they can’t give me a refund or give me one month free I just have to continue paying for two subscriptions
Hey Eric. Sorry to hear you had this experience with Coursera. Have you been able to resolve it? I have to say I am surprised as my experience with Coursera has always been positive 🙂
anna
1 year ago
I have some problem with my course of HEC Master innovation and Entrepreneurship. I don’t find the answer for the 3rd question of the billing quiz. every answer is wrong. someone can help me? thanks
Hey Anna, Sorry to hear you are having problems with the HEC Master innovation and Entrepreneurship course. The best way for you to get assistance with this is to reach out to Coursera who you can contact here. Good luck 🙂
Kurt Kebschull
1 year ago
I took passed and got a certicate in 2014. But coursera did no tarchive it and i cant get a copy of it. Can anybody help?
Hey Terry. Thanks for your question. Yes, Coursera is a recognized online learning platform. It partners with top Universities and Organizations to create its learning programs and its certificates are recognized my future employers. I hope that helps and happy learning 🙂
Russ
1 year ago
As a Coursera user for the past two years, I can concur with everything in this review. I would add that it’s also wonderful for those of us who simply want to pursue knowledge for its own sake. Anyway, great review and thanks for taking the time to do this.
Hey Eshetie. You can learn for free with Coursera. When you land on the homepage just click ‘Explore’ and then select ‘Take a free course’. I hope you find what you are looking for 🙂
Tauno
1 year ago
Thank you! A very helpful review! I have been using Coursera for 3 years now. I have a bachelors degree in materials science, but I used coursera to learn about Excel, Phyton, Java and computer science in general. Although I did not expect much from it, I added my certificates to my LinkedIn profile and six month ago I got a call from recruiter who asked about Coursera and my experiences and then asked if I am willing to come to a job interview. Ofcourse I was and I got that job. The recruiter told me that although I did… Read more »
Amazing Tauno. So happy for you and for sharing your story. It is so true being self-taught takes not only motivation but self-discipline, which are both key skills in being a successful employee and co-worker 🙂
Nina
1 year ago
Catherine – thank you for this. It has answered several questions I had about this site. I will be retiring at the end of this school year after teaching biology and anatomy/physiology for 32 years. I need to work after retirement because I am a type A and cannot just sit at home, plus I’ll only be 55. I have NO idea what I will do! I stumbled across Coursera and thought I might take the project manager course. But… I seriously don’t know. Any guidance or suggestions would be great! I do have one question – if you audit… Read more »
Hey Nina, Thanks so much for your comment. Happy to hear I am not the only type A out there, 🙂 If you start an audit course with Coursera, you then have the option to upgrade at anytime, which means you will earn the certificate at course completion.
Once you have signed up to Coursera, you will receive an email from them, but you are then free to start browsing and taking courses. Happy learning and good luck with the project manager course.
Cyrus Munuhe
1 year ago
Catherine Cooke you are a darling of insightful info.You have explained everything about Coursera in a professional, unbiased, exhaustive and concise way.Keep up your impartial and succinct reviews. I am currently pursuing some courses on Coursera and I can say I am really enjoying the learning curve.
I sign up and paid $49.00 for a certification course; “Curriculum Development. ” They received my money and I haven’t been able to access the course. You are unable to contact anyone either by phone, email, text, or postal. All I want is to access my course. Receiving a refund is appears to be out of the question. They may be a scam beware.
Sorry to hear this, Cathy. It sounds like it should be something that Coursera can fix, especially since you have paid for the course. I would keep trying to reach out to its Contact page and hopefully, you will be able to resolve this. Good luck 🙂
Kay
2 years ago
I have already graduated from a university with my bachelors, however, I am trying to apply to PA school and there is a prerequisite of into to Psychology, if I enroll in this coursera will I be able to list this as a completion of the intro course and receive a transcript?
Thanks Kay, for your comment. I am not sure which course it is you would like to do. I would suggest it’s best to https://upskillwise.com/out/coursera-contact/, and they should be able to help you and answer any questions on enrolling on particular courses.
fahad
2 years ago
Does Coursera certificates from a university is real?
Hey Fahad. Yes Coursera’s courses are partnered with leading Universities and Companies, meaning that when you successfully complete a course you will have a verified certificate from that University or Company. I hope that helps 🙂
Hey Feroz. Each Coursera course is partnered with a University or Institution, so when you receive your certificate it will be validated from that particular University or Institution. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
Aroush
2 years ago
Hey, If I jump from Coursera to Coursera plus will my progress get lost? and what if I first complete all my courses in Coursera and then go for a plus account for certification …will it work (as I want only 1 month plus subscription but have many courses to cover)
Hey Aroush, Thanks for your message. It is possible to change from Coursera to Coursera Plus. You will need to make sure you cancel any previous subscription (like a single specialization subscription) to ensure you don’t get charged for both and none of your course progress will be impacted by canceling this previous subscription. You can purchase the Coursera Plus monthly for $59. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
Lindsey N Tucker
2 years ago
What computer programs will I need to complete courses? Such as Excel, word etc.
Hey Lindsey, If you are looking to do a course in Excel, then Microsoft Excel is the most popular. It also depends if you use a Mac that is run by Apple operating system or a PC run by windows. What course would you like to do?
Thanks however I’m asking if I need to already have the Excel & other Microsoft programs installed on my computer in order to be able to complete any of the courses. I do not currently have them on my new laptop.
If you are choosing a course which requires those programs then yes you would need to install the Microsoft programs onto your laptop. Good luck and enjoy learning with Coursera 🙂
Hey Joanie. I believe successfully completing some of Coursera’s courses count towards college transfer credits. It would be best to speak to Coursera themselves to confirm this and ask about which particular courses offer this. You can contact Coursera here 🙂
Murari
2 years ago
So you can actually show your certificate in an interview?
Hey Murari, Thanks for your comment. Certificates from Coursera are accredited from Universities and Institutions. If that is something looked for in an interview then yes it something you could show. Good luck with our interviews 🙂
Steve
2 years ago
Course progression is too dependent on peer grading of assignments. I submit all of my assignments early but I’m currently waiting for peer reviews on two of them before I can move on to my next course. I’m taking a four course certificate and I’m ready to move on to the third course but those two assignments are holding me up. Since I pay monthly the faster I complete the course the less I will pay so this will end up costing me an additional month’s fee. I’ve read comments from many others about this same problem. My progress in… Read more »
Hey Steve, Thanks for your comment and for highlighting this out, it is something I have heard from other learners of Coursera as well. I really hope you get feedback from your peers soon, so you aren’t held back any longer. I will make sure to include this in the review and make potential future users aware of this. Good luck and thanks again for sharing 🙂
mack
2 years ago
Taking the Coursera Google IT specialist online course; trying to complete 1st test and the reported score for the exam reflects zero when all answers are correct. Based on course discussion board it’s a known issue. How long does it take for technical issue like this be fixed?
Hey Mack. Sorry to hear you are having issues with the Google IT specialist course. It would be best to contact Coursera themselves here as hopefully, they can give you an indication for when it will be fixed. Good luck 🙂
Reeta Devi
2 years ago
My niece in India is struggling to pay for one of the online courses. Can you please share with me the contact details so I can speak to someone?
Hey Reeta, I am sorry to hear your niece is struggling to pay for one of the online courses. It would be best for you to contact Coursera directly as I only review the platform. Good luck 🙂
Thanks Reeta, for your comment. Yes, it’s a great option for anyone who is unable to pay for a course with a certificate 🙂
Adil Sarwar Sial
2 years ago
Hi. I want to know about having an option to get certification after completion of the course I have already opted availing AUDIT THIS COURSE. Will I be able to get later on at any stage after making payment of the required fee. Awaiting response
Hey Adil. Thanks for your comment. Yes, you are able to pay for a course certificate at any time during or after the course. The only thing you may need to complete is some extra coursework that wasn’t available in the audit version. Happy learning 🙂
Deborah Shea
2 years ago
I need to know if Coursera is certified by the ESTC. If Coursera does have the certification, here in Canada, I can use the tuition as a tax deduction.
Hey Deborah, The coursera platform makes no mention of the ESTC. But I would suggest it is best to contact Coursera directly here just double check. Good luck 🙂
Jawaune McMillan
2 years ago
I want to attend the grant writing course but I don’t want to pay for something that will not prepare me for a job after completion. Will this course fully prepare me for writing grants after completion?
Hey Jawaune. Thanks for your message. Taking any online course will, of course, give you experience and knowledge and get you closer to your professional goal. Sadly, even Coursera can’t guarantee a job after course completion.
Sonia Morales
2 years ago
It is difficult to get peers to review assignments in forums. I am planning just to finish this course and try something else. I did not pay for it and glad I did not because I don’t think I will even get a certificate with the lack of participation by peers.
Hey Sonia, Sorry to hear that there wasn’t participation from peers with reviewing your assignments. I hope in your next chosen course or learning program you have more success 🙂
Thanks for the response. Actually I am very new to Coursera. But after a few more days someone finally graded it. It just takes patience and perseverance. I, on the other hand, am making sure to grade more assignments than asked. Don’t want peers to feel as if their work is not being looked at. Thankfully I have time plus I learn from reviewing assignments too.
Hey Asanda,
Coursera offers a variety of learning programs which vary in length from Courses (4-6 weeks), Specializations (4-6 months), Professional and MasterTrack Certificates (4-6 months) and Online Degrees (1-3 years). Some of its courses are self-paced and others have a start and end date. I hope that helps you decide on the right learning program for you 🙂
fejiro
2 years ago
This is pretty awesome. Recently because of my busy schedule as a blogger, I decided to get a degree from an e-learning platform and Coursera was actually one of the options. With your detailed article, I happen to have grasped a lot and I am relatively confident that Coursera courses will be best for me. This review really is useful and I really must commend hep very simple and easily understandable your diction is. Thanks a lot.
Thanks so much Fejiro for your comment. So happy you found the review helpful and that you choose Coursera to learn with. I will email you regarding your blog 🙂
German
3 years ago
Online Education Is One Of The Best Ways To Study For A Course Or Program Through The Online Process At A Convenient Time. Coursera Is A Free Online Education Institute That Helps People Study Their Dream Course Online. I Like What You Wrote About Coursera. Thanks For The Wonderful Post On Your Blog.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Coursera skills you will gain
Coursera instructor bio
Avoid the courses with peer-review grading… been stuck more than once waiting on someone to thumbs up or down like it’s ancient Rome.
Thanks for your comment Jay. This is helpful for future learners to consider, before choosing a course or learning program 🙂
Hey catherine i want to know that any course related to commerce field with no fee I’m pursuing my ug in college I hope you reply this as soon as you possible.
Hey Harsha. Are you looking for courses related to E-commerce? Are you wanting to study this alongside your college education?
Yes, not only e-commerce subject related to financial accounting are also useful to me and i want certificate courses available for free.
Do colleges recognize Coursera certificates if you take them as a highschooler?
I was going to sign up with Coursera to take a few classes and tried to find a phone number to call but none was found and there is no link to send an email. I am skeptical of online services with no way of connecting to someone.
My question is if the classes are live classes or recorded classes that you can review on your own time?
Hey Doug. Thanks for your comment. You can be completely trust Coursera, it is a legitimate Online Learning Platform. All its courses are pre-recorded, so you learn at a time that suits you. If you aren’t ready to financial commitment you can try out one of its free courses here
Hi, I am college student and also doing course Full stage from coursera but my course deadline is over & now asking for More money to extend deadline. Is there any way to extend deadline without extra fee
Hey Satish. As I am not sure which course you are studying on at Coursera and what the original requirements were. I would say it’s best to reach out to Coursera support to ask them about your specific case. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Hi, is CAPM and PMP couraes offered by cousera accredited by PMI?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Commerce for project management and I would like to study CAPM, or PMP.
And later do Agile Foundation and Practioner.
Nice article.
Thank you Shaker 🙂
Hello. Are there courses or certifications for the field of cancer data analyst? I would like to extract data with regards to cancer research. Would there be something available for me with this interest? Thank you
Hey Julie, Thanks for your comment. I checked and these are all the cancer related courses I could find on Coursera . I’m not sure if you will find exactly what you are looking for. My only other suggestion is to reach out to Coursera support to get advised. Good luck 🙂
What do you recommend, guys, taking psychology courses at Coursera or IAP Career College? I’m not sure. Can anyone help me? Because I have searched of Coursera, and it has a D- grade from the Better Business Bureau. IAP has a high grade from Better Business Bureau.
Hey Abdullah. I would recommend reaching out to the teachers and reading previous students experiences on both courses, to help you decide. Plus if there is an option to audit the courses, you could go ahead and do that to try them out both financially committing. I hope that helps 🙂
Thank you <3 <3 <3
Thank you Gonzalo 🙂
Your blog is very useful for those who want to know about “Coursera Review: How Popular Is This Elearning Platform?”, and in this blog you have explained a lot more about” Coursera Review: How Popular Is This Elearning Platform?”. Today, many people are confused about “how to earn college credit online”, but I feel that your blog will put an end to that dilemma.
Thanks Sriram. Happy you liked the post and it’s helpful for our readers 🙂
Amazing information. I really enjoyed reading this thread
Once I purchase plus subscription? do I need to pay for each course saperately?
So this course will do me no good as I don’t have any degrees??😑
Hey Karen. Which course were you thinking of doing?
Should I study with coursera for 3 months and still study the same course in college for 4 years?
Need advice please
Hey David, Thanks for your question. There are many factors to consider that include: time, budget, flexibility for your learning experience? Which course are you considering to study? 🙂
Wouldn’t recommend I was doing my course then on the last test for the course it said I need to subscribe again to finish so when I contacted Coursera they said there was a technical error on there end and ill need to pay twice this month but it shouldn’t happen again and they can’t give me a refund or give me one month free I just have to continue paying for two subscriptions
Hey Eric. Sorry to hear you had this experience with Coursera. Have you been able to resolve it? I have to say I am surprised as my experience with Coursera has always been positive 🙂
I have some problem with my course of HEC Master innovation and Entrepreneurship. I don’t find the answer for the 3rd question of the billing quiz. every answer is wrong. someone can help me? thanks
Hey Anna, Sorry to hear you are having problems with the HEC Master innovation and Entrepreneurship course. The best way for you to get assistance with this is to reach out to Coursera who you can contact here. Good luck 🙂
I took passed and got a certicate in 2014. But coursera did no tarchive it and i cant get a copy of it. Can anybody help?
Hey Kurt, Thanks for your message. It would be best for you to contact Coursera you can get in touch with them here I hope they are able to help you 🙂
Please is coussra a recognized learning plattform? Ate their certificates internationally recognized?
Hey Terry. Thanks for your question. Yes, Coursera is a recognized online learning platform. It partners with top Universities and Organizations to create its learning programs and its certificates are recognized my future employers. I hope that helps and happy learning 🙂
As a Coursera user for the past two years, I can concur with everything in this review. I would add that it’s also wonderful for those of us who simply want to pursue knowledge for its own sake. Anyway, great review and thanks for taking the time to do this.
Thanks so much, Russ. Really happy you feel the same way about Coursera as I do 🙂
You’re welcome. I see it as the wave of the future (or present) in education.
awesome
Thanks Saima 🙂
I wants to learn free coursera course
Hey Eshetie. You can learn for free with Coursera. When you land on the homepage just click ‘Explore’ and then select ‘Take a free course’. I hope you find what you are looking for 🙂
Thank you! A very helpful review! I have been using Coursera for 3 years now. I have a bachelors degree in materials science, but I used coursera to learn about Excel, Phyton, Java and computer science in general. Although I did not expect much from it, I added my certificates to my LinkedIn profile and six month ago I got a call from recruiter who asked about Coursera and my experiences and then asked if I am willing to come to a job interview. Ofcourse I was and I got that job. The recruiter told me that although I did… Read more »
Amazing Tauno. So happy for you and for sharing your story. It is so true being self-taught takes not only motivation but self-discipline, which are both key skills in being a successful employee and co-worker 🙂
Catherine – thank you for this. It has answered several questions I had about this site. I will be retiring at the end of this school year after teaching biology and anatomy/physiology for 32 years. I need to work after retirement because I am a type A and cannot just sit at home, plus I’ll only be 55. I have NO idea what I will do! I stumbled across Coursera and thought I might take the project manager course. But… I seriously don’t know. Any guidance or suggestions would be great! I do have one question – if you audit… Read more »
Hey Nina, Thanks so much for your comment. Happy to hear I am not the only type A out there, 🙂 If you start an audit course with Coursera, you then have the option to upgrade at anytime, which means you will earn the certificate at course completion.
Once you have signed up to Coursera, you will receive an email from them, but you are then free to start browsing and taking courses. Happy learning and good luck with the project manager course.
Catherine Cooke you are a darling of insightful info.You have explained everything about Coursera in a professional, unbiased, exhaustive and concise way.Keep up your impartial and succinct reviews. I am currently pursuing some courses on Coursera and I can say I am really enjoying the learning curve.
Thank you, Cyrus, for your comment. So happy you are enjoying learning with Coursera and getting so much out of them 🙂
It is piqued your interest, not peeked.
Thanks Jerry. This was always one that confused 🙂
I sign up and paid $49.00 for a certification course; “Curriculum Development. ” They received my money and I haven’t been able to access the course. You are unable to contact anyone either by phone, email, text, or postal. All I want is to access my course. Receiving a refund is appears to be out of the question. They may be a scam beware.
Sorry to hear this, Cathy. It sounds like it should be something that Coursera can fix, especially since you have paid for the course. I would keep trying to reach out to its Contact page and hopefully, you will be able to resolve this. Good luck 🙂
I have already graduated from a university with my bachelors, however, I am trying to apply to PA school and there is a prerequisite of into to Psychology, if I enroll in this coursera will I be able to list this as a completion of the intro course and receive a transcript?
Thanks Kay, for your comment. I am not sure which course it is you would like to do. I would suggest it’s best to https://upskillwise.com/out/coursera-contact/, and they should be able to help you and answer any questions on enrolling on particular courses.
Does Coursera certificates from a university is real?
Hey Fahad. Yes Coursera’s courses are partnered with leading Universities and Companies, meaning that when you successfully complete a course you will have a verified certificate from that University or Company. I hope that helps 🙂
Hi ,
How is the certification in any course works
Hey Feroz. Each Coursera course is partnered with a University or Institution, so when you receive your certificate it will be validated from that particular University or Institution. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
Hey, If I jump from Coursera to Coursera plus will my progress get lost? and what if I first complete all my courses in Coursera and then go for a plus account for certification …will it work (as I want only 1 month plus subscription but have many courses to cover)
Hey Aroush, Thanks for your message. It is possible to change from Coursera to Coursera Plus. You will need to make sure you cancel any previous subscription (like a single specialization subscription) to ensure you don’t get charged for both and none of your course progress will be impacted by canceling this previous subscription. You can purchase the Coursera Plus monthly for $59. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
What computer programs will I need to complete courses? Such as Excel, word etc.
Hey Lindsey, If you are looking to do a course in Excel, then Microsoft Excel is the most popular. It also depends if you use a Mac that is run by Apple operating system or a PC run by windows. What course would you like to do?
Thanks however I’m asking if I need to already have the Excel & other Microsoft programs installed on my computer in order to be able to complete any of the courses. I do not currently have them on my new laptop.
If you are choosing a course which requires those programs then yes you would need to install the Microsoft programs onto your laptop. Good luck and enjoy learning with Coursera 🙂
Hey how can I apply
Hey Emma. You can sign up to Coursera by clicking here. It is a really easy and straightforward sign up. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
Are Coursera courses worth units/credits? I need 6 units to advance my credential.
Hey Joanie. I believe successfully completing some of Coursera’s courses count towards college transfer credits. It would be best to speak to Coursera themselves to confirm this and ask about which particular courses offer this. You can contact Coursera here 🙂
So you can actually show your certificate in an interview?
Hey Murari, Thanks for your comment. Certificates from Coursera are accredited from Universities and Institutions. If that is something looked for in an interview then yes it something you could show. Good luck with our interviews 🙂
Course progression is too dependent on peer grading of assignments. I submit all of my assignments early but I’m currently waiting for peer reviews on two of them before I can move on to my next course. I’m taking a four course certificate and I’m ready to move on to the third course but those two assignments are holding me up. Since I pay monthly the faster I complete the course the less I will pay so this will end up costing me an additional month’s fee. I’ve read comments from many others about this same problem. My progress in… Read more »
Hey Steve, Thanks for your comment and for highlighting this out, it is something I have heard from other learners of Coursera as well. I really hope you get feedback from your peers soon, so you aren’t held back any longer. I will make sure to include this in the review and make potential future users aware of this. Good luck and thanks again for sharing 🙂
Taking the Coursera Google IT specialist online course; trying to complete 1st test and the reported score for the exam reflects zero when all answers are correct. Based on course discussion board it’s a known issue. How long does it take for technical issue like this be fixed?
Hey Mack. Sorry to hear you are having issues with the Google IT specialist course. It would be best to contact Coursera themselves here as hopefully, they can give you an indication for when it will be fixed. Good luck 🙂
My niece in India is struggling to pay for one of the online courses. Can you please share with me the contact details so I can speak to someone?
Hey Reeta, I am sorry to hear your niece is struggling to pay for one of the online courses. It would be best for you to contact Coursera directly as I only review the platform. Good luck 🙂
Try Financial Aid, it takes 2 weeks to get approved but its all paid for
Thanks Reeta, for your comment. Yes, it’s a great option for anyone who is unable to pay for a course with a certificate 🙂
Hi. I want to know about having an option to get certification after completion of the course I have already opted availing AUDIT THIS COURSE. Will I be able to get later on at any stage after making payment of the required fee. Awaiting response
Hey Adil. Thanks for your comment. Yes, you are able to pay for a course certificate at any time during or after the course. The only thing you may need to complete is some extra coursework that wasn’t available in the audit version. Happy learning 🙂
I need to know if Coursera is certified by the ESTC. If Coursera does have the certification, here in Canada, I can use the tuition as a tax deduction.
Hey Deborah, The coursera platform makes no mention of the ESTC. But I would suggest it is best to contact Coursera directly here just double check. Good luck 🙂
I want to attend the grant writing course but I don’t want to pay for something that will not prepare me for a job after completion. Will this course fully prepare me for writing grants after completion?
Hey Jawaune. Thanks for your message. Taking any online course will, of course, give you experience and knowledge and get you closer to your professional goal. Sadly, even Coursera can’t guarantee a job after course completion.
It is difficult to get peers to review assignments in forums. I am planning just to finish this course and try something else. I did not pay for it and glad I did not because I don’t think I will even get a certificate with the lack of participation by peers.
Hey Sonia, Sorry to hear that there wasn’t participation from peers with reviewing your assignments. I hope in your next chosen course or learning program you have more success 🙂
Thanks for the response. Actually I am very new to Coursera. But after a few more days someone finally graded it. It just takes patience and perseverance. I, on the other hand, am making sure to grade more assignments than asked. Don’t want peers to feel as if their work is not being looked at. Thankfully I have time plus I learn from reviewing assignments too.
Delighted to hear your assignment was graded by a peer. It is so true, by reviewing other learners work you will learn a lot. Happy learning 🙂
Hey, I read this article about Coursera and I want to say that this review is really helping me understand about the Coursera and courses
Thank you, Prince. I am pleased you have a better understanding of Coursera and its courses. Happy learning 🙂
How long does it take to obtain a qualification on Coursera? Thanks in advance x
Hey Asanda,
Coursera offers a variety of learning programs which vary in length from Courses (4-6 weeks), Specializations (4-6 months), Professional and MasterTrack Certificates (4-6 months) and Online Degrees (1-3 years). Some of its courses are self-paced and others have a start and end date. I hope that helps you decide on the right learning program for you 🙂
This is pretty awesome. Recently because of my busy schedule as a blogger, I decided to get a degree from an e-learning platform and Coursera was actually one of the options. With your detailed article, I happen to have grasped a lot and I am relatively confident that Coursera courses will be best for me. This review really is useful and I really must commend hep very simple and easily understandable your diction is. Thanks a lot.
Thanks so much Fejiro for your comment. So happy you found the review helpful and that you choose Coursera to learn with. I will email you regarding your blog 🙂
Online Education Is One Of The Best Ways To Study For A Course Or Program Through The Online Process At A Convenient Time. Coursera Is A Free Online Education Institute That Helps People Study Their Dream Course Online. I Like What You Wrote About Coursera. Thanks For The Wonderful Post On Your Blog.
Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Hi nice website
Thank you.