Coursera Review: How Popular Is This Elearning Platform?

Catherine Cooke

2 October, 2023

Coursera

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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?

Coursera New Banner

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.

Partnered Universities & Organizations

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.

> Try out Free Courses

Guided Projects

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.

> Explore Guided Projects

Specializations

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.

> Check out Specializations

Professional Certificates

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.

Coursera Professional Certificates

Coursera Professional Certificate

> Explore Professional Certificates

MasterTrack Certificate

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.

> Check out MasterTrack Certificates

Degrees

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.

> Explore Coursera Degrees

Coursera Collaborate Universities and Companies

Coursera Partners

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.

Coursera for business

Coursera for business

> Check out Coursera for business here

Coursera for teams

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 teams

Coursera for teams

> Check out Coursera for teams here

Coursera for Campus

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

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.

> Check out Coursera for campus here

How Much Are Coursera Courses Really?

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.

Coursera Purchase Course

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.

Coursera free courses

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.

Coursera Guided Projects

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.

MasterTrack Certificates

The MasterTrack Certificates start at $2,000 and can take between 4–7 months. Its focus is to earn a university-issued certificate and credit towards a degree.

Degrees

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 Subscription

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)

Coursera Plus Pricing

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

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:

Coursera Sign up

Coursera sign up

  1. Open a browser and visit www.coursera.org
  2. Click Join for Free in the top-right corner
  3. Add your Full Name, Email and Create a Password (or use Google or Facebook)
  4. 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

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:

  1. Open your My Purchases page
  2. Find the course or Coursera Plus subscription that you want to refund
  3. 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.

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.

Coursera Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

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

> Check out Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

7 Tips To Find The Perfect Coursera Course

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.

Coursera filter

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

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

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 gainCoursera 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

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

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

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 bioCoursera 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

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

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.

CriteriaComment
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.

The cost of Coursera courses varies widely depending on which type of course you choose.

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

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.

> Check out Coursera’s courses here

Is Coursera Legit?

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.

Anyways, Coursera is legit and it’s safe to use, you won’t be scammed.

Coursera Partnerships

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.

> Become a Coursera Partner here

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.

> Become a Project Instructor here

Last Thoughts: Is Coursera Worth It?

Ok, so let’s summarise why Coursera is worth it.

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

06/14/23 – Coursera Plus Promo

05/26/23 – Coursera Total Updated

05/08/23 – Coursera Pros & Cons Updated

04/11/23 – Coursera Pros & Cons Updated

03/28/23 – Coursera Pros & Cons Updated

03/14/23 – FAQ: Is Coursera worth it?

02/27/23 – Coursera Plus Updated

02/07/23 – Coursera Professional Certificates

12/19/22 – Coursera Refund Policy

12/18/22 – Coursera Verdict Updated

11/24/22 – Who Is Coursera For? Updated

09/15/22 – How much are Coursera Courses?

08/18/22 – Coursera Business & Teams

08/05/22 – General Update

02/09/22 – My Coursera Experience

11/23/21 – Is Coursera Recognized & Accredited?

08/22/21 – Most Popular Coursera Courses

08/19/21 – Who is Coursera for?

07/15/21 – Coursera Free Courses

03/24/21 Coursera Partnerships

Catherine Cooke

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.

Alternatives

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.

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Jay
Jay
8 days ago

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.

Harsha
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.

Harsha
Harsha
1 month ago

Yes, not only e-commerce subject related to financial accounting are also useful to me and i want certificate courses available for free.

Alex
Alex
2 months ago

Do colleges recognize Coursera certificates if you take them as a highschooler?

Doug
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?

SATISH KUMAR
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

Lebogang
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.

shaker ameen
shaker ameen
6 months ago

Nice article.

Julie
Julie
7 months ago

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

Abdullah Abadi
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.

Gonzalo
Gonzalo
10 months ago

Thank you <3 <3 <3

Sriram
Sriram
11 months ago

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.

Umair Ahmad
Umair Ahmad
11 months ago

Amazing information. I really enjoyed reading this thread

sadiq
sadiq
11 months ago

Once I purchase plus subscription? do I need to pay for each course saperately?

Karen c
Karen c
1 year ago

So this course will do me no good as I don’t have any degrees??😑

Boama David
Boama David
1 year ago

Should I study with coursera for 3 months and still study the same course in college for 4 years?
Need advice please

Eric
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

anna
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

Kurt Kebschull
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?

Terry
Terry
1 year ago

Please is coussra a recognized learning plattform? Ate their certificates internationally recognized?

Russ
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.

Russ
Russ
1 year ago

You’re welcome. I see it as the wave of the future (or present) in education.

saima
saima
1 year ago

awesome

Eshetie Gobie
Eshetie Gobie
1 year ago

I wants to learn free coursera course

Tauno
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 »

Nina
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 »

Cyrus Munuhe
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.

Jerry
Jerry
1 year ago

It is piqued your interest, not peeked.

Cathy
Cathy
1 year ago

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.

Kay
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?

fahad
fahad
2 years ago

Does Coursera certificates from a university is real?

Feroz
Feroz
2 years ago

Hi ,

How is the certification in any course works

Aroush
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)

Lindsey N Tucker
Lindsey N Tucker
2 years ago

What computer programs will I need to complete courses? Such as Excel, word etc.

Lindsey
Lindsey
2 years ago

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.

Emma Adhiambo
Emma Adhiambo
2 years ago

Hey how can I apply

Joanie
Joanie
2 years ago

Are Coursera courses worth units/credits? I need 6 units to advance my credential.

Murari
Murari
2 years ago

So you can actually show your certificate in an interview?

Steve
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 »

mack
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?

Reeta Devi
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?

S-M
S-M
2 years ago
Reply to  Reeta Devi

Try Financial Aid, it takes 2 weeks to get approved but its all paid for

Adil Sarwar Sial
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

Deborah Shea
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.

Jawaune McMillan
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?

Sonia Morales
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.

Sonia Morales
Sonia Morales
2 years ago

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.

Prince
Prince
2 years ago

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

Asanda
Asanda
2 years ago

How long does it take to obtain a qualification on Coursera? Thanks in advance x

fejiro
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.

German
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.

Hi nice website
Hi nice website
3 years ago

Hi nice website

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