How to Enroll in Coursera Courses for Free?

How to Audit a Coursera Course for Free 📝

If you’re looking to take a Coursera course for free, here’s a quick guide on how to access courses without paying:

1️⃣ Find the Audit Option:

To audit a course for free, you need to visit the individual course page. Look for the “Audit the course” option.

This option is not available on Specialization, MasterTrack, or Professional Certificate pages. You’ll need to navigate to the individual course page first.

2️⃣ Free Courses with Assessments:

Some courses offer free access to all content, including assessments (but no certificate). Simply select “Full Course, No Certificate.”

3️⃣ Paid-Only Courses:

Some courses are only available via payment. Look for the green $ symbol on the Class Central page to identify these courses.

4️⃣ Financial Aid:

If you’re unable to pay but still want a certificate, Coursera offers financial aid for most courses. You can apply for this option directly on the course page.

Can You Still Get a Coursera Certificate for Free?

In Coursera’s early days, certificates were free upon completion of courses. However, that’s no longer the case. While you can no longer get a free certificate, you can still audit many courses for free or apply for financial aid if you need a certificate but can’t afford to pay.

What If the Audit Link Is Not Visible?

Here’s what to do:

1️⃣ Find the Individual Course Page:

You cannot sign up for free through Specialization or Professional Certificate pages. Instead, scroll down to the list of courses within the Specialization. Click on the individual course name to access its page.

2️⃣ Search for the Course:

If the course names are not clickable on the Specialization page, simply copy the course name and paste it into the search bar on Coursera or on Class Central. This will help you find the individual course page where you can audit for free.

3️⃣ Enroll and Audit:

Once on the course page, click the Enroll button and look for the Audit link to join for free.

🔎 Tip: If the course is part of more than one Specialization or Professional Certificate, you may see a pop-up. Simply click “Next” or use the dropdown to select the program.