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9 Free Online Courses & Websites for Career Growth

Education & Training

As you try to make your way back in the professional world, this is a list of some great free resources that will help you get there. Regardless of age, many of these online programs can help you find a full time position or even make you kick start a freelancing career. Hope you find something relevant suiting your needs and goals.

9 Best Free Online Courses for Career Growth:

  1. Free Online Courses & Degrees (Harvard University)

If you dream about getting educated from one of the top universities then you should definitely check these series of programs. Learn from the experts and faculty who are always engaged in teaching and research to push the boundaries of human knowledge. You can choose to ‘audit the course’ for free or receive the verified certificate for a small fee. Take your pick from the likes of CS50, Neuroscience, Contract Law, Calculus, modern China’s foundations, humanitarian response to conflict and disaster, introduction to data-wise and much more.

Key USPs (Unique Selling Points):
– Cover your chosen topic in-depth with relevant case studies, interactive examples and more.
– Get hands-on with the exercises and assignments.
– Explore possible career paths relevant to the program.
– Clarify your doubts by interacting with your peers and instructors.
– There is no prerequisite to enroll in the beginner level classes.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

  1. Free UC Berkeley Certifications (UC Berkeley)

Ever since being established in 1868, The University of California has been committed to innovation in teaching and learning. UC Berkeley marks this commitment by facilitating online education initiatives including online degree programs, credit and non-credit courses, and MOOC projects. Some of the courses offered by Berkeley online include Marketing Analytics, Journalism, English Literature, Quantum mechanics, and Statistics. Quality courses from UC Berkeley are now available for students to benefit from all over the world. Dive in to find an abundance of knowledge waiting for you on the other side.

Key USPs:
– Highest quality education now available online
– Most programs are free to audit, you may pay if you want a certificate
– Available on leading e-learning platform edX
– Choose from a variety of subjects

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

  1. Free Online Courses on LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)

One of the widest range of courses and classes can be found online for free on LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com). You will get to learn the most in-demand tech, management and creative skills from industry experts which will help you add value to your work while helping you grow in your career. A lot of people know LinkedIn Learning as the erstwhile Lynda.com, which had famously captured the mind and attention of e-learning lovers all over the world. After being taken over by LinkedIn, Lynda has now been rebranded as LinkedIn Learning.

Key USPs:
– Thousands of courses to choose from across diverse set of domains like business, technology, data science, marketing and much more
– All courses are effectively free since the first month on the platform is a trial period. So you can enroll in and complete any course of your choice at zero cost
– Thousands of skilled instructors from prestigious organizations and universities have created these courses, so you get top-notch quality
– It comes with the backing and support of LinkedIn Platform, so you can easily add skills to your profile, thus increasing your chances of finding a better job / better opportunity
– The option of ‘view offline’ allows you to attend classes without the internet and on the go.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

  1. Free Certification Courses (Stanford University)

What seems to still be a secret for many is the fact that almost all programs on global university training partner Coursera are now available for free, for a short duration that is. This includes courses from Stanford University among a host of other famous universities and colleges globally. What matters here is the part that you can simply choose a training program you seem to have a liking for, and then enroll to it at no cost, and evaluate the same by yourself. If after a few days you like it enough you can pay and continue further, otherwise, you can not pay and enjoy the free content while it lasts. Sounds like a sweet deal to us! On Coursera, you will find free business certifications, free online training courses, free it certifications and much more. You may also want to check out the list of the Best Coursera Certifications.

Key USPs:
– The beginner level programs do not need any prerequisite.
– Lessons are designed with an increasing level of difficulty.
– Understand the significance of the topics covered and its impact on the real world.
– Complete guidance is provided to configure and install the necessary tools.
– The flexible deadlines allow you to learn at your own pace.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

  1. Free Coding Courses

Digital Defynd has compiled a list of some of the best free to use coding classes available online. This is one of the best options if you want to build a strong fundamental of coding. It includes courses from Codecademy, edX, Coursera, Datacamp and many other course providers that specialize in this field. The lessons do not only focus on the theory and syntax but practical learning as well. So get started with writing working code from the very first lectures which will give you the confidence in the techniques and methods covered in the videos.

Key USPs:
– No prior experience is required for enrolment.
– Write code and get instant feedback so that you always know that you are on the right track.
– Apply your knowledge to real-world projects and test your knowledge with tailor-made quizzes.
– All courses are available free of cost

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

  1. Free Online Courses (Khan Academy)

The courses on this non-profit platform are primarily aimed to provide free world-class education to students. Get guidance to gain a better understanding of your coursework, complete your homework and prepare for your advanced placement examinations. There are lectures on an array of subjects such as mathematics, science, computing, arts and humanities, economics and finance, test prep.

Key USPs:
– The beginner level programs do not need any prior experience.
– Personalized learning experience allows you to practice at your own pace.
– Fill in the gaps in your understanding and then accelerate your learning.
– Lectures cover math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, SAT and more.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

  1. Lessons worth Sharing (TedEd Courses)

One hidden gem not many know about is TedEd. Yes, that’s the same famous TED, but in this case, its a collection of best courses and lessons to help everybody learn. You will find interesting lessons on topics such as Business & Economics, Literature & Language, Mathematics, Philosophy & Religion, Social Studies and even Teaching & Education.

Key USPs:
– Includes subjects like Business & Economics, Literature & Language, Philosophy & Religion among others
– Lot of crisp short term video tutorials to help you get a quick grasp on a subject
– Hundreds of contributors from all over the world have created courses on the platform
– Includes the TED-Ed Clubs program that helps students discover, explore and present big ideas in TED-style talks

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

  1. Free Online Learning (Alison)

If you want to gain critical knowledge of individual concepts within a field then these programs will help you with that. The certifications include an abundance of subjects such as languages, media studies, journalism, public relations, health and fitness, business studies, computer programming, networking and much more! Use the search bar, career guide to find out the best choices for your chosen field.

Key USPs:
– Learn from over 1000 high-quality certifications available across 9 distinct categories all of which are absolutely free to complete.
– Designed by subject matter experts all the content is self-paced.
– Interactive and enriching learning experience.
– Filter down options based on categories, course type, level and feature, and learning area.

Rating: 4.4 out of 5

  1. Online Programs (MIT Open Courseware)
    This is the online hub of resources, materials, and videos on all various disciplines created by some of the world’s best academic and industrial experts. Explore topics as well as interdisciplinary subjects such as chemistry, calculus, entrepreneurship, energy, transportation, introduction to programming and life science. By the end of your chosen class, you will be proficient in the concepts covered and be ready to apply them in industrial scenarios.

Key USPs:
– Choose from the collection of free classes, audio/video lectures and more.
– Use supplementary resources, and online textbooks to enhance the learning experience.
– Complete the graded assessments, assignments and pass the examinations to complete the certifications.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

So that was our compilation of some of the best free websites where you can enhance and upgrade your skills with Free Online Certifications. I hope one or more of them helped you find what you were looking for. We wish you happy learning and hope that you keep growing.

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