You are curious and always hungry for knowledge.
I believe everyone enjoys learning something new. Everyone has their own interests when it comes to learning. I’m passionate about coding, AI, tech, and much more… including (neuroscience, biology, and machine learning).
But others might prefer to learn history, dance, music, sports, etc. One of the most enjoyable discoveries I made as a BSc student is that there are so many free learning platforms to take online courses to learn anything.
Of course, these do not replace formal education like degrees, but rather complement it.
Evolution has given us a powerful brain to learn things quickly.
Here are the five best free learning platforms to take advantage of that.
1. OpenLearn
First nice discovery.
While searching for a free learning platform, I came across OpenLearn from the Open University. It offers a wide range of free online courses in subjects ranging from arts to technology.
The best part? There’s no need to create an account to access the content, making it one of the best free learning platforms for quick, hassle-free learning.
Although it doesn’t offer free certification, the knowledge gained from it is invaluable.
2. Khan Academy
Another great discovery.
The first thing I liked about Khan Academy is that when logging in or creating an account, it asks for your age range (kid, teen, adult, etc.). Based on this, they suggest personalized learning plans and courses for you.
This learning platform is a great place to start, especially if you’re in high school. Also, Khan Academy offers many courses, and the courses about math are really helpful.
3. YouTube
This platform is underrated.
I once thought YouTube was just a place for entertainment. But I was so wrong. It’s crazy how many free courses are available online. And here I mean free courses from experts in their field, top companies, universities around the world, etc.
There are some of the best free online courses for everyone (children, adults, etc.).
All you have to do is type about your favorite topic in the search bar and you will definitely find a great resource.
I’m a huge fan of freeCodeCamp.org! They have amazing courses on all things tech-related – programming languages, ML, game engines, web development, data engineering, and more.
My recommendations:
MIT Open Courseware (lectures from MIT).
4. Edx
We are heading towards the top.
EdX was a great discovery. If I told you that you could take free courses online from universities like Harvard or MIT, how would you feel? I was extremely happy when I found out about this.
And no, this is not clickbait.
You only pay for the certificate. Then you are free to choose. Also, note that many courses are available for free on specific dates. You can not enroll at any time.
5. Coursera
This platform can literally change your life.
I discovered Coursera a year ago in 2024, and it immediately caught my attention. As a person hungry for knowledge, especially in biology and programming, I was very happy to find a platform that offers courses from top universities and companies.
I am particularly interested in courses such as “Circadian Rhythms” taught by the German university LMU, “Data Analytics” by Google, and “Machine Learning Specialization” taught by Andrew Ng at Stanford University. These courses align perfectly with my learning goals and career aspirations.
What I like about Coursera is that most of the courses are free to audit, which means I can access the content without paying. If I want to get a certificate, there is a fee for it, but still, Coursera offers financial aid to those who need it.
Final Thought
Imagine a world where education has no boundaries – where cost and location are no barriers, and the adventure of learning becomes a lifelong endeavor.
That’s the promise of free learning platforms. They’re not just tools; they’re vibrant communities of dreamers, doers, and explorers, driven by a love of knowledge.
Whether you’re looking for a new skill, career advancement or simply the joy of discovery, these platforms invite you to join them on the journey.