Top Canadian universities put some of their courses online for anyone in the world to take, free of charge. You learn at your own pace, from home, with no application, no IELTS and no deadline.
Here are 12 good ones to start with.
Free to learn, but check the certificate
| Platform |
Learning |
Certificate |
| McGill (own website) |
Free |
Free attestation of completion |
| edX |
Free to audit |
Paid ("verified certificate") |
| Coursera |
Free to audit on most courses |
Paid, but financial aid is available |
Audit means you can watch the lessons and read the materials without paying. On Coursera, look for the Financial aid available link on the course page if you want the certificate but can't afford it.
1. Personal Finance Essentials (McGill University)
Budgeting, borrowing, saving, investing and buying a home. Takes a few hours, in English or French. Completing all the modules earns a free McGill attestation of completion.
Enrol: https://mcgillpersonalfinance.com/
University of British Columbia (UBC) on edX
- Excel for Everyone: Core Foundations: the Excel skills almost every job asks for
- How to Code: Simple Data: a beginner-friendly start to programming
- Business Foundations: an introduction to how businesses work
- Introduction to Marketing: branding, customers and strategy
- Climate Change: The Science: what's really happening to the climate
- Introduction to Quantum Computing: for curious science students
Find them here: https://www.edx.org/school/ubcx
University of Alberta on Coursera
- Indigenous Canada: Indigenous histories and perspectives in Canada, 12 modules. Rated 4.8 by over 23,000 learners.
- Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology: one of the most popular science courses online
- Astro 101: Black Holes: an introduction to astronomy
Find them here: https://www.coursera.org/ualberta
University of Toronto on Coursera
- Introduction to Psychology: how we think, feel and behave
Find it here: https://www.coursera.org/utoronto
McMaster University on Coursera
- Learning How to Learn: proven techniques to study smarter, co-created with UC San Diego. Very useful before exams or a master's degree.
Find it here: https://www.coursera.org/mcmaster
How to enrol
- Open the link for the course you want.
- Create a free account on the platform: McGill's site, edX or Coursera.
- Choose the free / audit option. Don't click "Buy" or "Subscribe" unless you want a paid certificate.
- On Coursera, if you want the certificate, click Financial aid available and fill in the form.
Tips
- Pick one or two courses and finish them, rather than starting ten.
- Add completed courses to your CV and LinkedIn under "Courses" or "Certifications".
- Online courses from known universities show initiative on scholarship applications, especially if they relate to the course you're applying for.