<bi-shortcode id="disclaimer" class="mceNonEditable" data-type="insiderpicks"> </bi-shortcode><p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/60118beb1d2df20018b71193-1667/FutureLearn 4x3.png" border="0" alt="FutureLearn 4x3" data-mce-source="FutureLearn; Insider"></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><ul class="summary-list"><li>Like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/edx-overview-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">edX</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-coursera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coursera</a>, <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">FutureLearn</a> offers a wide range of online courses and programs from top universities and organizations.</li><li>Many short courses are completely free to audit, while longer programs can cost anywhere from $39 a month to about $1,000 for a certificate. FutureLearn also offers a number of online degrees.</li><li>Below are answers to some common FAQs about <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">FutureLearn</a>, including differences between programs and how much courses cost.</li><li><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-coursera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Everything you need to know about Coursera</a></li></ul><bi-shortcode id="table-of-contents-sticky" class="mceNonEditable" data-type="h2">Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky</bi-shortcode><p>Like popular e-learning platforms <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/edx-overview-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">edX</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-coursera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coursera</a>, <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">FutureLearn</a> provides virtual, flexible, and more affordable access to top universities such as <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners%2Fjohns-hopkins-university" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Johns Hopkins</a> and <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners%2Fumich" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">the University of Michigan</a>, as well as brands and organizations such as Amnesty International and Samsung. And, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/edx-micromaster-vs-coursera-mastertrack-online-masters-programs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">like edX and Coursera</a>, FutureLearn offers a wide range of free courses, certificate programs, and even degrees, granting students the ability to gain short-course credentials or work their way towards a cheaper master's.</p><p>One way FutureLearn stands out is the schools it works withbecause it's a UK-based platform, many of the offerings include top British and global universities like <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners%2Fucl" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">the University College London (UCL)</a>, <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners%2Funiversity-of-cape-town" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">the University of Cape Town</a>, <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners%2Foslo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">the University of Oslo</a>, and <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners%2Fhanyang-university" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Hanyang University</a>, among <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fpartners" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">many others</a>. This can provide access to more specific coursework, such as a free course on <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fcourses%2Fdigital-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">how digital technologies affect our wellbeing</a> from the University of York or a master's from the University of Glasgow in <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fdegrees%2Funiversity-of-glasgow%2Fend-of-life-studies" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">End of Life Studies</a>.</p><p>And for those who aspire to one day study outside the US, browsing FutureLearn's courses can help you get more acquainted with a particular school and its specialties before you decide to apply. </p><p>Below, we've outlined the differences between FutureLearn courses and programs (including cost). We also included some of FutureLearn's popular online classes.</p><h2><strong>Are any FutureLearn courses free'</strong></h2><p>Yes. FutureLearn offers a range of <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fcourses" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">short courses</a> you can join and audit completely free of charge. However, access to the free version of courses ends after five weeks and doesn't include tests, grades, or a certificate of completion. For most courses, you will have to pay to upgrade to get unlimited access to the course material and a certificate (typically between $39-$89, depending on the course). Also important to note: courses that are part of longer programs can't be audited for free.</p><p>There are also a few free longer <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fprograms" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">programs</a>, such as <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fprograms%2Fcultureandheritage" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Exploring Culture and Heritage</a> and <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fprograms%2Fux-design-and-research" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">UX Design and Research</a> that let you audit individual courses for free.</p><p>The only other free option is a 7-day trial with <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fexperttracks" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">ExpertTrack courses</a>, after which you would have to pay a $39 fee each month to continue learning (similar to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-coursera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coursera's model</a>).</p><h2>How much do FutureLearn programs cost'</h2><p>Depending on the course or program you choose (see below), completing FutureLearn coursework can range from being completely free to costing a little over $1,000. This doesn't include official master's or graduate certificates, which don't have prices listed.</p><h2>What is the difference between a FutureLearn short course certificate, ExpertTrack, Microcredential, academic program, and online degree'</h2><p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fcourses" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>Short courses</strong></a> are one-off courses in a specific subject, typically lasting between 2-4 weeks. To gain a certificate (and access to grades), you simply need to pay to upgrade from the free version. If you pass the class, a certificate can be added to your resume or LinkedIn profile. <strong>One benefit of short courses is that you can browse or audit most of them for free before you commit to a certificate.</strong></p><p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fexperttracks" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>ExpertTracks</strong></a>, which can last anywhere between 8-22 weeks, group several connected short courses together to provide more in-depth training in a subject such as <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fexperttracks%2Fprogramming-essentials-with-python" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Python</a> or <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fexperttracks%2Ffintech-innovations" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">fintech</a>. They can be accessed for free with a 7-day trial, then cost $39 a month to keep learning, <strong>so the faster you finish them, the more money you save.</strong> Once you complete and pass an ExpertTrack, you will also get a digital certificate to share on LinkedIn or with employers.</p><p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fprograms" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>Microcredentials</strong></a> are similar to ExpertTracks, except <strong>they're more focused on building in-demand skills and can't be tested out with a free trial.</strong> They can cost anywhere from $639 to $1,134, with most of them closer to $1,000.</p><p>There are also a few <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fprograms" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>academic programs</strong></a> on FutureLearn, such as <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fprograms%2Fdigital-media-analytics" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Digital Media Analytics at Purdue University</a>, which grant you the ability to<strong> apply your paid certification for credit hours</strong> <strong>towards a master's degree</strong> (each program has its own specifications).</p><p>Lastly, <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fdegrees" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>online degrees</strong></a> through FutureLearn offer a variety of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-graduate-certificate-vs-masters-degree-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">master's degrees and graduate certificates</a>, with more flexibility than at an in-person university (for example, you can earn a degree from a UK school even if you don't live in the UK). <strong>Prices aren't listed, though</strong>you'll need to request more information about a specific program to find the tuition cost.</p><h2>What is FutureLearn Unlimited'</h2><p>Similar to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coursera-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coursera Plus</a>, FutureLearn also offers an annual subscription called <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink'id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&mid=42801&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Funlimited" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">FutureLearn Unlimited</a> that gives you access to unlimited short courses (including certificates of completion for each one you finish and pass). <strong>It costs $279.99 for the year</strong>, and can be a good option if you see yourself taking multiple short courses and want the flexibility of finishing them on your own time. </p><p>Unlimited doesn't cover ExpertTracks, Microcredentials, or online degrees.</p><h2><strong>Browse some of FutureLearn's most popular free short online courses below:</strong></h2><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108a18116ff90011e92cc8" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108abec4d16c0012c2a9af" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108b66116ff90011e92ccf" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108bcb7f8c460012bc5c2f" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108c0b7f8c460012bc5c32" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108c567f8c460012bc5c35" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108c996d8fcd0011db0910" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="60108cdd6d8fcd0011db0913" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="medium" data-pid="601090137f8c460012bc5c4c" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (medium)</bi-shortcode><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-futurelearn-overview-faq-free-courses#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p>
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