- National STEM Day 2025: Free STEM courses are now available to everyone with an internet connection, opening doors to high-quality learning from the comfort of home.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills have become essential for anyone seeking to thrive in a tech-driven job market. However, gaining expertise in these fields does not necessarily require expensive degrees or exclusive access to educational institutions. Thanks to a growing number of online platforms, free STEM Courses are now available to everyone with an internet connection, opening doors to high-quality learning from the comfort of home.
This article will explore the best free STEM courses available online at Coursera, EdX, Harvard University, MIT and more, highlighting programmes across various subjects, from computer programming and engineering principles to advanced math and life sciences.
Whether you are a student, a professional looking to upskill, or simply curious about STEM, these courses can offer valuable knowledge without breaking the bank.
Introduction to Computer Science: This course by Harvard University is a highly popular as it provides a solid foundation in computer science basics using languages like C, Python, and SQL.
Generative AI for Everyone: This beginner-level course, taught by global AI leader Andrew Ng, will help everyone, including those with a nontechnical background, gain a deeper understanding of how generative AI works and its impact on business, society and everyday life.
Calculus 1A: Differentiation: This free course by MIT will give an introduction to calculus, focusing on differentiation — a key concept for engineering, physics, and data science.
Linear Algebra: This foundational course is provided by MIT OpenCourseWare is for those interested in data science, machine learning, physics, and more.
Statistics and Probability: A practical guide to statistics and probability, ideal for applications in data science, finance, and machine learning. This course is available at Khan Academy.
Prompting Essentials: In less than 10 hours, anyone can learn from the GenAI experts at Google how to write more effective prompts, improving their productivity, creativity, and problem-solving at work and in everyday life.
Introduction to Programming: This course by BITS Pilani introduces beginners to the C Programming Language, teaching about various constructs supported by C Language and introducing the fundamentals of programming.
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python): With no pre-requisites, this course introduces the basics of programming using Python, covering fundamental concepts like data structures and networked application program interfaces. Perfect for beginners, it equips learners with essential Python skills to analyze data and build simple applications.
Introduction to IoT: This four-course programme by IIT Bombay, equips learners with foundational knowledge and skills essential to navigate the dynamic landscape of IoT. Ideal for beginners, it helps learners understand how connected systems are transforming industries and daily life.
Micro Electromechanical Systems: This beginner level course by IISc Bangalore deep dives into the foundational Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) principles to master advanced sensor fabrication and characterization methods, offering a step-by-step guide to becoming proficient in MEMS applications with industry aligned skills.
Foundations of Cybersecurity: As part of this 4 module long course by Google, learners will be introduced to the basics of cybersecurity – ethics, principles and the common tools used by cybersecurity analysts, and the importance of cybersecurity in today’s business operations. This course is available at Coursera.
Introduction to Large Language Models: Anyone can learn about Large Language Models (LLMs) through this one hour long introductory level micro-learning course by Google Cloud. It covers the use cases where LLMs can be utilized, and how one can use prompt tuning to enhance LLM performance.
Introduction to Cloud Computing: This beginner-friendly course introduces the learners to essential characteristics of cloud computing and emerging technologies supported by cloud. It covers cloud service models, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Public, Private, and Hybrid deployment models. This course is available online at Coursera.
Introduction to Classical Mechanics: This is a comprehensive study of Newtonian mechanics, including motion, energy, and dynamics. This course is available at MIT OpenCourseWare.
Fundamentals of Physics: This is provided by Yale University, Open Yale Courses. It is one of the highly accessible courses covering foundational physics topics like gravity, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics.
Astrophysics: An introductory course that covers the essentials of astrophysics, from star formation to the structure of galaxies. This is provided by Khan Academy.
Most courses are available online as audit courses. Audit courses provide access to most course materials and class instructions, but do not include graded assignments or a certificate. To obtain a certificate, the candidates will have to pay the registration fee.
