How To Audit A Coursera Course (CompleteGuide)

Coursera offers a unique opportunity to audit courses from top universities and institutions worldwide. Auditing allows learners to explore course content without financial commitment, making education more accessible. 

This blog post will guide you through the process of auditing a course on Coursera, highlighting its benefits and limitations.

I’ll delve into the specifics of how to audit a course, what to expect, and how to make the most of this learning opportunity.

Auditing a Coursera Course: In A Nutshell

Click on “Enroll for Free” and then look for the “audit the course” link for each course. Click on the link and simply get started. For instance:

Note: Coursera auditing is available only for individual courses. Coursera does not allow auditing of degrees and professional certifications.

Things to Know About Auditing a Course on Coursera

• Auditing is free but has limitations
• You can access most course materials
• No graded assignments or certificates
• Limited peer interaction
• Self-paced learning
• Option to upgrade to the paid version later
• Not all courses offer audit option
• Access may expire after the course end date

What Is Exactly A Coursera Course Audit?

Coursera provides two options to get its courses for free.

1. Coursera provides a 7-day free trial after you sign up.
2. By auditing the course.

Though the first method provides free access, it is valid for seven days only. And I think this might not help you to cover as many courses as possible. 

Another method is to Audit the course.

I feel this method is much more suitable as it allows watching all the course sessions for free.

But here is a catch: though you get access for free, it does not allow access to assignments. Moreover, you won’t get a certificate for course completion.

So yes, you can audit Coursera courses if you want to upskill your knowledge but note that they do not provide academic credits.

The main purpose of auditing the course is for Self-enrichment and for educational exploration to gain more knowledge.

Let’s examine a few steps for auditing a different course on Coursera and getting free access to its contents.

How To Audit A Course On Coursera: Step-By-Step

Below is the complete step-by-step guide on how to edit a course on Coursera.

Step 1. Create An Account On Coursera.

If you don’t have an account on Coursera, then you will have to create one.

• Go to the website Coursera.org.

• Click on the sign-up option at the top of the page.

• Select whether you want to provide your name, email, and password or would link your Coursera account to your Google account, Facebook profile, or Apple ID.

Step 2. Log In.

If you already have an account, you can simply log in by entering your email ID and password. 

Step 3. Choose The Course.

After Signing up or Logging in, the third step is selecting the course you want to audit.

Type the keyword of the course in the search option and select whichever course you are willing to audit.

Here is an example for you.

After typing the keyword, you will get the list of courses. Select any one which you prefer.

Step 4. Click On Enroll For Free.

Once you choose the course you want to audit, then simply click on the enroll for free option present on the page of course.

Step 5. Look For The “Audit The Course” Link.

After you enroll in the course, search for the “Audit” course link available at the bottom of the page. 

Now that you have audited the course, you can watch the video contents, take notes, and read the course forum for free. 

Sometimes, the audit option is unavailable on the specialization or professional certificate pages; at that time, you will have to look for single course pages.

Also, sometimes, the audit link will not appear if the course can’t be audited. Mostly, several courses on Coursera can be audited.

What to Do If The “Audit Course” Option is Not Available?

As I specified above, not all courses can be audited on Coursera. In case you don’t find the option, you can do the following: 

• Check other courses: Not all Coursera courses offer an audit option. Browse similar courses that might have this feature.
• Look for “Full Course, No Certificate” option: Some courses offer this as an alternative to auditing.
• Consider free courses: Explore Coursera’s completely free courses.
• Wait for course reruns: The audit option might become available in future iterations of the course.
• Contact Coursera support: Inquire about potential audit options or alternatives.
• Explore financial aid: If interested in the full course, apply for Coursera’s financial aid program.

Is It Possible To Get A Coursera Certificate For Free?

Coursera used to offer free certificates when you enrolled in a course, but now you can’t get a certificate of completion for free on Coursera. But there is a solution; on many courses, you can see the option “Financial Aid Available.” You can choose this option if you can not afford to pay the full price for a Coursera certificate.

In a professional certificate, there are multiple courses that you need to take. So, when you apply for Financial Aid, you can apply for one particular course. You can not apply for financial aid for all courses or complete the professional certificate. You also need to fill out an application that Coursera will review, and only once it is approved can you get the certificate for that course for free.

You can also learn about how to get a Coursera scholarship.

At ProsperityForAll, we work with top online learning platforms. As a bonus, we have an exclusive Coursera Plus discount that will help you save the most on your purchase if you want to get premium courses.

What’s The Difference Between an Audit Course and a Paid Course on Coursera?

Choosing between audit and paid depends on your learning goals, budget, and need for formal recognition. 

Auditing is great for exploration and casual learning, while paid courses offer a more comprehensive and interactive experience with tangible credentials.

Feature	Audit Course	Paid Course
Cost	Free	Requires payment
Video lectures	Available	Available
Readings	Available	Available
Course materials	Limited access	Full access
Graded assignments	Not available	Available
Peer feedback	Not available	Available
Certificate	Not available	Available
Access duration	May be time-limited	Unlimited
Learning pace	Self-paced	Structured with deadlines
Instructor interaction	Not available	Potential for direct interaction
Course forums	Limited or no access	Full access
Upgrade option	Can upgrade to paid	Already full access

If you’re looking to gain specific skills for career advancement or need a certificate for your resume, a paid course might be more suitable. Auditing could be the perfect option if you’re learning out of personal interest or want to test a subject before committing.

Remember, you can often start by auditing and upgrade to the paid version if you find the course valuable, allowing you to experience the best of both options.

Check out how much Coursera costs here.

Perks of Auditing a Course on Coursera

Personally, I love the availability of the audit feature on Coursera. People who don’t want to spend money on the course or need to test if Coursera is worth it can opt for the audit feature. 

Here are a few more things I like about the feature. 

• Cost-free learning: Access quality education without financial commitment.
• Flexibility: Learn at your own pace without deadlines.
• Explore interests: Sample courses to discover new subjects or potential career paths.
• Access to expert knowledge: Learn from top instructors and institutions worldwide.
• No pressure: Focus on learning without the stress of grades or assignments.
• Preparation for paid courses: Get a feel for a subject before investing in a certificate program.
• Lifelong learning: Continuously educate yourself on various topics.
• Career exploration: Gain insights into different fields without committing to full programs.

Limitations of Auditing a Course on Coursera

Even if the audit feature is entirely free on Coursera, it comes with certain limitations.

• No certificate: You won’t receive formal recognition for completing the course.
• Limited access: Some course materials may be restricted to paid learners.
• No graded assignments: You can’t submit assignments for feedback or grades.
• Restricted peer interaction: Limited or no access to discussion forums and peer-graded activities.
• Time constraints: Access to course content may expire after the course end date.
• No instructor interaction: Direct communication with instructors is typically not available.
• Lack of structured learning: Without deadlines, self-discipline is crucial for course completion.
• No official credit: Audited courses can’t be used for academic or professional credit.
• Limited support: Technical and content-related support may be restricted for audit learners.

More Coursera reads:

Coursera Plus Review
edX vs Coursera
Best Coursera Alternatives

Wrapping Up:

Courses by Coursera are handled by experts from the foremost leading organizations and Universities, so they are worth it.

Auditing courses provide a convenient way to explore new learning in the fields of your interests.

In the above article, I have provided a complete guide on how to audit a course on Coursera, so start auditing courses and gain access to free learning.

If you have any queries, feel free to drop them off in the comments section below. 

FAQs