FutureLearn Courses & Certifications Online

Choose FutureLearn courses for career advancement in psychology, mental health, language, science, business, engineering, and maths. 

FutureLearn partners with several international universities and specialist organisations for all these domains. Accredited online certifications, micro-credentials, ExpertTracks, and online degrees are great options from this platform. 

What to Expect from FutureLearn Courses

1. This UK-based platform provides video, audio, articles, peer and mentor discussions, exercises, polls, peer-reviewed assignments, MCQ quizzes, and final tests. 
2. Not all of these features are available with free-to-audit courses. 
3. The Short courses provide Certificates of Achievement when you take the subscription.
4. Its microcredentials come with credits to be used in college education and can open up doors for online degree programmes at postgraduate level. 

Free vs Paid FutureLearn Courses

FutureLearn courses, except the microcredentials, online degrees, provides free-to-enrol online learning options for all age groups and professionals.

What’s Included with Free FutureLearn Courses?

1. FutureLearn offers free learning, which can help with skill development informally. 
2. This 'join with limited access' option does not come with certificates. 
3. The study material for each Short Course on FutureLearn is unlocked every week. 
4. The free courses on FutureLearn are only available for the duration of the course. 

What’s Included with Paid FutureLearn Courses?

1. Pay an annual or monthly subscription fee to access all FutureLearn’s short courses with the dedicated app.
2. Purchase a Premium course with smaller groups, detailed course topics, and more hands-on learning options. Digital and printed certificates are available for these.
3. Microcredentials, ExpertTracks, and online degrees from FutureLearn have different costs for each. 

Should You Take Free or Paid FutureLearn Courses?

As FutureLearn certifications are not free, you can consider a monthly or annual subscription or pay individually for more learning and career perks. 

ExpertTracks vs Micro-credentials

ExpertTracks

This MOOC platform’s ExpertTracks consist of a series of related courses. It includes three or more short courses that help you learn both theoretical and practical aspects of the topic. 

Benefits of ExpertTracks

• The combination of curated courses helps you gain mastery over a specific skill, which a single short course may not be able to provide.
• ExpertTracks are like advanced courses and they available for the most in-demand industry disciplines - business and management, IT and computer science, etc.
• These ExpertTracks are offered in collaboration with top institutions such as Coventry University, University of Arden, etc. 

Micro-credentials 

Micro-credentials are short, focused qualifications that make you more employable and ready for bigger roles. Some may even require you to have a bachelor’s degree. 

Benefits of Microcredentials

• Microcredentials are a little more advanced than the ExpertTracks. They help you build more skills in a specialised area and are usually for postgraduates. 
• While these can be slightly more expensive than the ExpertTracks, they are ideal to showcase in your resume. 
• Earning micro-credentials from FutureLearn helps pursue online degrees available on the same platform. 

Should You Take ExpertTracks or Microcredentials?

ExpertTracks are good for skill development, while micro-credentials become more specialised and are job-ready. 

FutureLearn vs Udacity vs Udemy

Popularity-wise, FutureLearn, Udacity, and Udemy are quite on the same plane, but there are some crucial differences among them. 

But the overall outlook on the positives for each is like this -

• FutureLearn is great for academic and professional development and is backed by accredited online courses and virtual higher education from good international universities.
• Udacity courses cover mainly the tech domain, with dedicated project-based learning and longer Nanodegree programs. 
• Udemy offers a wide selection of affordable courses in diverse subjects. It is equally good for casual learners and those looking to acquire specific skills at their own pace.?

Top FutureLearn Courses

Below are some top-selling courses from FutureLearn. 

1. Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action from FutureLearn and The Open University - Micro-credential
2. Digital Marketing and Artificial Intelligence from FutureLearn and Nottingham Business School - Micro-credential
3. Organisational Psychology from University of Aberdeen and FutureLearn - Micro-credential
4. Social Media in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenge from Taipei Medical University and FutureLearn - Short Course

Going Ahead with FutureLearn Courses

FutureLearn courses come with several benefits, one of which is the UK-accredited CPD credits you earn from each. The courses are on the latest industry trends where beginners to experts can make a difference in their careers.