Free Learning Platforms
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Stanford offers LinkedIn Learning and Coursera as free, professional development tools for you to learn new skills, improve your job performance and advance your career. Learn more about eligibility and the similarities and differences of each learning platform below.
| Learning Goal | Coursera | LinkedIn Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Accessing Courses | ||
| Self-paced courses available 24/7 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn on the go using a mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Listen to audio-only podcast-style courses | ✓ | |
| Content | ||
| Learn new skills or develop knowledge on a specific topic | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3,000+ courses: academic subjects, business, technology, and professional development | ✓ | |
| 16,000+ courses: business, creative, and technology | ✓ | |
| Finding Courses | ||
| Search by keyword or browse course catalog | ✓ | ✓ |
| Take proficiency test to determine appropriate level | LevelSets | Skill Evaluation |
| Get course recommendations by career goal or role interests | SkillSets | Role Guides and Goal |
| Get course recommendations based on LinkedIn profile title, industry and skills | If connected to LinkedIn profile | |
| Creators/Instructors | ||
| Courses created and taught by industry experts and university faculty | ✓ | ✓ |
| Length | ||
| Complete most courses between 4 to 20 hours | ✓ | |
| Complete most courses in 30 minutes to 3 hours | ✓ | |
| Nano Tips courses take less than 10 minutes to complete | ✓ | |
| Specific Learning Needs | ||
| Dive deeper by completing multiple related courses | Specializations | Learning Paths |
| Practice technology skills using side-by-side tutorial and practice space | Guided Projects | Code Challenges |
| Certificates and Recognition | ||
| Earn certificate of completion issued by Coursera and course creator after course | ✓ | |
| Earn an industry-recognized professional certificate after completing coursework and assessment | Cost varies | Free |
| Quickly add completed course to LinkedIn profile | ✓ | ✓ |
Eligibility
LinkedIn Learning: University and SLAC faculty and benefits-eligible staff
Coursera: University and SLAC employees with SUNet IDs
Learn more about Coursera
Learn more about LinkedIn Learning