Open Culture lists 1,700 free online courses from universities including Yale, MIT, Harvard and Oxford.

openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
OpenCulture homepage screenshot

About OpenCulture

Open Culture maintains a list of 1,700 free online courses from universities including Yale, MIT, Harvard, and Oxford. The courses are grouped by subject and include many Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), with the format noted as online course, video, or audio.

Free access to MOOCs requires selecting the "Full Course, No Certificate" option on edX or "Audit" on Coursera. Taking a course for a certificate or credential requires a fee.

Key features

  • Lists 1,700 free online courses from multiple universities
  • Includes many Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
  • Groups courses by subject such as archaeology and architecture
  • Labels format as online course, video, or audio
  • Explains how to choose free Audit or No Certificate options
Best for: People who want to locate free university courses to study without paying for a certificate.
Good for
  • Central list of 1,700 free courses from several universities
  • Covers multiple subjects and course formats
  • Gives instructions for accessing free MOOC versions
Watch out for
  • Certificate or credential options require a fee
  • Free MOOC access requires selecting a specific Audit or No Certificate option

OpenCulture at a glance

Type
Website
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Platforms
Web
Open source
Not stated
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026

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oyc.yale.edu/courses

Open Yale Courses provides recorded lectures, syllabi, readings, exams, downloadable video, audio and transcripts.

OLI

oli.cmu.edu/independent-learner-courses

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OpenCulture FAQ

How can I take a listed MOOC for free?
Select the "Full Course, No Certificate" option on edX or the "Audit" option on Coursera.
Are certificates for these courses free?
No. If you take a course for a certificate or credential, you will be charged a fee.
How many free courses are listed?
The page lists 1,700 free online courses from universities such as Yale, MIT, Harvard, and Oxford.
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