10 Free Mechanical Engineering Courses & Certificates 2025

Mechanical engineering is a growing field offering high-paying career opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for mechanical engineers was more than double that of all occupations in May 2023. Employment for this profession is projected to jump 11% from 2023 to 2023.

Students who are interested in learning about this field but aren't ready to commit to a degree program can take free mechanical engineering courses. These courses explore various concepts, including thermodynamics, mechanical systems, mechatronics, and more. Below, we'll highlight the top free online courses in mechanical engineering and answer questions about what to expect when enrolled.

Can I Learn Mechanical Engineering for Free?

Yes, you can learn mechanical engineering at no cost. Several learning platforms, colleges, and universities offer free online courses that learners can explore from the comfort of their homes.

Access to free courses varies depending on the platform. Some require students to create an account using an email address or password. On the other hand, open courses from colleges and universities often let students navigate free mechanical engineering courses online without logging in.

What Is a Free Mechanical Engineering Course?

A free mechanical engineering course offers an opportunity to learn this subject without paying tuition or fees. Schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) let students explore inactive courses that were once taught on campus. Lectures, quizzes, and exams are often fully accessible at no charge.

You can also find active mechanical engineering courses with prewritten or prerecorded lectures and weekly requirements for assignments, quizzes, and exams. Some learning platforms offer free online mechanical engineering courses with certificates of completion that students can use to share their accomplishments on their resumes or CVs.

What Will I Learn in a Free Mechanical Engineering Course?

Free mechanical engineering courses aim to help students gain engineering skills, whether they're new to the field or want to strengthen their current knowledge. These courses can provide an overview of fundamental concepts like fluid mechanics, material science, force, and moment. More advanced classes might explore materials and manufacturing processes, structural mechanics, robotics, and nanomechanics.

The specific concepts you study depend on the courses you take. Free mechanical engineering course topics you might encounter include:

• aircraft systems engineering
• modeling and simulation of mechanical systems
• mechanics of deformable structures
• rigid body dynamics
• shafts, bearings, and gears in machine design
• problem-solving in mechanical design engineering

Students taking these courses can also learn about software like SolidWorks and Autodesk Fusion. Individuals interested in other areas of engineering could find free courses focused on chemical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, and more.

Accredited schools provide free access to mechanical engineering courses, including top universities like Stanford University and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. Other free online course providers include Coursera, Udemy, and edX. If you want to take free courses for beginner or intermediate engineering students, keep reading to discover great options.

Free Online Mechanical Engineering Courses

Are you interested in taking free mechanical engineering courses online? Review the list below to find options on top learning platforms.

1. AI for Mechanical Engineers Specialization

Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing in various fields. The AI for Mechanical Engineers specialization, offered by the University of Michigan through Coursera, explores how to make strides in mechanical engineering using AI technologies. Concepts covered in this three-course series include the following:

• AI for design and optimization
• AI for autonomous vehicles and robotics
• AI for energy and biomedical applications

Students can expect to dedicate about one month to this intermediate-level specialization. A seven-day free trial allows students to access materials and cancel anytime to avoid a charge of $49 per month. Coursera offers financial aid and tuition discounts to reduce costs.

2. Introduction to Haptics

Introduction to Haptics from Stanford Online teaches students to build, program, and control haptic devices through classes and optional lab assignments. Offered on the edX platform, this introductory-level engineering course is divided into five modules covering:

• haptic technology and human haptics
• Hapkit mechanical design and assembly
• Hapkit mechatronics
• programming virtual environments
• mechanical characterization and simulation

Limited access to learning materials and edX support are available free of charge. For $159, students get unlimited access, graded assignments and exams, and a shareable certificate upon completion. Students generally finish this self-paced course in five weeks.

3. Systems and Controls

Systems and Controls is an undergraduate course originally taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the spring of 2013. Currently available on MIT OpenCourseWare, this mechanical engineering course:

• introduces linear systems, Laplace transforms, and transfer functions
• describes how to model linear time-invariant (LTI) dynamic systems in dual domains
• explains how feedback affects transient and steady-state performance

MIT OpenCourseWare courses are free to access with no login requirements. Students can navigate lectures, assignments, quizzes, and other learning materials at their own pace.

4. Engineering Dynamics

MIT OpenCourseWare offers Engineering Dynamics, an undergraduate course last taught in the fall of 2011. Students can access the course at no cost and explore a complete syllabus with prewritten lectures teaching:

• Newton's three laws of motion
• how to use free body diagrams
• angular momentum of rigid bodies
• Lagrange equations
• mechanical vibration

In addition to lectures, learners can take two quizzes available in a PDF format. This course also offers a final exam (as a PDF) with solutions.

5. Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

The Georgia Institute of Technology's Introduction to Engineering Mechanics is a free five-module course offered through the Coursera platform. Flexible scheduling lets students learn the following concepts at their own pace:

• forces and particle equilibrium
• how to solve 2D and 3D equilibrium problems
• the definition of a moment and how it is calculated
• how to apply static equilibrium equations

Students who want to purchase the course and access a shareable certificate pay a one-time fee of $49. Financial aid helps eligible learners save up to 75%.

6. Applications in Engineering Mechanics

The Applications in Engineering Mechanics course, taught by the Georgia Institute of Technology and offered through Coursera, teaches students how to analyze real-world engineering structures. Modules focus on:

• Truss structures
• cable support systems
• systems containing multi-force members, frames, and machines
• shear force and bending moment diagrams
• coulomb friction and belt friction

Learners can enroll in this course at no charge or pay $49 for a shareable certificate (financial aid can help lower costs). Though this course is self-paced, students commonly complete it with 15 hours of study time.

7. Mechanical Engineering - Internal Combustion Engine Basics

Alison, an online education platform, offers the Mechanical Engineering - Internal Combustion Engine Basics course at no cost. Enrollees learn about internal combustion (IC) engines through coursework that teaches the following:

• how diesel and petrol engines work
• differences between petrol/gasoline and diesel engines
• how two- and four-stroke engines work
• main components and functions of an engine

Learners can receive a free certificate if they achieve 80% or higher in each course assessment. Completion requires about one and a half to three hours of study time.

8. Mechanical Engineering Principles and Design Concepts

Alison offers additional free mechanical engineering courses, including Mechanical Engineering Principles and Design Concepts, which explores engineering mechanics, thermodynamics, and engineering design. Students also learn about:

• conditions needed for a state of equilibrium to occur
• effective measures to combat vibrations in machines
• benefits and achievements of mechanical engineering

Enrollment, study, and completion are cost-free for all Alison courses. Students enrolled in this course, which requires a three- to four-hour time commitment, receive a free certificate when achieving 80% or higher in each course assessment.

9. Fundamental Skills in Engineering Design

The University of Leeds offers Fundamental Skills in Engineering Design through the Coursera online platform to help students grasp the engineering design process. This beginner's level course teaches the following:

• requirement gathering
• problem-solving
• project management
• product life cycle
• design for disposal

Students can access this course for free or pay $49 to receive a shareable certificate and apply for financial aid to reduce costs. While learners navigate this course at their own pace, Coursera estimates that learners will finish their studies after about six hours of effort.

10. Protecting the World: Introducing Corrosion Science and Engineering

Students interested in understanding corrosion and corrosion control can enroll in the University of Manchester's free online Protecting the World: Introducing Corrosion Science and Engineering course. Topics explore:

• rusting of steel
• conductivity and circuits
• cathodic protection
• surface engineering techniques
• oil and gas production

This intermediate-level course is self-paced; however, students typically need 11 hours to complete their studies. There is no charge to access learning materials. Students interested in a career certificate can pay $49 or less with financial aid.

Explore Electrical Engineering Programs

Begin your journey toward a rewarding engineering career by exploring the degree programs on Learn.org. Contact a school to discover ways they can help you follow your desired career path.