Free Online International Business Courses with Certificates

Overview of Free Online International Business Courses with Certificates

With the advancing globalization of our world, knowing how to conduct business internationally can be a great skill to develop for aspiring businesspeople. Our increasingly international economy requires ever-expanding international business knowledge, whether in international trade, international management, or intercultural communication. Free online international business courses can be found through various universities and non-profits, and they award different types of certificates upon completion. The courses may be structured as a series of videos or readings, some with accompanying quizzes.

Marginal Revolution University

Developed by economists, this free online course from the non-profit Marginal Revolution University covers international trade as you work through video lectures about basic international trade theory as well as the global economy. No prerequisites are required for this undergraduate-level course. Through the video lessons and exercises you will learn about topics such as foreign direct investment, tariffs, international arbitrage, comparative advantage, offshoring, factor endowments, and more. When you have finished the course, you will take a final exam. If you pass the exam, you will be awarded an international trade certificate on your Marginal Revolution University account, if you sign up for the free account.

The Open University

The Open University provides a course in international management through OpenLearn, their free learning initiative. This advanced-level course is presented as a series of lecture notes with exercises throughout. You can take the course without an account, but if you want to access all the additional content, such as quizzes, a progress tracker, and a certificate upon completion, you will need to sign up for a free OpenLearn account. The course focuses on institutional and international contexts within the capitalist framework, and as such, you can expect to study topics such as sustainable institutions, global integration, multinational firms, comparative advantage, country profiles, and labor regulation.

University of London (via Coursera)

These courses from the University of London are part of a specialization in international business essentials. If you just want to view the course content, you can audit the courses without fees, but if you want access to the graded assignments and certificates of completion, you will need to pay the standard Coursera subscription fee. The content of the courses includes video lectures, readings, and quizzes centered around professionalism, management, and other skills pertaining to international business. Topics covered by the following courses include first impressions, role modeling, time management, networking, effectiveness measurements, teamwork, motivation, and change:

• Professional Skills for International Business
• Management Skills for International Business

The University of New Mexico (via Coursera)

The University of New Mexico offers two courses in international business. The video courses are focused on the international business environment and international management, and each section is followed by a practice quiz. Topics you can expect to study are globalization, culture, economic development, international business organization, and international markets. You can view the course content for free, but if you want to receive a certificate upon completion of the course, you will need to pay a fee. The courses available from The University of New Mexico are the following:

• International Business I
• International Business II