15 Free Software Engineering Courses & Certificates 2025

Software engineering involves applying engineering principles to software application design, development, and maintenance. Students who want to enter this exciting field typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, software development, or software engineering.

If you're not ready to start a degree program, taking free software engineering courses online can help grow your knowledge of algorithms, programming languages, data structures, and other key concepts. Below, we'll highlight some of the best free online courses for learners who want to study software engineering without spending a dime.

Can I Learn Software Engineering for Free?

Yes, you can learn software engineering at no cost. Many colleges, universities, and learning platforms offer free courses and tutorials for students seeking an introductory, intermediate, or advanced understanding of the field.

Since most of these courses take place online, you'll need a device that connects to the internet (i.e. computer, smartphone, tablet) to access coursework. Some free software engineering courses require students to create an account via email address and password to explore learning materials.

What Is a Free Software Engineering Course?

A free software engineering course is often similar to a paid course. Students can learn concepts for the first time or grow their existing knowledge through self-paced or instructor-led lessons, assignments, quizzes, discussions, and exams. Free courses differ from college courses since they don't require tuition or other fees to access learning materials.

Once you begin taking these courses, you might notice a difference in their delivery. For instance, free online courses from MIT OpenCourseWare are self-paced with quizzes, exams, and written lectures that students can read on the website or download as PDFs.

On the other hand, platforms like Coursera offer active courses with start and end dates, along with self-paced courses learners can access anytime. Lessons are delivered as prerecorded videos or written lectures and students have tools to track their progress.

What Will I Learn in a Free Software Engineering Course?

Concepts explored in free courses are often the same as those discussed in paid courses. Introductory courses might explain the basics of software engineering and teach students how to design, develop, test, and maintain software. Students can also learn about programming languages and algorithms.

But topics covered in free courses don't stop there. Colleges, universities, and other learning platforms offer courses focused on:

• software quality management
• methodologies and techniques in quality assurance
• software project management
• assembly language programming
• software testing theory
• modeling software systems
• software development processes

Courses might also explore software, programs, and platforms commonly used in software engineering such as GitLab, Azure DevOps, Slack, and Test.ai. Top schools offering free online courses include Harvard University, MIT (OpenCourseWare), Carnegie Mellon University (Open Learning Initiative), and Stanford University (Stanford Online). Coursera, Udemy, and edX are other popular free online learning platforms.

Will I Get a Certificate at the End of the Course?

Some free courses provide a certificate upon completion. Alison, an Irish online education platform for higher education, gives a free certificate to students who score 80% or higher in each course assessment. Coursera offers a shareable certificate for a one-time or monthly fee.

Students interested in acquiring software engineer certification online can visit platforms like Microsoft Learn, which offers free training for students pursuing various Microsoft Credentials.

Best Free Software Engineering Courses and Certificates

Free software engineering courses help students become familiar with the subject for personal knowledge, career advancement, or preparation for a degree program. Explore the following list to discover some of the best online courses and certificates offered at no cost.

1. Free Software Engineering Bootcamp

Coding Temple offers the Free Software Engineering Bootcamp to help students grow their backend, frontend, and modern frameworks. Lessons explore Python, JavaScript, RESTful APIs, and databases and incorporate portfolio-ready projects for hands-on experience.

This program is self-paced with fully asynchronous coursework learners can complete anytime. Registering for a free account grants access to over 360 hours of content.

2. JavaScript Programming Essentials

JavaScript Programming Essentials is a five-module IBM course offered on the Coursera platform. Designed for prospective software engineers, lessons teach effective debugging techniques, key data structures, error handling, and more.

Learners can audit this 16-hour beginner's course free of charge or pay $49 monthly for full access and a shareable certificate. Students eligible for financial aid could take up to 75% off the regular price.

3. HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers Specialization

Johns Hopkins University offers this four-course series for students interested in tools for web page coders, JavaScript programming, and implementing responsive websites. Learners can expect to complete coursework in about one month.

This specialization is offered on the Coursera platform and costs $49 monthly for full access and a certificate. However, students can access all learning materials during a seven-day free trial and lower costs with financial aid after the trial ends.

4. Programming with JavaScript

Programming with Javascript is a 46-hour beginner's course available for audit at no charge or full access with a shareable certificate for $49 monthly after a seven-day trial. Financial aid can help reduce costs.

This self-paced course, taught by Meta staff on the Coursera platform, is a part of the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate and Meta React Native specialization. Students learn the basics of web development with Javascript, steps on how to write a unit test using Jest, and more.

5. C Programming for Everybody Specialization

This intermediate-level specialization, taught by the University of Michigan on the Coursera platform, examines how C, UNIX, and Linux laid the foundation for the modern computing environment. Learners typically need about two months to complete its four courses.

To access learning materials and a shareable certificate, students can start a free seven-day trial; however, the specialization costs $49 monthly afterward. If eligible, learners can save with financial aid.

6. Coding for Everyone: C and C++ Specialization

The University of California, Santa Cruz offers this specialization as a beginner's four-course series on Coursera. Students from all backgrounds are invited to learn about the basics of programming in C and the more advanced C++.

Enrollees learn at their own pace but usually finish in about one month when studying 10 hours per week. This specialization and its certificate costs $49 monthly after a seven-day free trial � or less if eligible for financial aid.

7. IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate

The IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate on the Coursera platform prepares students for careers as full-stack developers. Learners are introduced to software engineering, cloud computing, application development, and more.

For $49 monthly, students gain full access and a career certificate after a seven-day free trial (financial aid can deduct up to 75% off the regular price). This 15-course series is self-paced; however, learners studying 10 hours a week finish in about five months.

8. Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization

Duke University's Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals is a beginner's specialization available with a career certificate for $49 monthly (or less with financial aid) after a seven-day free trial. This five-course series teaches debugging, algorithm design, and more.

Flexible scheduling options from Coursera enable learners to study at their own pace. However, on average, learners who study 10 hours a week finish this specialization in six months.

9. Introduction to Software Engineering

Students interested in free software engineering courses online can find a great option from IBM on the Coursera platform. Introduction to Software Engineering outlines the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and discusses different types of programming languages.

This beginner's course is free to audit; however, students can pay $49 monthly for full access and a shareable certificate. Financial aid helps eligible students save up to 75%. While learners study at their own pace, they typically complete this course after about 14 hours of study.

10. Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization

The Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals specialization on the Coursera platform helps students gain foundational knowledge needed for a career in software. The five-course series explores software engineering fundamentals, Git, GitHub, Linux, Python, and more.

Students can try this IBM specialization with a seven-day free trial and pay $49 monthly afterward to receive a shareable certificate (financial aid could reduce costs). Completing these courses typically requires 10 hours of study time a week for two months.

11. How to Become a Software Engineer

Alison's free How to Become a Software Engineer course is designed for students interested in the software engineering career path. Coursework explores the software engineer's responsibilities in the workplace, hard and soft skills, career progression, and more.

This self-paced course typically requires about 1.5 to 3 hours for completion. A free certificate is awarded to learners who finish their studies with 80% or higher on each course assessment.

12. Foundations of Software Engineering

Foundations of Software Engineering available through MIT OpenCourseWare is one of several free software development courses first taught on the school's campus. Students can access lessons covering data structures, algorithms for modeling, visualization, and more at their own pace.

MIT requires no passwords or logins to access free learning materials, which include lecture notes, projects, and downloadable PDFs of assignments and exams.

13. Software Construction in Java

MIT's Open Learning Library offers a Software Construction in Java course for students who want to write software using modern software engineering techniques. Lessons teach Java programming, software testing, code specifications, and abstract data types.

This 14-week course, the first of a two-course sequence, is free to access with an MIT Open Learning Library account. Students who don't want to create an account can review learning materials anonymously but won't be able to track their progress.

14. Cloud Computing Foundations

Cloud Computing Foundations on the Great Learning platform is a beginner's course students can explore at their own pace. Learners can sign up with Google or an email address to gain free access to modules exploring various cloud models, how the cloud is used in business, and its importance in the workplace.

After completing all modules, enrollees receive a certificate of completion from Great Learning. Finishing this course typically requires about 1.5 total learning hours.

15. Secure Software Design Specialization

The University of Colorado's Secure Software Design specialization is a four-course series teaching students to design and maintain secure software. In about a month, enrollees learn how software design relates to abstraction, the software development lifecycle, and more.

A seven-day free trial provides access to coursework; however, students must pay $49 monthly to continue learning and receive a free certificate upon completion. Eligible students can pay less with financial aid.

Explore Software Engineering Programs

Start your journey toward a fulfilling software engineering career by exploring the degree programs featured on Learn.org. Contact a school today and learn how they can help you reach your goals.