By Tim Hannan, Chief Marketing Officer, Coursera
Since our founding in 2012, Coursera has worked hard to increase access to world-class education. Over the years, we’ve introduced features like course auditing, financial aid, and AI-powered translations to make learning accessible to as many people as possible. Today, we’re taking another step forward in this evolution, introducing a new course preview experience that offers learners a deeper, more meaningful way to explore content before committing to a full course.
This new model replaces our audit experience and gives learners the ability to preview the first module of nearly every course on Coursera for free. This includes full access to key platform features, such as graded assignments and Coursera Coach, when available within the course. Our early tests show that the full suite of course features is leading to stronger engagement and completions among our learners, accelerating their path to skills mastery. To further support global accessibility, we’re also rolling out localized pricing while continuing to offer options and support for learners with financial need.
Here’s what the updated experience includes:
- Free Course Preview: Learners can explore the first module of most courses for free — complete with assessments, video content, and AI-powered support features like Coach.
- Free Community Impact Courses: Learners will have free access to certain courses that address urgent social needs—such as mental health, refugee support, and public health.
- Localized pricing: We’ve introduced new geopricing models to reflect regional purchasing power and ensure affordability across emerging markets.
- Financial Aid: Eligible learners can still apply for financial aid to unlock full access to course content and certificates for free or at a reduced cost.
This evolution marks a new chapter in how we invite learners into their journey on Coursera—one that’s more engaging, more accessible, and better aligned with their goals from the start, while supporting the long-term growth and impact of our platform. We’re excited to build this future together with our global community of learners, partners, and institutions.