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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Google, Harvard, MIT are offering free coding courses in 2025: Here are 10 you can start now
In a world where coding bootcamps can cost more than a semester at DU, a silent revolution is underway—and it doesn't demand your money, only your attention. In 2025, top global universities and tech giants are dismantling paywalls and putting free beginner-level coding courses in the hands of anyone with a screen and stable internet. From Harvard's flagship Python series to Google's internal training modules made public, the message is loud: You no longer need a fancy degree to learn the language of machines. Here's a curated look at the best courses students, interns, career switchers—and yes, even schoolteachers—can start today, without paying a rupee. Harvard University: CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python Forget YouTube hacks and shortcut tutorials. This is Harvard's real deal. CS50's Python course teaches the foundations of computer science using one of the world's most in-demand languages. Students go from basic loops and conditionals to real-world problem-solving in just a few weeks. The format is demanding, but the payoff is portfolio-worthy. Stanford University: R Programming Fundamentals If you're eyeing data science, you can't ignore R. Stanford's free course cuts through the clutter, offering a no-math-needed, beginner-friendly intro to R—a language still ruling academic research and statistical modelling. You'll learn how to wrangle data like a pro without needing a PhD to decode the syllabus. Google: Python Class Here's what Google once kept in-house to train its own engineers. Now it's online for anyone. Taught by Googler Nick Parlante, this course blends video lectures and hands-on exercises to teach Python basics—strings, lists, loops, file handling. It's direct, utilitarian, and refreshingly no-frills. Exactly what early learners need. MIT: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python This isn't just about syntax—it's about thinking like a computer scientist. In this 9-week course, MIT teaches you how to write clean code while understanding why you're doing it. Designed for absolute beginners, this course slowly builds your muscle for abstraction, logic, and algorithmic design. IIT Bombay: Programming Basics No flashy frameworks. No language obsession. IIT Bombay takes a fundamentalist route—sharpen your logic first, and the syntax will follow. Their "Programming Basics" course is an underrated gem, focusing on algorithmic thinking before dropping you into any specific language. It's as close as you'll get to a coding degree mindset, minus the tuition fees. University of Michigan: Programming for Everybody Python, minus the anxiety. That's the promise. This 7-week course avoids math-heavy theory and focuses instead on practical coding tasks—writing simple programs, understanding variables, working with user input. Perfect for non-tech majors who want to add a hard skill to their résumé without drowning in technical jargon. Microsoft: Begin Python Coding in Minecraft Yes, Minecraft. Microsoft is banking on the game's popularity to teach Python to schoolkids, hobbyists, and first-timers. Through MakeCode and Azure Notebooks, learners can manipulate the Minecraft world by writing code. Playful? Absolutely. But underneath the pixelated mobs is a rock-solid programming foundation. Dartmouth College & Institut Mines-Télécom: C Programming Foundations For those who care how a computer really thinks, there's C. This course goes down to the bare metal—teaching memory management, pointers, and logic from scratch. It's not glamorous, but for students dreaming of systems programming, embedded tech, or robotics, this is where you begin. Microsoft: Learn Java on Azure Enterprise software doesn't run on TikTok filters—it runs on Java. Microsoft's course shows you how Java code goes from your laptop to cloud-based apps on Azure. It walks you through real deployment practices, frameworks like Spring, and integration with Kubernetes. If you want to see what 'production-grade' looks like, this is it. University of Chicago: Teaching Coding in Grades 5–8 with Scratch Not everyone taking these courses is job-hunting. Some are classroom-bound. This course is designed for future educators who want to teach coding to middle schoolers using Scratch—a visual programming language built for children. It includes lesson planning, teaching strategies, and tools for making coding fun without losing rigour. These courses don't just teach you syntax. They introduce a way of thinking that can benefit students across fields. Whether you're in your first year of college or preparing for campus placements, free courses like these help you stay industry-ready with the flexibility to learn at your own pace. So if you've ever thought of learning to code, this is your sign. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Top free coding courses offered by Google, MIT, Harvard you can enroll in now
In today's fast-paced digital world, coding skills are no longer just for software engineers — they've become essential for professionals across industries. Whether you're dreaming of a tech career, looking to build your app, or simply curious about websites and algorithms, this is the time you can learn or unlearn and re-learn without spending bucks. Some of the world's most prestigious universities, including MIT, Harvard, and Stanford, are offering these free online coding courses that anyone can access from anywhere. Here's a list of the free programming courses available on multiple platforms like edX, Google, and Microsoft. Whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to sharpen your skills, there's something here for everyone. Our first course is 'Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python,' offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This programme from MIT is perfect for those with little or no programming experience. It introduces the fundamentals of computer science using Python, covering problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and basic computational concepts. It can be your ideal pick if you're starting your programming journey. This instructor-led course takes just nine weeks to complete, but if you want to earn a certificate, you will have to spend some bucks. Interested? Then head to this link– Google's Python Class is a free, self‑paced course created by Nick Parlante and used internally at Google, designed for learners with minimal programming experience. It combines written lessons, lecture videos, and a comprehensive set of hands‑on exercises, guiding you from basic concepts like variables, strings, and lists to more advanced topics such as file I/O, regular expressions, and network utilities. Whether you're familiar with simple control flow or just know the basics of an 'if' statement, this course offers a well‑rounded introduction to Python that's both thorough and accessible. You can learn more about the course from here: Let's move to our next coding course at the University of Michigan. The title of this course says it all: 'Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)'. Designed for beginners, this course helps candidates get a hands-on approach to learning Python, one of the most in-demand languages today. It focuses on the basics of programming and problem-solving without overloading you with complex mathematics. The best thing about this course is that it is self-paced and can be completed within 7 weeks. Want to know more? Here is the link to get all the answers: Microsoft's Begin Python Coding in Minecraft with MakeCode and Azure Notebooks is a beginner‑level learning module designed for educators and curious learners to integrate Python programming. The course has eight self‑paced units, where participants explore key features of Minecraft's Code Builder, learn Python syntax and debugging, and apply their skills using both MakeCode Python and Azure Notebooks. No prior coding knowledge is required. Want to know more head to this: Our third course is by Stanford University, R Programming Fundamentals. If you're curious about data analysis and statistical computing, this course introduces you to R — a powerful language for data science. Stanford's online program covers R programming basics, data handling, and simple analysis techniques. Ideal for anyone interested in analytics or academic research. To know more about this course, visit: index=product&queryId=9e4e2f8191e43ea54a659d356824cffe&position=9 If you're keen to learn how computers operate at a deeper level, consider C Programming: Language Foundations, offered by Dartmouth College and Institut Mines-Télécom. This course teaches the core principles of C programming, a language still vital for system software, operating systems, and embedded systems. It can be a great starting point for learners wanting to understand computer operations and memory management. Here's the link for you to know more about it: Harvard University's highly popular CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python is another excellent course for beginners. Part of the prestigious CS50 series, this programme dives into Python while teaching essential programming concepts like loops, conditions, functions, and more. It offers practice problems and real-world projects to help learners gain hands-on experience. Dive in to know more: Microsoft's Introduction to Java on Azure is a beginner-level module in Java which is designed to help developers understand how to build, deploy, and scale Java applications using Azure. Spread across eight units, the course covers common Java frameworks (such as Spring, Jakarta EE, and Quarkus), walks learners through different Azure deployment options—from App Service and Container Apps to Kubernetes, serverless functions, and Azure Spring Apps—and demonstrates a sample Java application deployment. This is a self-paced and hands-on module. Know more here: For educators, parents, or anyone interested in teaching coding to children, UChicagoX's Teaching Coding in Grades 5-8 with Scratch Encore offers a fun and interactive way to introduce computational thinking. Using Scratch Encore, a visual programming platform designed for young learners, this course guides participants through teaching strategies and lesson plans aimed at students in grades 5 to 8. More information here: Last but not least, for those looking for a solid introduction to programming concepts without diving into a specific language, IITBombayX's Programming Basics can be an excellent choice. Offered by one of India's premier technical institutes, this course introduces core programming ideas and gradually transitions into practical exercises, preparing learners for more advanced topics. Learn more: These free courses from renowned universities not only offer high-quality education but also give learners the flexibility to study at their own pace. So why wait? Pick a course, sign up, and start coding today — for free. You can thank us later. Sheen Kachroo is the Senior Sub-Editor working with the Indian Express Digital. ... Read More
