Free Online Mathematics Courses
- 30 courses
- 19 free
- 11 free to audit
- 1 with a free certificate
Sources: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Khan Academy and more · Verified
Free mathematics courses cover an unusually wide range, from arithmetic and pre-algebra through algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, linear algebra, probability and proof-based courses. The right entry point depends less on age than on the last topic you were comfortable with. Non-profit platforms such as Khan Academy offer the full school and early university sequence free, self-paced and without certificates. University lecture archives publish recorded courses with problem sets and exams under open licences, again without certificates.
University courses on edX are usually free to audit, which means the videos and ungraded exercises are open while graded work and the certificate cost money, and audit access may be time-limited. Read the syllabus for prerequisites stated in plain terms, for worked problem sets with solutions, and for whether the course is a survey or a proof-heavy treatment; a linear algebra course for engineers and one for mathematics majors can share a title and differ completely. Mathematics suits learners returning to study before a degree or a data course, parents supporting school-age children, and professionals who need statistics or calculus for their field. If you are aiming at data science or programming, those pages list courses that assume the mathematics covered here.
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| # | Course | Provider | Cost | Certificate | Level | Duration | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linear Algebra MIT's 18.06SC is the OpenCourseWare Scholar edition of Gilbert Strang's linear algebra course, recorded in fall 2011… | MIT | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 2 | Single Variable Calculus 18.01SC is the OpenCourseWare Scholar version of MIT's single variable calculus course, built around David Jerison's… | MIT | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 3 | Quantum Mechanics Quantum Mechanics is a 27-lecture course from Oxford's Department of Physics, delivered by Professor James Binney and… | Oxford | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 4 | EE261 - The Fourier Transform and its Applications The Fourier Transform and its Applications is Brad Osgood's EE261, published in full on Stanford Engineering Everywhere. | Stanford | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 5 | Analytic Combinatorics Analytic Combinatorics is Robert Sedgewick's Princeton course on a calculus for making precise quantitative predictio… | Princeton | Free | NoneNo certificate | Intermediate | 2 weeks | |
| 6 | EE263 - Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems is Stephen Boyd's EE263, an applied linear algebra course with applications… | Stanford | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 7 | Mathematics for Computer Science 6.042J is MIT's discrete mathematics course for computer science and engineering students, and the fall 2010 edition… | MIT | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 8 | EE364A - Convex Optimization I Convex Optimization I is Stephen Boyd's EE364A, published in full on Stanford Engineering Everywhere. | Stanford | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 9 | EE364B - Convex Optimization II Convex Optimization II continues Stephen Boyd's EE364A and is published in full on Stanford Engineering Everywhere. | Stanford | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 10 | Game Theory Game Theory is Ben Polak's Fall 2007 course ECON 159, recorded for Open Yale Courses as 24 lectures of about 75 minutes. | Yale | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 11 | Matrix Methods in Data Analysis, Signal Processing, and Machine Learning 18.065 is Gilbert Strang's spring 2018 course on the linear algebra behind data analysis, signal processing and machi… | MIT | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 12 | Statistics for Applications 18.650 Statistics for Applications is MIT's undergraduate course in mathematical statistics, and the fall 2016 editio… | MIT | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 13 | Classical Mechanics 8.01SC is MIT's first physics course, an introduction to classical mechanics, in the OpenCourseWare Scholar format bu… | MIT | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 14 | A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations is a six-week CornellX course taught by Rajesh Bhaskaran, Swanson… | Cornell | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Intermediate | 6 weeks | |
| 15 | Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data 6.431x is MITx's probability course and part of the MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science. | MIT | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | — | 16 weeks | |
| 16 | Calculus Applied! Calculus Applied! | Harvard | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Intermediate | 10 weeks | |
| 17 | Data Analysis: Basic Probability and Statistics Data Analysis: Basic Probability and Statistics is built for people new to probability or wanting an approachable ref… | Harvard | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Beginner | 7 weeks | |
| 18 | Introduction to Probability Introduction to Probability teaches how to reason about uncertainty and randomness and how to make good predictions. | Harvard | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Intermediate | — | |
| 19 | Calculus 1A: Differentiation 18.01.1x Calculus 1A: Differentiation is the first of three MITx modules that together cover MIT's single variable ca… | MIT | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | — | 14 weeks | |
| 20 | Calculus 1B: Integration 18.01.2x Calculus 1B: Integration is the second of the three MITx calculus modules, sitting between Calculus 1A: Diff… | MIT | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | — | 15 weeks | |
| 21 | College Algebra with Python Certification A one-semester college algebra course taught through Python. | freeCodeCamp | Free | IncludedCertificate included | — | — | |
| 22 | Statistics and probability Khan Academy's Statistics and probability course is organized into 16 units. | Khan Academy | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 23 | Algebra 1 Algebra 1 on Khan Academy is a 17-unit course that starts with algebra foundations and solving equations and inequali… | Khan Academy | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 24 | Calculus 1 Calculus 1 is Khan Academy's single-variable calculus course, arranged in eight units. | Khan Academy | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 25 | Analysis of Algorithms Analysis of Algorithms is Robert Sedgewick's Princeton course on the mathematics used to make precise quantitative pr… | Princeton | Free | NoneNo certificate | Advanced | 2 weeks | |
| 26 | CS223A - Introduction to Robotics Introduction to Robotics is Oussama Khatib's graduate course CS223A, released on Stanford Engineering Everywhere. | Stanford | Free | NoneNo certificate | — | — | |
| 27 | Data Science: Linear Regression Data Science: Linear Regression covers how to implement linear regression in R and how to use it to adjust for confou… | Harvard | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Beginner | 8 weeks | |
| 28 | Data Science: Probability Data Science: Probability, part of HarvardX's Professional Certificate in Data Science, teaches the probability theor… | Harvard | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Beginner | 8 weeks | |
| 29 | Fundamentals of Statistics 18.6501x Fundamentals of Statistics is an MITx course in the MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science. | MIT | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | — | 17 weeks | |
| 30 | Statistics and R Statistics and R is the first course in HarvardX's Data Analysis for Life Sciences series. | Harvard | Free to audit | PaidPaid certificate | Intermediate | 4 weeks |
Mathematics courses by provider
Questions about free mathematics courses
Can I get a free certificate for a mathematics course?
Rarely. Most free mathematics material comes from non-profits and university archives that issue no certificate, and university courses on platforms charge for one. Filter by certificate on this page to see the exceptions.
Where should I start if my mathematics is rusty?
Start below the level you think you need and move quickly. Self-paced platforms let you test into a level, and reviewing arithmetic and algebra takes far less time than struggling through calculus without them.
Are free mathematics courses enough to prepare for university?
They can cover the content of pre-university courses in full, but they do not replace formal credit or an examination result. Check your target institution's entry requirements and use the free courses as preparation.