Free online courses are available on learning platforms such as Serlo, Khan Academy, openHPI and Coursera, in freely accessible lecture material such as that from MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn, and at your own university. The right place to look depends on your goal. Options are refreshing the basics, understanding an exam subject or exploring a new topic.
Most providers make their content freely accessible. Some only charge for certificates, grading or additional features.
Quick answer
Free learning websites and learning apps exist for almost every subject. Serlo, Khan Academy and Studyflix explain basics in German, openHPI offers computer science courses, and Coursera, MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn provide English-language university courses. Content is mostly free to use, while certificates and extras sometimes cost money. As of October 2026.
Key points at a glance
- For German-language basics in mathematics, science and economics, Serlo, Khan Academy and Studyflix are suitable. For computer science and IT, the courses from openHPI are the right choice.
- English-language university courses and lecture material are available from Coursera, MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn.
- With most providers the content is free. Certificates, grading and additional features sometimes cost extra, and the conditions change.
- Your university usually gives you access to the library, databases and e-books at no extra cost.
- Funded further training runs through the training voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the Federal Employment Agency. A counselling session before you start shows whether it is an option for you.
Which free learning platforms are there for students?
The overview sorts the most important offers by focus and language. The cost information describes the basic principle of each provider. Because conditions change, it is worth checking the provider’s website before you sign up.
| Platform | Focus | Language | Costs in principle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serlo | Mathematics, natural sciences, basics for teacher training | German | Non-profit and donation-funded, usable without payment |
| Khan Academy | Mathematics, natural sciences, economics | German and English | Non-profit organisation, content freely usable |
| openHPI | Computer science and IT topics | German and English | Courses of the Hasso Plattner Institute without a participation fee |
| Studyflix | Business studies, economics, law, mathematics, technical subjects | German | Explainer videos can be watched without payment, check additional offers |
| Coursera and edX | University courses in economics, IT, psychology, data science | mostly English | Partly viewable without payment, certificates and graded assignments cost money, priced per course or by subscription |
| MIT OpenCourseWare | Lecture material of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology | English | Materials freely accessible, without credit or supervision |
| OpenLearn | Self-study courses of the Open University | English | Courses usable without payment |
| Quizlet | Flashcards and learning games for every subject | multilingual | Basic functions free, some functions paid |
Where can you find free online courses in German?
For getting into a subject, German-language offers are usually the quickest solution. You then do not have to work through technical terms and a foreign language at the same time.
Serlo is a non-profit, donation-funded learning platform without advertising. It explains mathematics and natural sciences step by step and contains exercises with solutions. Serlo is useful when you want to refresh school material that your degree assumes, such as analysis in the first semester.
The Khan Academy belongs to a non-profit organisation and offers videos and exercises on mathematics, natural sciences and economics. It suits you if you want to build up a topic from scratch and work through the calculations yourself.
If you study computer science or an IT-related subject, openHPI offers courses from the Hasso Plattner Institute. They are structured like lectures, with videos, self-tests and discussion forums.
Studyflix provides short explainer videos with accompanying texts on business studies, economics, law, mathematics and technical subjects. The format suits targeted revision before an exam. Building up a whole subject systematically works better with longer courses. The app makes learning on the move easier.
Where can you find free university courses in English?
English-language platforms offer the wider selection of subjects and greater depth. You also practise the specialist vocabulary you need for international literature and English-taught degree programmes.
Coursera brings together courses from universities and companies on business, IT, psychology and data science. For some courses you can view the content without payment. For certificates and graded assignments, the provider charges money, either per course or through a subscription. edX works on a similar principle, although the conditions differ from course to course.
MIT OpenCourseWare provides lecture material from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including notes and problem sets. There is no supervision and no credit. For self-study in mathematics, computer science and engineering, it is a solid supplement.
OpenLearn belongs to the Open University in the United Kingdom and offers self-study courses in English. This is especially helpful in international or English-taught degree programmes.
Do certificates from online courses count towards a degree?
Whether a university recognises an external course as a study achievement is decided by the examinations office on a case-by-case basis. Ask before you start, bring the course description and clarify which proof is sufficient. Without this confirmation, a certificate is an additional qualification for your CV, nothing more.
Which learning resources does your own university offer?
Your university’s library is often the best free source of specialist literature. Many universities license databases, e-books and specialist journals and make them available to students at no extra cost. Which ones depends on the university. Commonly cited examples are WISO, JSTOR, Beck-Online and SpringerLink. Ask the library which access you have and whether you can use it from home.
In addition, there is your university’s learning platform. Many universities use systems such as Moodle or ILIAS, where lecturers store notes, exercises and recordings. Student councils often also collect learning material and know which courses work well in your degree programme.
Learning also involves software for texts, literature and data. An overview of free software for studying (in German) shows which tools are worth it.
Which apps suit learning for your studies?
There is no single best app. It depends on your learning goal. For flashcards and review, Quizlet is suitable. LearningSnacks focuses on short learning units for in-between moments. If you prefer watching, use the Studyflix app or YouTube channels such as “Mathe by Daniel Jung” or “The Simple Club”.
For situations where you cannot look at a screen, audio formats are an option. Podcasts for students (in German) cover subject matter as well as learning techniques and career topics.
Before you use an app long term, check three things. Do you have to create an account? Which functions cost money? Does the content suit your subject? Conditions for apps change frequently.
How do you recognise good free online courses?
Not every free offer is helpful. These questions help with the choice.
- Who is behind it? Universities, foundations and non-profit associations usually disclose who runs them.
- How is the offer financed? Advertising, donations or a paid option for additional features say something about the provider’s incentives.
- Is the content current? Explanations in law, tax and software age quickly, so look for a date.
- Does the level fit? An introductory course does not help if you need exercises at exam level.
- Are there practice exercises with solutions? Those who only watch retain less than someone who calculates and writes for themselves.
- Do you need a certificate at all? If you only want knowledge, the freely accessible content is usually enough.
How do you fit online courses into your studies?
One course after another works better than five half-finished playlists. Decide what you want to be able to do at the end, and schedule fixed learning slots in your week.
Example. Mia is studying business administration in her third semester and wants to consolidate statistics before the exam. She chooses a German-language explainer for the basics, then solves the exercises from her university’s lecture notes and creates flashcards for formulas. If she lacks an English technical term, she looks it up in a course from OpenLearn or MIT OpenCourseWare.
This process works for any subject. Understand first, then practise, then review. Online courses do not replace lectures, they fill gaps.
When is the training voucher worthwhile?
If you want vocational further training funded, you usually need the training voucher (Bildungsgutschein) (in German) from the Federal Employment Agency. It confirms that the requirements for funding are met. The Federal Employment Agency is responsible. Since 1 January 2025, jobcentre clients can also receive it through the Agency.
The voucher is aimed at the unemployed and those threatened with unemployment. Employees may receive it under additional conditions. The training lasts more than 120 hours, the vocational qualification is usually at least two years old, and there has been no funded further training in the last two years. There is a legal entitlement only under certain conditions, for example if there is no vocational training. Otherwise the decision lies at the Agency’s discretion.
Important. A counselling session comes before the training starts. Providers and courses must be approved, and the voucher is limited in time, in region and to a specific training goal, usually to 1 to 3 months. In the conversation, the Agency clarifies which costs are covered and whether your preferred course is possible. The requirements are listed on the Federal Employment Agency website.
If you want to progress after graduation, an overview of further training options after your degree (in German) helps.
Frequently asked questions
Where can students find free courses?
On platforms such as Serlo, Khan Academy, openHPI and Studyflix for German-language basics, on Coursera, MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn for English-language university courses, and in the library and on your university’s learning platform. Before you sign up, check whether an account is needed and which functions cost money.
Is Studyflix free?
The explainer videos on Studyflix can be watched without payment. The provider may charge for additional offers, and this occasionally changes. The current conditions are on studyflix.de. Check them before you decide on a subscription.
Which digital learning platforms are free?
Mainly non-profit or publicly funded offers such as Serlo, Khan Academy, openHPI, MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn are freely usable. Commercial platforms such as Coursera or Quizlet offer a free access level but restrict some functions. The table above shows the basic principle for each provider.
Are free online courses useful for my CV?
Yes, if you choose them to suit your goal and can say what you learned. State the provider, topic and period. A long list of unfinished courses looks weaker than two completed ones that fit your application.
Where can I get free specialist literature as a student?
In your university’s library. There you get access to licensed databases, e-books and specialist journals, usually also from home via the university login. The library or its website will tell you which offers are available.
How to proceed now
- Decide what you want to learn and by when. A concrete goal such as “statistics for the exam” produces better results than “some economics”.
- Try two platforms from the table on one topic and stick with the one that explains things better for you.
- Ask the university library about databases and e-books, and look at your degree programme’s learning platform.
- Check whether an account is needed and which functions cost money before you sign up.
- If you want funded further training, arrange a counselling session with the Federal Employment Agency before you book a course.
Related articles
- Software for students, free programmes (in German)
- Podcasts for students, discover learning and inspiration (in German)
- Further training after your degree, options at a glance (in German)
- Training voucher, who gets it and how to apply (in German)
Sources
- Serlo learning platform (provider site, retrieved October 2026)
- openHPI course platform of the Hasso Plattner Institute (provider site, retrieved October 2026)
- Studyflix learning videos (provider site, retrieved October 2026)
- Coursera prices and certificates (provider site, retrieved October 2026)
- Federal Employment Agency, training voucher
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
