Introduction to Coursera’s new course preview: A more meaningful way to start learning

Tim Hannan, Chief Marketing Officer, Coursera

Since its inception in 2012, Coursera has been working to increase access to world-class education. Over the years, we have introduced features such as course audit, financial aid and AI-driven translation to enable as many people as possible to learn and learn. Today, we have taken another step in this evolution, introducing a new course preview experience that provides learners with a deeper and more meaningful way to explore content before taking a full course.

This new model replaces our audit experience and allows learners to preview the first module of each course on Coursera for free. This includes full access to key platform features, such as hierarchical tasks and Coursera coaches, if available in the course. Our early testing showed that the entire suite of course leads to engagement and completion among our learners, thus accelerating their path to mastering skills. To further support global accessibility, we will also launch local pricing while continuing to offer choice and support to learners with financial needs.

Updated experiences include:

• Free course preview: Learners can explore the first module of most courses for free – including assessment, video content and AI-driven support features such as Coach.

• Free community impact courses: Learners will receive free access to certain courses that address urgent social needs such as mental health, refugee support and public health.

• Local pricing: We have introduced new geographic domain models to reflect regional purchasing power and ensure affordability for a variety of emerging markets.

• Financial Aid: Eligible learners can still apply for full access to common course content and certificates for free or at reduced costs.

This evolution marks a new chapter in how we invite learners into Coursera’s journey – more engaging, easier to access and better aligned with their goals from the outset, while supporting the long-term growth and impact of our platform. We are excited to build this future with our global learners, partners and institutions.