Can I learn data engineering for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many data engineering courses offer a free audit option, allowing learners to access video lessons and reading materials at no cost. To complete assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a data engineering course?

You’ll learn how to build and manage data processing systems, work with data warehouses and data lakes, use tools like SQL , Apache Spark , and Airflow, and understand how to design reliable and scalable data pipelines.

Do I need a background in data science or programming to start learning data engineering?

Not necessarily. Many beginner-friendly courses start with the fundamentals and explain data engineering concepts clearly. However, some familiarity with programming and data analysis can be helpful as you progress to more advanced topics.

Can Coursera’s data engineering courses help me in my career?

Yes. Data engineering is a fast-growing field with high demand in tech, finance , healthcare , and many other industries. Coursera’s data engineering courses can help you build job-ready skills, prepare for certification exams, and earn certificates that showcase your expertise to employers.

Top Data Engineering Courses - Learn Data Engineering Online

Q: What are the best data engineering courses on Coursera?

Top courses include the Data Engineering Foundations from IBM , Introduction to Data Engineering with DeepLearning.AI , and Data Engineering, Big Data, and Machine Learning on GCP from Google Cloud . These programs teach how to design, build, and manage data pipelines using modern tools and cloud platforms .

Find the Best Data Engineering Course for Your Goals

Google Cloud
ETL Processing on Google Cloud Using Dataflow and BigQuery
Skills you'll gain: Data Pipelines, Extract, Transform, Load, Dataflow, Data Processing, Scripting, Google Cloud Platform, Big Data, Scripting Languages
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Intermediate · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Fundação Instituto de Administração
Fundamentos de Inteligência Artificial para Finanças
Skills you'll gain: Deep Learning, Predictive Analytics, FinTech, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Machine Learning, Digital Transformation, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Neural Networks, Business Transformation, Finance, Accounting, Financial Services, Data Science
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Network Principles in Practice: Cloud Networking
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Computing, Cloud Infrastructure, Software-Defined Networking, Wide Area Networks, Network Architecture, Virtualization, Load Balancing, Data Centers, Terraform, Virtual Machines, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Google Cloud Platform, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Cisco Learning and Certifications
Ansible for Network Automation
Skills you'll gain: Ansible, YAML, Network Architecture, Network Administration, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Network Infrastructure, General Networking, Automation, System Configuration, Software Documentation, Configuration Management, Python Programming
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Robot Localization with Python and Particle Filters
Skills you'll gain: Spatial Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Data Manipulation, Simulations, NumPy, Computer Vision
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Advanced · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free
DeepLearning.AI
Building Agentic RAG with LlamaIndex
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI Agents, Agentic systems, Generative AI, Debugging, Artificial Intelligence, Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Document Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
51 reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Public Involvement in Research
Skills you'll gain: Research, Research Methodologies, Program Evaluation, Community Health, Public Health, Health Policy, Surveys, Qualitative Research, Research Design, Data Collection, Interviewing Skills
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera Project Network
Dynamic Dashboards with Tableau: Advanced Sales Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Tableau Software, Data Visualization Software, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Analysis
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Codio
Software Testing for Developers
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Cucumber (Software), Postman API Platform, Software Testing, Behavior-Driven Development, Test Tools, Selenium (Software), Test Driven Development (TDD), Unit Testing, Acceptance Testing, Performance Testing, Functional Testing, Test Automation, Usability Testing, Application Programming Interface (API), User Interface (UI), Test Case, API Design
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
15 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Electron and Ion Beam Characterization
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Failure Analysis, Image Analysis, Electronic Components, Laboratory Equipment, Chemistry, Laboratory Research, Quantitative Research, Scientific Visualization, Qualitative Research
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
14 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Linear Regression Modeling for Health Data
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Modeling, Regression Analysis, Statistical Methods, Statistical Inference, Probability & Statistics, Correlation Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Predictive Modeling
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
LearnQuest
Test-Driven Development
Skills you'll gain: Continuous Delivery, Test Driven Development (TDD), Unit Testing, Continuous Deployment, Continuous Integration, CI/CD, Agile Methodology, Test Automation, Code Review, Maintainability, Software Development, Mockups, Software Development Methodologies, Test Case, Development Testing, Software Testing, Integration Testing, Debugging, Python Programming, Version Control
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
80 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months