Here are the 25 most popular free online university courses and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) starting in January 2023, based on Class Central learners’ activity.

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Design Thinking: Insights to Inspiration
University of Virginia via Coursera
In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, we will introduce you to the design thinking process. It is a project-based course in which you will identify a human-centered problem that you want to solve.

Business Development: From Start to Scale
Indian Institute of Technology Madras via Swayam
This 12-week course equips the learners with various concepts and frameworks for establishing and growing businesses. Focusing on customers and markets, the course covers the foundational as well as advanced constructs of business development.

College English Prep
University of North Texas via Coursera
The College English Prep MOOC is targeted at students preparing to enter college and who need to take the English and Writing Placement Exams. Information in this course is also applicable to all students who take the CollegeBoard Accuplacer Exam.

Management: Entrepreneur Development
Gujarat University via Swayam
The main objective of this course is to develop entrepreneurial abilities by providing background information about support systems, skill sets, financial and risk covering institutions and other for building an enterprise so that future budding entrepreneurs can make right decisions for starting and running a venture.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Investments
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur via Swayam
Over the next few decades, machine-learning (ML) and AI will transform not only the finance industry but also other industries that borrow significantly from finance. This program has been carefully designed to help future analysts, traders, brokers, consultants and other industry professionals leverage AI.

Excellence in Online Teaching
Johns Hopkins University via Coursera
This course is aimed at anyone who is teaching online or will be in the future. Learners will come away with ways to improve their online courses and teaching practices today.

Empathy and Data in Risk Management
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign via Coursera
Risk Management and Innovation develops your ability to conduct empathy-driven and data-driven analysis in the domain of risk management. This course focuses on the process of managing enterprise risk, in which understanding both data and stakeholder enriches each step.

Modern Computer Vision
Indian Institute of Technology Madras via Swayam
This course explores both classical and deep learning-based approaches to computer vision. Starting from introduction to deep learning, it goes on to discuss traditional approaches as well as deep networks for a variety of vision tasks including low-level vision, 3D geometry, mid-level vision and high-level vision.

5G Network Fundamentals
Institut Mines-Télécom via Coursera
This MOOC presents the services and the architecture of 5G networks, the main principles of the new radio interface (NR), data flow management, security and the new Service-Based Architecture (SBA).

The History of Medicine: Philosophy, Science, and Psychology
University of California, Santa Cruz via Coursera
“History of Medicine” provides an accessible historical and interdisciplinary perspective on medicine, focused primarily upon therapy and practice, to achieve better understanding of the scope, practice, and limits of medicine.

Computer Aided Decision Systems – Industrial practices using Big Analytics
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur via Swayam
With huge numbers of sensors, smartphones, vehicles and systems being connected, the data and information is being generated at an unprecedented pace. This course covers the major sectors that utilize the Big Data Analytics vis-à-vis Retail Industry, Engineering and Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Transportation.

GetVirtual: How to Launch Your Online Business
University of California, Santa Cruz via Coursera
The GetVirtual (GV) online training series teaches future entrepreneurs how to launch their first online business by providing step-by-step guidance for launching a website, building a logo and understanding the basics of online social media marketing.

Psychology of Individual Differences
University of Kashmir via Swayam
The course is specially designed to develop the comprehension of the students about the concept of individual differences with the goal to promote self-reflection and understanding of self and others.

Linux Kernel Programming and Introduction to Yocto Project
University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera
This course provides an introduction to Kernel Driver development for the Linux operating system. The Yocto build system is introduced, which students use to build their own custom Embedded Linux system through programming assignments.

One Health
NPTEL via Swayam
One Health recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals as well as the environment and some diseases that are shared between animals and people known as zoonotic diseases. This course will give you a brief history and evolution of One Health concept, its application, relevance and success.

Sociology of Media
St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata via Swayam
The course provides an introduction to the study of media and mediated communication from a sociological perspective, focusing on the societal role and importance of traditional and new media. To put it simply, it provides a basic understanding of the correlation between media and functioning of the society and vice versa.

SQL Fundamentals
University of Wisconsin–Madison via edX
Learn the fundamentals of SQL and database management.

Pupillometry: The Eye as a Window Into the Mind
University of Oslo via FutureLearn
Examine the science of pupillometry and explore the eye as a window into the mind with the University of Oslo.

Transform Techniques for Engineers
Indian Institute of Technology Madras via Swayam
The aim of the course is to teach various transform techniques that are essential for a student of physical sciences and engineering. They include, Fourier series, Fourier transforms, Laplace transform and Z-transforms.

Engineering Statistics
NPTEL via Swayam
We have to deal with data all the time and it has to be analyzed in a systematic way to extract information. This course introduces all basic concepts in statistics and prepares one to use statistics in many engineering applications.

Football: More than a Game
University of Edinburgh via Coursera
Explore the world of football (soccer), the money, the rivalries, the trends, the past, the present, the men’s game, the woman’s game and the real issues. Whether you love it, hate it or try to ignore it – join us as we go behind the scenes to examine why football is more than just a game.

Question Reality: Mind
Dartmouth College via Coursera
This course explores questions about mathematics, nature, and perfection. You will learn about logic, computers, simulations, and different perspectives on the nature of human consciousness. You will also be able to determine what free will means to you and your reality.

Quantum Algorithms and Cryptography
Indian Institute of Technology Madras via Swayam
The course will cover the exciting impact on cryptography created by the advent of quantum computers. Quantum computers, which harness the power of quantum mechanics, have demonstrated surprising power over classical computers.

Anthropology_Human Genetics
University of Kashmir via Swayam
This is an introductory course discussing the rapid advancements in our understanding of the role of human genome in health and disease.

Urban Services Planning
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur via Swayam
This course covers the fundamentals of urban services planning including solid waste management, municipal health and social services and other urban services such as street lighting, fire services, and more.