Compare courses from top Australian unis, TAFEs and other training organisations.
Recent developments in online learning mean that you can study anywhere, any time – so why not on your holiday? Marni recommends six free MOOCs to keep your brain active over the long summer days ahead.
Jun 23,2025
Love holidays but get a little restless after a few days off? If you’re the type who likes to keep your brain active while your body relaxes, summer is the perfect time to dip into a MOOC—a massive open online course.
MOOCs are free, online courses run by top universities and institutions from around the world. You can learn on your own time, from anywhere—even poolside. Whether you’re curious about psychology, digital marketing, coding, sustainability or even dog grooming, there’s a MOOC out there with your name on it.
MOOCs are ideal if you want to:
They’re also a great first step before pursuing recognised qualifications in areas like tech, marketing, mental health, or business leadership.
Partnered with universities like Stanford, Yale, and Monash, Coursera offers thousands of short courses. Many are free to audit, with optional certificates available for a fee.
Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX features university-level MOOCs in areas like data science, engineering, ethics, and business.
Based in the UK, FutureLearn delivers short online courses with a strong social learning component—ideal for curious beginners.
Unlike traditional MOOCs, Udemy offers low-cost, skill-focused video courses led by experts, including coding bootcamps, Photoshop training, and leadership tips.
Falling in love with learning again? That’s often what happens. A summer MOOC can be the perfect first step into a new career path—or a warm-up before enrolling in a nationally recognised online course.
Popular online qualification areas include:
You might just use this summer to launch a new professional chapter.
And yes, we recommend keeping the sand out of your laptop.
Marni Williams provides tips on career progression, job applications, and educational pathways at Career FAQs.