Top Free Online Courses in Statistics and Data Analysis

There are now more online learning options than ever, including courses which are - thank you Internet - absolutely free. Whether you want to prepare for your upcoming university course, need to pick up some extra skills to help with your job, or you are just interested in a subject and want to learn more, there will be an online course out there that can help you achieve your goals. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many of us to spend more time indoors and less time on campus or at evening classes, online courses can be a great way to carry on your education while minimising risk. Here are some of the best the internet has to offer in the area of statistics and data analysis.

1. Statistics with R Specialisation by Coursera (Duke University)

• Duration: 10 weeks
• Background needed: Basic math, no programming experience required.

2. Intro to Statistics by Udacity (Stanford University)

• Duration: 8 weeks
• Background needed: Introductory course, no experience required.

3. Statistical Learning by Stanford University

• Duration: 10 weeks
• Background needed: Basic knowledge of statistics, linear algebra, and computing.

4. Introduction to R by Leada

• Duration: Self Paced
• Background needed: Introductory course, no experience required.

5. Statistics: The Science of Decisions by Udacity (San Jose State University)

• Duration: Self Paced; approximately 4 months
• Background needed: Basic understanding of proportions (fractions, decimals, and percentages), negative numbers, basic algebra (solving equations), and exponents and square roots.

6. Introduction to Probability Theory by Saylor

• Duration: Self Paced
• Background needed: Completed courses in single-variable and multi-variable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, or equivalents.

7. Statistical Thinking for Data Science and Analytics by EDX (Columbia University)

• Duration: 5 weeks
• Background needed: Introductory course, no experience required.

8. Foundations of Data Analysis - Part 1: Statistics Using R by EDX (University of Texas)

• Duration: 6 weeks
• Background needed: Introductory course, no experience required.

9. Learning from Data - Caltech

• Duration: Self Paced
• Background needed: Introductory course, no experience required.