Free Project Management Courses
Free project management courses and previews from Coursera, edX, Alison and PMI, plus study options and Australian qualification costs.
Learn the essentials of Project Management with our list of free online courses and course previews. Choose from university style, tutorials, or short courses.
Online Courses
1. University style
Coursera (free previews)
- Connected Leadership: Yale University
- Agile with Atlassian Jira: Atlassian
- How to Manage a Remote Team: GitLab
edX
- Introduction to Project Management
- Project Management for Development
Free auditing is available for many edX courses for a limited period. Certificates and graded assessments generally require payment. Check the enrolment options for each course.
2. Online tutorials
Coursera (free previews)
- Budgeting and Scheduling Projects
- Initiating and Planning Projects
- Managing Project Risks and Changes
- Project Management: The Basics for Success
3. Short courses (skills training)
ALISON
- Diploma in Modern Project Management
- Diploma in Project Management
- Fundamentals of Project Management
- Introduction to Modern Project Management Theory and Practice
- Modern Project Management – Managing the Start-up, Scheduling and Budgeting
- Modern Project Management – Working with Clients and Project Teams
- Modern Project Management – Quality, Risk, Procurement and Project Closeout
Alison courses are free to study and complete. Purchasing a digital or printed certificate is optional.
4. Foundational courses (introductory)
PMI
- PMI Kickoff™
- Business Continuity
- Disciplined Agile® Essentials: A Toolkit for Agile Ways of Working (free for PMI members)
- Free Introduction: Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Study Project Management for Free
Managing projects effectively requires extensive business skills and knowledge. We’ve listed specialised project management courses which are fully online, including free courses, audit options and previews.
You may also want to study free online courses on topics such as leading teams, business planning, and finance. These and many other business fields are relevant to project management.
Types of courses
Uni style
University-style courses are online versions of the kinds of project management units you can study at university. They may have start and end dates. Providers such as Coursera and edX offer free previews or auditing for courses from institutions such as Adelaide University and the University of Virginia.
Online tutorials
Online tutorials explore topics such as project planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing. The courses are typically self-paced and may include video lectures, interactive quizzes, and hands-on projects or case studies. They can be a great way to develop or enhance project management skills and knowledge.
Free short courses
Free short courses are a good option for quickly picking up some practical PM skills. They are self paced and allow you to quickly learn what you need to know. ALISON has several specialist project management courses.
Introductory courses
Introductory courses introduce basic concepts. Some are free teaser courses for more in-depth, paid programs, while others provide standalone training. Ideal for beginners, but may have limited depth.
How to use Coursera
Coursera replaced its general Audit Only option with free course previews in August 2025. Most courses let you preview the first module, including any graded assessments in that module, without paying.
Access to the remaining modules and a certificate generally requires payment. Some courses may still offer a Full Course, No Certificate option, so check the enrolment choices for the individual course.
A free trial provides temporary access to paid content and may convert to a paid subscription. An “Enrol for free” button does not necessarily mean the entire course is free.
Cost Comparison for Australia
The cost of accredited PM courses in Australia varies widely depending on the level of qualification. Here’s a brief overview based on the provider sample in our September 2026 cost comparison.
- Certificate IV: Sample average cost is $4,789, with state-based government subsidies reducing tuition fees to zero for some eligible students.
- Diploma: Sample average cost is $7,703, also potentially tuition-free with government subsidies.
- Graduate Certificate: Sample average cost is $16,180 for the entire program.
- Graduate Diploma: Estimated at $32,360 for an eight-subject course.
- Master’s Degree: Estimated at $48,540 for a 12-subject course.
Graduate diploma and masters estimates use the graduate certificate sample average per subject. Figures exclude additional charges and future annual fee increases.
FEE-HELP loans allow eligible students in approved full-fee postgraduate courses to defer tuition fees. Compulsory repayments begin when repayment income exceeds the applicable threshold.
Further details: Project Management Course Cost Comparison