Free Philosophy Courses with Certificates

Check free philosophy courses online that help you learn ethics, logic, and reasoning in a simple and flexible way. These courses also provide certificates to support your academic and career growth.

Table of Contents

Free Philosophy Courses with Certificates
1. OpenLearn’s Introducing Philosophy Course
2. An Introduction to Philosophy available on Alison
3. Philosophy and Critical Thinking by University of Queensland
4. edx’s Plato, Socrates, and the Birth of Western Philosophy …
5. Introduction to Philosophy on Coursera
6. Ethics and Global Challenges – FutureLearn

Free Philosophy Courses with Certificates

Have you ever wondered why we think in a certain way, or what exactly makes something right or wrong? Then you are already thinking in a philosophical way. Many students deem the subject difficult, but actually philosophy is simply a question-asking about experiences that everyone encounters in daily life: truth, ethics, reasoning, and happiness.

Good news is, you don't need to go broke doing it. There are numerous online courses in philosophy that don't cost students anything, are geared towards easy learning, and offer maximum flexibility. Whether you want to check out an ethics course for free or brush up your skills in reasoning and logic online, you may find it useful that these courses are set up simply and practically.

Free Philosophy Courses with Certificates

Here is a brief listing of free philosophy certificate courses that students can join online to learn skills in ethics, logic, and critical thinking.

S.No.	Course Name	Platform / Provider	Cost / Notes
1	Introducing Philosophy	OpenLearn (The Open University)	100% Free (includes free statement of participation).
2	An Introduction to Philosophy	Alison	Course free, but certificates are paid.
3	Philosophy and Critical Thinking	UQx via edX	Free to audit; certificate costs extra.
4	Plato, Socrates, and the Birth of Western Philosophy	TsinghuaX via edX	Free to audit; certificate costs extra.
5	Introduction to Philosophy	University of Edinburgh (Coursera)	Free to audit; certificate costs unless financial aid.
6	Ethics and Global Challenges	FutureLearn	Course free, certificate requires upgrade.

Now that you have an idea of these free courses, let's take a closer look at the skills they develop and what they help you achieve. By having this information, you will find it easier to select the course that best meets your particular learning needs.

1. OpenLearn’s Introducing Philosophy Course

Detail	Information
Platform	OpenLearn (The Open University)
Duration	8–10 hours, self-paced
What it covers	Classic debates in philosophy, questions about reality, morality, and the mind
Skills gained	Critical reading, logical reasoning, ability to analyze arguments, expressing abstract ideas
Outcomes	Confidence in connecting philosophy to modern life, free statement of participation

2. An Introduction to Philosophy available on Alison

Detail	Information
Platform	Alison
Duration	6–8 hours, self-paced
What it covers	Foundations of philosophy including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics
Skills gained	Engaging with logical arguments, awareness of schools of thought, evaluating personal and social decisions
Outcomes	Good starting point for beginners, course free but certificates require payment

3. Philosophy and Critical Thinking by University of Queensland

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (UQx)
Duration	6 weeks, 2–3 hours per week
What it covers	Focus on logic online, identifying strong and weak arguments, avoiding fallacies
Skills gained	Critical thinking, argument analysis, structured problem solving
Outcomes	Practical reasoning skills useful in law, management, and communication, free to audit with optional paid certificate

4. edx’s Plato, Socrates, and the Birth of Western Philosophy Course

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (TsinghuaX)
Duration	8 weeks, 2–4 hours per week
What it covers	Study of Socrates, Plato, and origins of Western philosophy, justice, political and moral systems
Skills gained	Historical context of ideas, analytical thinking, understanding of ethical debates
Outcomes	Strong foundation for exploring free ethics course content, free to audit with paid certificate option

5. Introduction to Philosophy on Coursera

Detail	Information
Platform	Coursera (University of Edinburgh)
Duration	20 hours, 5 weeks with flexible deadlines
What it covers	Six branches of philosophy including morality, metaphysics, political philosophy, science, mind, and epistemology
Skills gained	Broad overview of philosophy, comparative reasoning, linking theory to daily life
Outcomes	Very popular beginner level philosophy course online, free to audit with paid certificate or financial aid option

6. Ethics and Global Challenges – FutureLearn

Detail	Information
Platform	FutureLearn
Duration	4 weeks, 3 hours per week
What it covers	Ethical approaches to global issues such as climate change, technology, war, inequality
Skills gained	Ethical decision making, global awareness, critical reasoning on social issues
Outcomes	Great pick if you want a free ethics course, course is free but certificate requires an upgrade

Philosophy is about thinking clearly and deciding how to live; it is not just about reading old books. Thanks to free online courses, students can explore ideas without the pressure of assignments or examinations. Whether it is an online philosophy course or a free course in ethics or a logic class online, every one of these programs adds value to one's way of perceiving the world.

Take a small step: choose an online course, and let your curiosity be your guide.

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I got 62 in my entrance test in SXC ranchi do I have chance to get addmission?

-Srishti DasUpdated on November 14, 2025 11:18 AM

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P sidhu, Student / Alumni

Dear Srishti ,LPU is best for MBA. If you scored 62 marks in the entrance test at SXC Ranchi, your chances of admission depend on their cutoff for the specific course and the number of seats available. For LPU, admissions are more flexible, and a score like this would not affect your eligibility because LPU considers LPU NEST, previous academic marks and overall merit. If you meet LPU’s basic eligibility criteria, you can easily get admission.

I belong to EWS category, am I eligible for LPU scholarship?

-Malini BeraUpdated on November 12, 2025 11:36 PM

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Anmol Sharma, Student / Alumni

Yes, LPU offers a dedicated Need-Based Financial Aid scheme for students belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category, provided the family income is below the specified limit. This aid provides a significant percentage of financial assistance on the program fee. To apply, you must submit an application form along with a valid EWS Certificate issued by the competent government authority.

I want to take admission in LPU for MA Psychology. Do I have to take an entrance test for admission?

-Shivam VermaUpdated on November 12, 2025 11:31 PM

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Anmol Sharma, Student / Alumni

Yes, admission to the MA Psychology program at LPU generally requires you to qualify the LPUNEST (LPU National Entrance and Scholarship Test). This test serves as a critical entrance criterion, but its score is also crucial for determining your eligibility for substantial scholarship benefits, which LPU strongly encourages for all applicants.