Best Economics Online Courses for Undergraduates
Explore top economics courses free for undergraduates in 2025. Build skills through MIT OCW economics, edX, and SWAYAM economics and prepare for future opportunities.
Have you ever questioned how markets collapse, governments formulate policies, or companies set prices? Economics is the answer to these fascinating forces that affect our daily existence. In the present time, students can learn economics for free online through websites such as Coursera, edX, and India's own SWAYAM portal for economics, along with some paid courses from MIT OCW economics and other top-tier universities. These exhaustive courses range from microeconomic concepts to applied econometrics and, therefore, allow a student to benefit from the same high-level education that has traditionally been obtained by an expensive tuition fee. Economics is now easy-to-learn if you want to get involved in policymaking, work as a business analyst, or conduct academic research.
Best Economics Online Courses for Undergraduates
Check these economics online courses for undergraduate students. I have provided the platforms they are available on, the duration needed to complete the course, and the fee for each course.
Course Name | Platform / Provider | Duration | Free / Cost (INR) |
Introduction to Economic Theories | Erasmus University via Coursera | 41 hours (8 weeks) | Free to audit; certificate extra |
Economics: Consumer Demand | Babson College via edX | 4 weeks | Free to audit; certificate paid |
AP Microeconomics | MIT via edX | 12 weeks | Free to audit; ₹4,100 for certificate (USD $49) |
Fundamentals of Macroeconomics | Universidad Carlos III de Madrid via edX | 6 weeks | Free to audit; certificate paid |
Introduction to Economics | Alison | Variable (self-paced) | Free; certificate optional |
Modern Economics | Alison | Variable (self-paced) | Free; certificate optional |
Fundamentals of Economics | GD Goenka University via SWAYAM | 6 weeks | Free; certification may cost via SWAYAM exam (₹) |
Introduction to Environmental Economics | IIT Roorkee via NPTEL | 12 weeks | Free |
Introduction to Econometrics | IIT Madras via SWAYAM | 12 weeks | Free |
Principles of Macroeconomics-I | Swayam (Prof. Kamlesh Gakhar) | 15 weeks | Free; paid certificate option |
That's an overview of Economics courses. Why not look out for what they have in skills and the outcomes to help you pick up a more useful course?
1. Coursera’s Introduction to Economic Theories
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Major schools of thought including Keynesian, Classical, and Institutional economics. |
Duration | 8 weeks (41 hours total). |
Skills | Critical thinking, policy analysis, understanding economic models. |
Outcome | Builds strong fundamentals for future research or higher studies in economics. |
2. Edx’s Economics: Consumer Demand
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Price–quantity relationship, demand curves, and elasticity concepts. |
Duration | 4 weeks. |
Skills | Market analysis, demand forecasting, problem-solving. |
Outcome | Helps students understand buyer behavior, useful for business and management studies. |
3. AP Microeconomics course from edX
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Supply-demand, market equilibrium, consumer choice, and producer theory. |
Duration | 12 weeks (self-paced). |
Skills | Analytical thinking, graph-based problem solving, investment basics in market structures. |
Outcome | Recognized as one of the best MIT OCW economics resources, builds a solid base for higher-level economics courses. |
4. Fundamentals of Macroeconomics available on eDX
Feature | Details |
What it covers | GDP, inflation, fiscal policy, and monetary systems. |
Duration | 6 weeks. |
Skills | Understanding global economies, macro indicators, data interpretation. |
Outcome | Prepares students for roles in finance, government, and business strategy. |
5. Alison’s Introduction to Economics to learn basics
Feature | Details |
What it covers | GDP, growth models, capital, and national income. |
Duration | Self-paced (variable). |
Skills | Basic economic principles, analytical reasoning. |
Outcome | A flexible choice among economics courses free for beginners. |
6. Modern Economics course on Alison to understand policy making
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Inflation, CPI, unemployment, and policy responses. |
Duration | Self-paced (variable). |
Skills | Understanding real-world challenges in modern economies. |
Outcome | Good for undergraduates who want a quick and practical course. |
7. SWAYAM’s economic course on fundamentals of Economics
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Supply-demand, elasticity, growth, and business cycles. |
Duration | 6 weeks. |
Skills | Market analysis, macro and micro foundations. |
Outcome | Great entry point to SWAYAM economics courses with certification options. |
8. Beginner’s Introduction to Environmental Economics via NPTEL
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Environmental policies, resource management, and sustainable growth. |
Duration | 12 weeks. |
Skills | Policy design, environmental awareness, economic problem-solving. |
Outcome | Perfect for students interested in sustainability and policy-making careers. |
9. SWAYAM Introduction to Econometrics
Feature | Details |
What it covers | Statistical tools, regression analysis, and economic modeling. |
Duration | 12 weeks. |
Skills | Data analysis, applied statistics, econometric modeling. |
Outcome | Prepares students for advanced research and careers in analytics. |
10. Principles of Macroeconomics on SWAYAM
Feature | Details |
What it covers | National income, money supply, and macroeconomic stability. |
Duration | 15 weeks. |
Skills | Economic reasoning, data interpretation, macro analysis. |
Outcome | Strong foundation for students aiming for government jobs, UPSC, or higher studies. |
These are some of the top economic courses you can explore as an undergraduate. The best choice for you will depend on things like cost, duration, and the kind of skills you want to build. Picking two or three that really fit your goals can not only boost your knowledge but also add real value to your resume when you’re looking for jobs.