Best Economics Online Courses for Undergraduates

Akanksha

Updated On: September 15, 2025 11:10 PM

Explore top economics courses free for undergraduates in 2025. Build skills through MIT OCW economics, edX, and SWAYAM economics and prepare for future opportunities.
Best Economics Online Courses for Undergraduates

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.

Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?

Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!

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