Best Physics Online Courses for Undergraduates

Check some of the best online Physics courses for undergraduates, along with their duration and how much they cost:

S.No.	Course Name	Platform / Provider	Duration	Cost
1	Introduction to Classical Physics	Coursera (University of Virginia)	10 weeks	Free to audit, paid cert
2	Fundamentals of Physics I (Mechanics, Waves)	Coursera (Yale University)	10 weeks	Free to audit, paid cert
3	Mechanics: Motion, Forces, Energy	Khan Academy	Self-paced	Free
4	Physics: Motion, Speed, and Gravity	Alison	10 hours	Free
5	MIT Physics: Classical Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism, Quantum Physics	MIT OpenCourseWare	Self-paced	Free
6	Astrophysics Specialization	Coursera (Australian National University)	5 courses, 4 months	Free to audit, paid cert
7	NPTEL Physics Courses (Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Quantum Physics, Thermodynamics)	NPTEL (IIT Professors)	8–12 weeks per course	Free (₹1,000 for cert)
8	Modern Physics: Relativity and Quantum Mechanics	edX (MIT & Harvard)	12 weeks	Free to audit, paid cert
9	AP Physics 1 – Mechanics	edX (Rice University)	12 weeks	Free to audit, paid cert
10	Physics of Everyday Thinking	FutureLearn	4 weeks	Free to access, paid cert

Alright, let's break down these Physics Online Courses for Undergraduates so you know exactly what you're getting into.

1. Coursera’s Classical Physics Introduction

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Newtonian mechanics, vectors, kinematics, energy, and momentum.
Skills you gain	Strong foundation in problem-solving, applying formulas, conceptual clarity in mechanics.
Outcome	Prepares you for advanced physics courses online and undergraduate study.
Duration	~10 weeks.
Cost	Free to audit; certificate available for a fee.
USP	Beginner-friendly course designed for students with little or no background in physics.

2. Coursera’s Fundamentals of Physics I Course

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Mechanics, motion, and waves; beginner-friendly physics foundations.
Skills you gain	Analytical reasoning, problem-solving with equations, understanding of physical laws.
Outcome	A stepping stone into deeper subjects like electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.
Duration	~10 weeks.
Cost	Free to audit; certificate fee for credential.
USP	Taught by Yale’s renowned professors – same quality as their on-campus program.

3. Mechanics: Motion, Forces, Energy by Khan Academy

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Core mechanics: laws of motion, conservation of energy, and real-world applications.
Skills you gain	Conceptual clarity, practical physics problem-solving.
Outcome	Great self-paced physics course online for beginners or revision.
Duration	Self-paced.
Cost	Free.
USP	100% free, bite-sized lessons, ideal for school & undergraduate learners worldwide.

4. Motion, Speed, and Gravity – Alison

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Basics of velocity, acceleration, and gravitational forces.
Skills you gain	Critical reasoning about motion, simplified physics understanding.
Outcome	A short introductory program for students new to physics.
Duration	10 hours.
Cost	Free; optional CPD certificate for a fee.
USP	Very short, crash-course format – perfect if you want to test the waters in physics.

5. MIT Physics Courses available on OpenCourseWare

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	A full undergraduate program: classical mechanics, electricity & magnetism, thermodynamics, optics, and quantum physics.
Skills you gain	Rigorous mathematical physics, research-style learning, data analysis, experimental methods.
Outcome	Equivalent to following a full MIT Physics undergraduate track without tuition fees.
Duration	Self-paced; semester-length for most courses.
Cost	Free.
USP	The gold standard in MIT Physics—real MIT lecture notes, assignments, and exams for free.

6. Coursera’s Astrophysics Specialization Course

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Black holes, galaxies, cosmology, and exoplanets.
Skills you gain	Scientific modeling, astrophysical data interpretation.
Outcome	Great for undergraduates curious about astronomy and astrophysics careers.
Duration	4 months (5 courses).
Cost	Free to audit; certificate fee applies.
USP	One of the only undergraduate-level physics courses online focused entirely on astrophysics.

7. NPTEL Physics Courses taught by IIT Professors

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum physics, electromagnetism, optics, plus specialized modules like Physics through Computational Thinking.
Skills you gain	Strong IIT-level clarity in concepts, computational applications, problem-solving for exams.
Outcome	Recognized in India; perfect for students preparing for GATE, NET, or higher research roles.
Duration	8–12 weeks per course.
Cost	Free learning; certificate usually ₹1,000.
USP	Authentic NPTEL Physics lectures directly from IIT professors, highly valued in Indian academia.

8. edX Modern Physics Course

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Relativity, quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality, atomic models.
Skills you gain	Abstract reasoning, quantum & relativity problem-solving.
Outcome	Builds a bridge between classical physics and cutting-edge theories.
Duration	12 weeks.
Cost	Free to audit; paid certificate available.
USP	Offered by MIT Physics & Harvard faculty—an Ivy League + MIT collaboration.

9. edX AP Physics 1 Program

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Algebra-based mechanics, waves, energy, and motion.
Skills you gain	AP exam preparation, basic lab methods, algebraic problem-solving.
Outcome	Great for beginners or those preparing for AP/college entrance exams.
Duration	12 weeks.
Cost	Free to audit; certificate for a fee.
USP	Tailor-made for AP students—one of the best physics courses online to ace school exams.

10. Physics of Everyday Thinking available on FutureLearn

Aspect	Detail
What it covers	Explains concepts like motion, forces, and energy through daily life examples.
Skills you gain	Intuition in physics, critical thinking, simplified reasoning.
Outcome	Perfect for non-science majors or students who want a lighter entry into physics.
Duration	4 weeks.
Cost	Free; upgrade for certificate.
USP	Makes physics fun by linking it to everyday life situations, not just formulas.

These online physics courses allow you to learn from the best universities without being tied down to a classroom schedule. Want to challenge yourself with world-renowned content? The MIT Physics courses and edX programs provide current topics with professors who really know what they're doing. For Indians, there's also NPTEL Physics courses, which deliver elite IIT teaching straight on the laptop and won't cost you an arm and a leg. Whether you're looking to understand the basics, ace your coming exams, or explore the mysteries behind astrophysics, these courses will help you out.