SuchScience
14 min readJul 25, 2024

11 Best Free Online Courses for Learning Machine Learning: Top Picks for 2024

Are you interested in diving into the world of machine learning without spending a dime? Online courses provide a flexible way to gain essential skills in this growing field. With numerous options available, you can find courses that cater to different learning styles and levels.

These free online courses offer valuable knowledge for anyone wanting to understand and apply machine learning concepts. From foundational principles to hands-on projects, you’ll be able to learn at your own pace and build a solid understanding of machine learning.

1) Coursera: Machine Learning by Andrew Ng

Coursera’s Machine Learning course by Andrew Ng is one of the most popular courses for those new to the field. Andrew Ng, a pioneer in machine learning, is the founder of Deeplearning.AI and a professor at Stanford University.

The course provides a strong foundation in machine learning concepts. You will learn about supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and best practices for developing machine learning algorithms.

The course includes programming assignments in MATLAB, which helps you understand how to implement machine learning algorithms. You will also explore various real-world examples to see how these algorithms are applied.

The course has flexible deadlines, so you can learn at your own pace. It also offers a certificate upon completion, which can boost your resume.

If you are interested in building a career in machine learning, this course is a great starting point. You can check it out on Coursera’s platform under Andrew Ng’s Machine Learning Collection.

2) edX: Machine Learning with Python from IBM

A computer with open edX website displaying "Machine Learning with Python from IBM" course among "11 Best Free Online Courses for Learning Machine Learning."

This course is designed by IBM and available on edX. It offers a practical introduction to machine learning using Python. You do not need prior experience to start. The course begins with the basics.

You will learn about creating machine learning models. Topics include supervised and unsupervised learning. You will also explore regression, classification, and clustering techniques.

One of the key features is the hands-on labs. These labs allow you to apply what you learn. By the end of the course, you’ll have experience with real-world data and scenarios.

Additionally, the course covers important tools in Python. These include libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and Scikit-learn. Understanding these tools will be crucial for your future projects.

The course is self-paced. You can complete it at your own convenience. It usually takes about four weeks to finish if you dedicate a few hours each week.

You will also earn a verified certificate upon completion. This can be a valuable addition to your resume. The course has received positive feedback from past participants. Many find it helpful in building a strong foundation in machine learning.

For more information, you can visit the Machine Learning with Python from IBM page on edX.

This course is ideal for beginners and those looking to enhance their Python skills. It provides a well-rounded introduction to machine learning techniques.

3) Udacity: Intro to Machine Learning

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Udacity offers a well-structured course called Intro to Machine Learning. This course aims to provide a solid foundation in machine learning. It is suitable for beginners who have some programming skills and a basic understanding of statistics.

The course covers key machine learning concepts and techniques. You will learn about supervised and unsupervised learning, as well as data clustering and decision trees. The course also introduces essential tools like Python and the Scikit-learn library.

One of the key benefits is the hands-on projects included in the syllabus. These projects allow you to apply the concepts you learn in real-world scenarios. Feedback from reviewers is timely and practical, providing tips to improve your work.

Learning is self-paced, giving you the flexibility to study at your convenience. Additionally, the course incorporates quizzes and exercises to test your knowledge regularly.

Another highlight is access to a supportive community. The forums and peer interactions can enhance your learning experience.

The videos in the course are easy to follow and concise. This makes understanding complex concepts more manageable. You can also find some video content on YouTube.

Courses on Udacity often stay current with industry trends. This ensures that you are learning up-to-date practices and technologies in machine learning.

If you are looking to start your journey in machine learning, this course from Udacity is a great place to begin.

4) Google AI: Machine Learning Crash Course

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The Google AI: Machine Learning Crash Course is a fast-paced, practical introduction to machine learning. It uses TensorFlow APIs and focuses on real-world case studies. This course is highly recommended if you want to apply machine learning techniques effectively.

It offers a series of lessons with video lectures that make it easier to follow along. Hands-on practice exercises help reinforce the concepts you learn. The course also does not need any prior machine learning knowledge, making it accessible to beginners.

To start, you only need to be comfortable with basic math concepts like variables, linear equations, and graphs of functions. The course modules are well-structured, starting with basic ideas and moving on to more complex ones.

Google has used this course to educate more than 18,000 of its engineers. Now, you have the chance to benefit from the same program. This makes the learning process engaging and straightforward, with plenty of support from the online community.

Taking this course allows you to learn from Google’s experts and gain a deeper appreciation of machine learning. You will recognize the practical benefits and understand the philosophy behind machine learning.

You can explore the course content and prerequisites on the Google AI: Machine Learning Crash Course page. This is one of the best ways to learn about machine learning for free and at your own pace.

5) Kaggle: Intro to Machine Learning

Kaggle offers a great course called Intro to Machine Learning. This course is designed for beginners who want to understand the basic concepts of machine learning.

You will start by loading and understanding your data. This is an important first step in any machine learning project.

After that, you will build your first models. These initial models will help you see how machine learning works in a hands-on way.

You will also learn about data exploration and model validation. These skills are crucial for improving the accuracy of your machine learning models.

Some key topics covered include underfitting and overfitting. You’ll understand why these issues occur and how to address them.

Another important topic is random forests. This is a machine learning algorithm used for classification and regression tasks.

The course also provides an introduction to Kaggle competitions. These competitions allow you to test your skills against other data scientists.

Kaggle uses cookies from Google to enhance the quality of its services and analyze traffic. You can learn more about this in the course details.

By completing this course, you will have a solid foundation in machine learning. This will prepare you for more advanced topics in the future.

For more details about the course, you can visit the Kaggle Intro to Machine Learning page. It’s a valuable resource for anyone starting their journey in machine learning.

6) Stanford: Machine Learning

Stanford offers a comprehensive Machine Learning Specialization in collaboration with DeepLearning.AI. This program is taught by Andrew Ng, a well-known expert in the field.

The specialization includes three courses that cover the basics of machine learning. Each course provides you with essential knowledge to build real-world AI applications.

No prior experience is required to enroll in this program. It’s designed to be beginner-friendly and provides clear explanations of key machine learning concepts. You will learn through video lectures, assignments, and hands-on projects.

In addition to foundational topics, you’ll explore applications of machine learning in various domains. This program helps you understand how to implement machine learning algorithms and use them effectively.

You can work at your own pace, revisiting materials as needed. The program includes 365 days of email access to a Stanford teaching assistant for additional support.

For more details, check out the Stanford Machine Learning Specialization on GitHub. This resource provides a wealth of information on the program’s structure and content.

This specialization is a great way to gain a solid grounding in machine learning without any cost.

7) fast.ai: Practical Deep Learning for Coders

The Practical Deep Learning for Coders course by fast.ai is designed for those with some coding experience. This course helps you apply deep learning to real-world problems. It’s suitable for people who are comfortable writing code and want to dive into machine learning.

This course offers a mix of video lessons and hands-on coding exercises. You will learn to build and train models without needing a PhD. The course emphasizes practical applications and real-world examples.

You’ll use popular tools like PyTorch and Fastai. The course even includes a book titled “Deep Learning for Coders with Fastai and PyTorch,” which you can read online for free. Each lesson has detailed notes and examples to help you follow along.

No matter your background, this course allows you to start with basic concepts and gradually tackle more complex topics. The content is updated regularly, with new editions like the 2022 version ensuring you learn the latest techniques.

If you’re new to deep learning, don’t worry. The course begins with introductory lessons that guide you step-by-step. Plus, the fast.ai community offers forums and support to help you connect with other learners.

8) MIT OpenCourseWare: Machine Learning

You can access a wealth of information on machine learning through MIT OpenCourseWare. Their course, Introduction to Machine Learning, covers principles, algorithms, and applications of the field.

The course includes key topics such as:

  • Modeling and prediction
  • Learning problem formulation
  • Concepts of representation
  • Over-fitting and generalization

These topics are essential for anyone wanting to understand the basic and advanced elements of machine learning.

The course also focuses on practical applications, particularly in supervised learning and reinforcement learning. You will see how these methods apply to images and temporal sequences.

For a more focused session, Lecture 11: Introduction to Machine Learning from the course “Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science” delves into supervised learning. It uses examples that help you understand feature vectors.

MIT Open Learning Library also features a variant of this course titled Introduction to Machine Learning. The content mirrors what you find on MIT OpenCourseWare but presented in a slightly different format. You can explore all foundational concepts and work on interactive elements.

This wide array of resources allows you to learn machine learning at your own pace while gaining insights directly from top-tier educators. By using these free courses, you can advance your knowledge and skill set in one of today’s most relevant fields.

9) Harvard: Data Science: Machine Learning

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In this free online course from Harvard, you will explore the world of machine learning. You will learn various algorithms and techniques that can help you make predictions based on data.

The course covers key topics such as principal component analysis and regularization. You will also get hands-on experience by building a movie recommendation system.

One of the highlights of this course is its approach to training data. You will learn to use data sets to discover predictive relationships. This is crucial for any aspiring data scientist.

If you are interested in earning a Verified Certificate, you have the option to do so for $149. This provides you with unlimited access to all course materials, activities, tests, and forums. At the end, you will receive a certificate if you pass.

The course is part of Harvard’s Professional Certificate Program in Data Science. This adds more value to your learning experience. The program aims at making you job-ready by covering various essential topics in data science.

You can also choose to audit the course for free. Auditing allows you access to content without participating in assessments or earning a certificate. This option is great if you are looking just to gain knowledge without any formal recognition.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced learner, this course offers valuable insights into machine learning. It provides practical skills that you can apply in real-world scenarios.

10) Udemy: Machine Learning A-Z

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Udemy offers a course called Machine Learning A-Z. This course is designed by data scientists and machine learning experts.

You will learn theory, algorithms, and coding libraries in a simple way. The course aims to cater to both beginners and intermediate learners.

More than 1 million students have enrolled in this course. It covers both Python and R programming languages.

The course includes step-by-step tutorials. You will explore the world of machine learning with hands-on projects.

If you’re looking to build and evaluate predictive models, this course is for you. You will also learn about clustering in R.

Students with a solid background in R and statistics will find this course helpful. Even if you are a complete beginner in machine learning, you can enroll.

The course has high ratings and reviews. Many students find the content engaging and easy to follow.

Explore various machine learning techniques and tools. The Machine Learning A-Z course on Udemy is a popular choice for many learners.

11) LinkedIn Learning: Machine Learning Foundations

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LinkedIn offers a course called Machine Learning Foundations. This course is aimed at beginners who want to understand what machine learning is and how it works. It is designed by Frederick Nwanganga, who guides you through the basics.

The course starts with what it means for machines to learn and the different ways they can learn. It then moves on to more practical aspects like how to collect, understand, and prepare data for machine learning.

You’ll learn about important concepts like linear algebra, which is essential for many machine learning algorithms. If you are interested in neural networks, understanding linear algebra is a must. The course explains these concepts in a straightforward way.

This course is in the format of online video lessons, making it easy to follow along. You can watch the videos at your own pace and return to them whenever you need a refresher.

LinkedIn Learning also offers other courses related to machine learning. These courses cover a wide range of topics, from the basics to more advanced techniques. You can explore these to expand your knowledge further.

Taking this course requires a LinkedIn Learning subscription, but they often offer free trials. This can be a good way to see if the course meets your needs before committing to a subscription.

Foundations of Machine Learning

Understanding the core principles and mathematical basis of machine learning is essential for anyone looking to excel in this field. This section will cover the basic concepts and terminologies as well as the mathematical foundations that underpin machine learning.

Basic Concepts and Terminologies

Machine learning revolves around creating algorithms that can learn from data. You’ll frequently encounter key terms such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

  • Supervised Learning: This involves training a model on a labeled dataset, meaning the algorithm knows the correct output during training. Examples include classification and regression.
  • Unsupervised Learning: Here, the model learns patterns from unlabeled data. Clustering and association are common techniques.
  • Reinforcement Learning: This type involves an agent that learns by interacting with its environment, receiving rewards for desired actions.

Additionally, concepts like overfitting, underfitting, model evaluation, and cross-validation play a crucial role. Overfitting happens when a model performs well on training data but poorly on unseen data, while underfitting indicates the model is too simple to capture underlying patterns. Cross-validation helps in assessing the model’s performance more robustly.

Mathematical Foundations in Machine Learning

Mathematical knowledge forms the backbone of machine learning. Key areas include linear algebra, probability, and statistics.

  • Linear Algebra: Understanding vectors, matrices, and their operations is crucial. These concepts are used in various algorithms, including regression and neural networks.
  • Probability: A strong grasp of probability is vital as it underpins many machine learning concepts like Bayesian networks and Gaussian distributions.
  • Statistics: Statistics helps in making inferences from data and understanding concepts such as mean, variance, and hypothesis testing.

Machine learning also relies on calculus, especially for optimization algorithms. Gradients and derivatives are used in techniques such as gradient descent to minimize errors and improve model accuracy. These mathematical tools enable you to develop, train, and fine-tune machine learning models effectively.

Practical Applications of Machine Learning

Practical applications of machine learning can be seen in various daily activities and across industries. These applications bring transformational changes to business operations and future technology trends.

Real-world Use Cases

Machine learning is used in healthcare for diagnosing diseases. Algorithms can analyze medical images to detect conditions like cancer early on. Additionally, it helps in predicting patient outcomes and personalizing treatment plans.

In finance, machine learning models identify fraudulent transactions. They analyze patterns and flag unusual activities swiftly, enhancing security. It also aids in credit scoring by evaluating an individual’s creditworthiness based on multiple factors instead of relying solely on historical data.

E-commerce platforms like Amazon use machine learning to recommend products. These systems analyze your browsing history and purchase behavior to provide personalized shopping experiences. This improves customer satisfaction and increases sales.

Industry Impact and Trends

In manufacturing, predictive maintenance powered by machine learning anticipates equipment failures. This minimizes downtime and cuts costs. By continuously monitoring machinery, companies can maintain smooth operations and extend the life of their assets.

Retailers benefit from demand forecasting. Machine learning models predict future sales trends based on historical data and other variables. This helps in maintaining optimal inventory levels, reducing waste, and ensuring products are available when needed.

The automotive industry sees advancements in autonomous vehicles. Machine learning enables cars to recognize objects, navigate roads, and make decisions. This could reduce accidents and improve traffic flow in the future.

Machine learning is also transforming customer service. Chatbots and virtual assistants, powered by these technologies, handle routine inquiries and provide instant support. This frees up human agents to handle more complex issues, thereby improving efficiency.

Advanced Topics in Machine Learning

Advanced topics in machine learning cover areas such as Deep Learning and Neural Networks, as well as Reinforcement Learning. These subjects push the boundaries of what machines can learn and achieve.

Deep Learning and Neural Networks

Deep learning is a branch of machine learning focused on neural networks with many layers. You might find it useful because it helps machines process and understand complex data like images and sound. Neural networks are made up of nodes, similar to neurons in the human brain, connected by edges that carry weights.

These networks learn by adjusting the weights during training, allowing the model to improve its predictions. Notable applications include image recognition, natural language processing, and even self-driving cars. Online courses from platforms like Coursera and edX can provide you with hands-on experience using popular frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch. The Advanced Machine Learning on Google Cloud, for example, dives deep into these techniques.

Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement learning (RL) is another important area. Unlike supervised learning, where you have labeled data, RL involves learning through trial and error. You set up an agent in an environment, and this agent learns to make decisions by receiving rewards or penalties.

For instance, in video game AI, the agent learns optimal moves by playing thousands of games and receiving rewards for winning moves. This kind of learning is useful for robotics, autonomous systems, and improving decision-making algorithms.

Courses from freeCodeCamp discuss how professors like Emily Fox teach these techniques in approachable ways. You might want to explore resources like the Learning from Data course by Caltech, which includes practical RL examples.

By diving into these advanced topics, you can better understand how to create more sophisticated and capable machine learning models.

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