Psychology Online Courses & Certifications

Read this comprehensive guide on psychology courses. Know about the best online platforms like Coursera and Udemy offering various levels of training across positive psychology, educational psychology, and other trending specialisations in 2024-25. 

Also, if you are new to this field and looking for psychology courses after 12th, find focus areas that you may be interested in, the types of programmes available online, and a list of the highest-rated online courses with descriptions, and more. 

But first things first...

How Can Online Psychology Courses Help?

Learning psychology helps you explore how people think, act, and feel. As a psychology career aspirant or fresh graduate, several options for self-paced and high-quality learning exist online. 

You could opt for various psychology subjects to specialise in. Child psychology, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, and educational psychology are some.  

Top providers, including Coursera, Alison, edX, and Udemy, offer various top-rated online psychology specialisations. You can find free to paid psychology diploma courses. There are several university-certified postgraduate programs in psychology from reputed international institutes - all online. 

Other than that, you may even alternatively look into specialisations in psychology at the postgraduate level from top Indian universities. 

While PG education in psychology offline will not be free, the online space offers in-depth training on psychology subjects with free enrollment options. Sometimes, you can complete most of the online courses on psychology for free. Likewise, you can also choose to purchase them so you get certified. 

Psychology Subjects to Specialise In 2024-25

These are the commonly studied branches across psychology courses online.  Each branch here will have a different focus area, for which we have highlighted some examples of how psychology professionals work, and how they help patients. 

Branch of Psychology	Focus	Examples of Work
Clinical Psychology	Assesses and treats mental health disorders in individuals through therapy and interventions.	Treating depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health conditions.
Educational Psychology	Studies how people learn and develop within educational settings, helping to improve teaching methods and educational outcomes.	Developing new teaching methods, assessing student learning, and providing support to teachers and students.
Counselling Psychology	Provides therapy and support to individuals dealing with emotional, behavioural, and personal issues.	Helping individuals cope with stress, grief, relationship problems, and other life challenges.
Forensic Psychology	Applies psychological principles to the legal and criminal justice system, often serving as expert witnesses and profiling criminals.	Conducting psychological assessments of defendants, victims, and witnesses; providing expert testimony in court; and developing strategies for rehabilitation.
Child Psychology	Focuses on the emotional, cognitive, and social development of children, helping them navigate the challenges of childhood.	Assessing children's development, providing therapy to children and families, and developing interventions to improve children's well-being.
Sports Psychology	Works with athletes to enhance their mental performance, motivation, and overall well-being in the context of sports.	Helping athletes develop mental toughness, manage stress, and improve their focus and concentration.
Cognitive Psychology	Studies mental processes like thinking, problem-solving, memory, and perception to understand how people process information.	Investigating how people learn and remember new information, how they make decisions, and how they solve problems.
Neuropsychology	Explores the relationship between brain function and behaviour, often working with individuals who have neurological conditions.	Assessing the cognitive and behavioral impact of brain injuries, developing rehabilitation strategies, and providing support to individuals with neurological conditions.
Cultural Psychology	Examines how cultural factors influence people's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.	Investigating how cultural values, beliefs, and norms shape people's experiences.
Social Psychology	Investigates how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by social interactions and societal norms.	Studying how people form relationships, how they influence each other's behaviour, and how they perceive and respond to others.
Criminal Psychology	Analyses the psychology of criminals, their motivations, and behaviours to aid in criminal investigations and profiling.	Conducting psychological assessments of criminals, developing strategies for crime prevention, and assisting with criminal investigations.
Abnormal Psychology	Studies and diagnoses mental disorders, helping individuals manage and overcome psychological conditions.	Identifying and treating mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and personality disorders.

 

Top Course Providers Offering Online Psychology Courses in 2024 and Beyond

See which of the best online platforms are offering career-advancing psychology training. Each platform has its USPs and we tell you why they are good for your varying learning and career requirements. 

Course Provider	Reason to Enrol
Online Psychology Diploma Courses on Alison	Access free learning, affordable certificates, and accredited CPD credits
Psychology courses online on Coursera	High quality online learning with specialisations and Bachelor’s degree options from reputed partnering institutes
Psychology courses online on Udemy	General and applied online courses from globally recognised instructors

Types of Online Psychology Courses to Choose in 2024-25

The accredited institutes and MOOCs offer the following options for psychology courses online.  See which option suits you best when you are looking to learn psychology for professional development. 

Free to Paid Psychology Diploma Courses Online

These courses may vary in terms of cost, ranging from entirely free to paid options. Here are some reasons to choose them. 

1. Free courses often provide foundational knowledge and introductory content in psychology. You can choose Coursera, edX, or Alison that primarily offer free-to-learn options, where you only pay for the certification for professional growth.   
2. Paid psychology diploma courses typically offer more comprehensive and in-depth study of psychology, often leading to a diploma or certificate upon completion. These are also longer than free online psychology courses for beginners. 
   
3. These courses may cater to individuals seeking to acquire fundamental knowledge in psychology or those interested in pursuing a specific area within psychology.

University-based Certified Postgraduate Online Psychology Programs

There are advanced online psychology courses offered by reputable international institutes.

1. They are typically postgraduate or master's level programs, which means they require prior education or experience in psychology or a related field. These either are under MA online or MSc online courses depending on the curriculum. Other than that, you can also look into the best MA in Psychology Distance Education Programs  featuring the best accredited institutes from around the globe. 
2. These programs are university-certified, which adds credibility to the education received. Institutions such as Chandigarh University Online and IGNOU are NAAC accredited. Some are also from well-known and accredited international universities. 
3. They offer a higher level of specialisation and may lead to a master's degree or an advanced certificate in psychology.
4. These courses are suitable for individuals looking to deepen their knowledge and expertise in psychology, often with the aim of pursuing advanced careers or research opportunities in the field.

Who Should Take Online Psychology Courses?

Psychology is not limited to academics and those providing mental health services. Mastering the scientific discipline is useful as a soft/power skill for professionals across experience levels and industries. 

You can think of how

1. Marketers, product managers, UX researchers, and salespeople connect with consumers on an emotional level by asking the right questions.
2. HR managers recruit the right candidate suitable for their organisation’s culture.
3. Senior managers focus on interpersonal communication and motivating team members.

In these regards, going for online psychology courses is a proven way to upskill. 

Eligibility of Online Psychology Courses

The eligibility varies for most online psychology certificate programs. Some free courses by Alison, Coursera, or Udemy have no educational requirements.

But some specialisations like bachelor’s or post graduate programs offered by Coursera demand education in science, or a certain percentage of marks in the previous undergraduate degree. 

Also, when you are choosing institutions abroad that offer online psychology programs at PG level, you will most likely need to show your IELTS score to acquire a seat.  

Top Online Psychology Courses in 2024-25

 

Here are some of the top online psychology courses offered for beginners and intermediates. Note that some top universities around the globe offer these online courses.

Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization on Coursera

The University of Pennsylvania offers this five-month online psychology course on Coursera. It is a specialisation with five different courses clubbed into one. One of the best advantages of this specialisation is that top-tier psychologists teach each included course. Once you complete them, you will get certified with their signatures. 

This psychology specialisation features a hands-on research-based project at the end. You will be tasked to use empirical and non-empirical positive intervention for an individual’s well-being. 

Ratings: 4.8/5 stars

Students Enrolled: 52,000+

Social Psychology on Coursera

Wesleyan University offers this course, a private liberal arts institution in Connecticut, USA. The curriculum is divided roughly into seven weeks with high-quality video lectures, quizzes, and tonnes of reading material.

You will get to know the latest trends in social psychology, including assessment of discrimination, sustainability, and much more.  

While this course is completely free to audit, you can obtain free membership in the prestigious Social Psychology Network once you pay for the certificate. 

Also, this psychology course is taught by Scott Plous, who has received the American Psychological Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Ratings: 4.7/5 stars 

Students Enrolled: 533,700+

Diploma in Educational Psychology on Alison

This is a free online psychology course on Alison that features 20 different modules. It is designed to help teachers enhance their teaching techniques based on their students’ learning behaviour and personalities. You will learn topics such as behaviourism, constructivism, learning disabilities, and much more. 

By completing this 10- to 15-hour psychology course online, you also get the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation from the UK. 

Ratings: 5 stars

Students Enrolled: 77,100+

Introduction to Clinical Psychology on edX

Offered by the University of Queensland, Australia, this course on edX is for beginners looking for an introductory clinical psychology course. It covers the most important topics in clinical psychology, including popular disorders and personality theories. Also, it is a short clinical psychology course of seven weeks that you can audit for free. 

There are no prerequisites to enrol in this online psychology course. All the lecturers are professors and assistant professors of the University of Queensland. 

You can audit this online psychology course for free. But for earning the certificate, you have to complete the graded and non-graded assignments and pay the course price. Even if you are pursuing it for free, you will have temporary access to participate in discussions and non-graded assignments. 

Ratings: N/A

Students Enrolled: 82,000+

Abnormal Psychology Specialization on Coursera

This is an introductory online psychology specialisation covering both historical and modern approaches to psychopathology. It contains three different courses: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, History of Mental Illness, and Creating Behavioral Change. 

Learn about the classification of psychological abnormality, history of scientific treatments, types of mental illnesses, cultural diversity, cognitive behavioural therapies, and more. 

Each of the three psychology courses in this specialisation comes with an assignment. There are quizzes too. 

If you are looking for a specialisation in the field that is taught by an international institution, this one is offered by Wesleyan University. The course lecturers are top counsellors and assistant professors. Further, you can use this Specialisation certificate as a university credit, provided your institution accepts it. 

Ranking: 4.8/5 stars

Students Enrolled: 4200+ 

Upgrade Your Learning with the Best Online Psychology Courses 


While it is extremely important to have a degree in psychology, learning in-depth on specific topics will be more beneficial. The online psychology courses, listed here on Shiksha Online are continously updated with the latest in the market. And you will find plenty of free online psychology courses too. Find the best online training on psychology and get ahead in your career and learning anytime.