Frequently Asked Questions

Michigan Online course instructors are the same faculty who teach the residential programs at the University of Michigan, and they work with U-M experts to design their content. All Michigan Online open online courses available in the catalog are associated with an active U-M faculty member, even if the original instructor has since departed the university.

Open online courses are asynchronous, meaning they are self-paced and learners are completing them independently, so you will generally not interact with the instructor. There may be some programs that offer enhanced experiences that include instructor engagement. Review the course syllabus for more information.

Participants in open online courses will have access to the resources made available in the course, as well as technical support from the appropriate learning platform, and content support from course mentors and staff where applicable. Learners should also review Michigan Online’s Learner Resources for more information.

Online courses are designed with accessibility in mind and are expected to meet WCAG 2.1AA standards. The Center for Academic Innovation is dedicated to integrating digital accessibility for Michigan Online learning experiences. Open online learners can complete this CAI form if they encounter any accessibility barriers. Students enrolled in a for-credit program should contact their faculty member or visit the Services for Students with Disabilities Office website for more information.

Only students enrolled in online degree programs and for-credit online certificate programs can access the services provided by the specific academic unit of their program.

Only students enrolled in online degree programs and for-credit online certificate programs can access the university’s library system.

Online course information will indicate the estimated time commitment expected for learners, so review the syllabus for details. Time commitments vary depending on course type, your background knowledge, and your personal goals and schedule.

Online learning experiences can take anywhere from a couple of hours to several weeks or months to complete, depending on your individual learning pace. Learners should review the syllabus or course details menu to learn more about the expected commitment. For-credit online courses can be between 4 and 15 weeks depending on the academic program.

Asynchronous learning is a flexible education model where learners access course materials (e.g. recorded lectures, discussion boards, readings) and complete assignments on their schedule, without a real-time instructor or class interaction. Synchronous learning is live instruction where learners and instructors interact simultaneously through video conferencing, live chats, or webinars, enabling immediate feedback, engagement, and community.

Open online courses are available to anyone looking to explore a specific topic or skill. These courses often include video lectures from experts, assignments or quizzes to build and test your understanding, and discussion forums to engage with other learners or get help from course mentors or staff. They can be completed at your own pace and are not eligible for academic credit.

A series is a bundle of three or more open online courses connected by a subject or skillset. You can enroll in all of the courses in the series, or only those that interest you.

Non-credit Certificate Programs offer a guided online learning experience with a start and end date, combining pre-recorded video lessons with a learning community and interactive activities that help you apply what you learn. Depending on the program, you might join live sessions like office hours, interviews, or Q&As, participate in moderated discussions or study groups, complete a capstone project or portfolio, and receive feedback to support your progress.

Teach-Outs are free online learning events that bring people from around the world together to learn about and address important issues. Teach-Outs feature faculty and experts discussing relevant topics, and prompt participants to interact and consider potential action in their own communities.

Collections are short videos, articles, podcasts and more, carefully curated around a particular topic.

You will not earn course credit by completing open online courses, series, Teach-Outs, or collections. Where specifically indicated, successful completion of certain open online courses may qualify a learner for advanced standing if they apply to, and are admitted to, specific online degree programs offered by the University of Michigan.

Fully online and hybrid degree programs are accredited opportunities to earn a U-M degree. Students must apply and be admitted to the program, and will pay tuition as an enrolled university student.

All diplomas and transcripts are identical to those earned by graduates of other fully-accredited University of Michigan programs. These documents do not differentiate between residential and online degree programs.

No. Some degrees are offered online and some are residential. A few offer both options.

Open online course and series credentials: A certificate of completion shows you have successfully completed an open online course or series. A certificate can be used to share your accomplishment, highlighting new skills and knowledge to potential employers or peers. Certificates are offered for most, but not all, open online courses and series.

Online for-credit certificate program credentials: A for-credit certificate program has a minimum of 12 credits and requires an application to be admitted. In some cases, the credits earned in a certificate program may be applied to a degree offered by the university, should a student apply and be admitted to the degree program. See details on each for-credit certificate program and corresponding degree page.

Degree diploma: A degree diploma is issued upon the successful completion of a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate program. Michigan Online features master’s degrees across a variety of fields. Visit the Online Degrees information page to learn more about how you can earn a U-M degree online.

Successful completion of some certificate programs may count towards (be “stacked” into) certain degrees offered by the University of Michigan, or may qualify a learner for advanced standing if they apply to, and are admitted into, certain U-M degree programs. Read the certificate program description to understand how it might be applied to a degree or serve as an alternative path to admissions.

Open online courses and series are available to enroll at any time, and do not require an application. To enroll, click the “Enroll Now” button on the course or series page. Online for-credit certificate and degree programs require an application. Please review the details for that program for more information.

The specific requirements for admission and applications vary by program. Common components of an application are academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and resume. GRE/GMAT scores may be required. Some programs offer skills-based admission or alternative paths to admission.

The application deadlines for online for-credit certificate and degree programs are set by each academic unit. Refer to the program page for the next application cycle. Some programs admit students multiple times a year.

Learners from countries around the world are welcome to enroll in Michigan Online open online courses and series. Learners from a small number of countries may be prohibited from doing so in compliance with U.S. federal law. Enrollment in online for-credit certificate or degree programs while living outside the U.S. varies by program. Factors include in-person requirements, licensure requirements, international authorization, and federal laws governing the export of online instruction and materials to foreign residents. Please refer to the program’s academic unit for more information.

For-credit online degree and certificates require English proficiency for admittance. See program page for more details.

The cost to enroll in open online courses depends on the hosting platform for the course. Please see the course page for details. For-credit certificate and degree program tuition information can be found via the academic program page.

Yes! All are welcome to enroll in open online courses in the Michigan Online catalog. You may need to pay to access some opportunities or to receive a credential for your learning. Some of our content, like the Teach-Out series, is always free.

You probably accessed the course on Coursera or edX through their main homepage, and the sites are not recognizing you as a U-M community member. If you are a U-M community member, you must first enroll through Michigan Online. Click on the button labeled “U-M Free Access” under the “Cost & Enrollment” section on the course or series page. Once you have logged in with your U-M uniqname, you will be able to create a Coursera or edX account and access the free offerings. If you go to the Coursera or edX homepage in the future, be sure to log in with your U-M account.

While most non-credit open online courses featured on Michigan Online are free to the U-M community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, there are exceptions. Some courses are designed exclusively for specific University of Michigan students. Additionally, courses belonging to degree programs and some certificate programs are not free to anyone, as they may lead to U-M credit. Please fill out the Michigan Online contact form if you believe that you are entitled to free access and are experiencing an issue.

Michigan Online is the University of Michigan’s destination for online learning experiences taught by University of Michigan faculty. The Michigan Online website features a variety of online learning experiences, including open online courses, series, certificate programs, collections, Teach-Outs, and online degree programs.

Canvas, Coursera, and edX are online platforms for learning experiences. The University of Michigan uses these and other technology platforms to offer learning opportunities developed at U-M to learners around the world. When you select a learning opportunity, you may be directed to one of these platforms to enroll in the course.

Merging accounts: If you already have a Coursera account and it’s not associated with your @umich.edu email address, you should:

1. Log into your current account on coursera.org.

2. Navigate to settings under your profile.

3. Update your primary email address to be the @umich.edu address.

It is important for validating your free access that your @umich.edu email be your primary email. You can contact Coursera for support using their Learner Help Center.

Refunds: Please review the Coursera refund policies for the latest information.

Taking a course through Michigan Online ensures that you experience the course as the U-M faculty and instructional team intended. Some learning activities may be specifically designed for the Michigan Online learning platform. In addition, completion of Michigan Online courses, series, and certificate programs hosted on the Michigan Online learning platform result in a credential issued directly by the University of Michigan. Similar University of Michigan courses and series may also be available on Coursera and edX. Each course and series is designed by the same U-M faculty and instructional staff. The learning experience and content may vary across learning platforms, reflecting the unique aspects of each platform.

A computer with a stable internet connection with bandwidth for video is required. Some academic programs, including those in computer science, may require specialized software or computer specifications. Review the specific degree page for more information.

Michigan Online is available on a computer and mobile devices. For the best experience, please use one of the following browsers:

Google Chrome

Firefox

Safari

Microsoft Edge

Note: Michigan Online does not support Internet Explorer 11. For more information on other platform's technology recommendations, please visit the Coursera or edX help pages.

If you don't remember your uniqname, or need to create one, please visit the identity verification page on the U-M Information and Technology Services (ITS) website. For related inquiries, contact U-M ITS.

For U-M students, staff, and faculty, Michigan Online x Coursera enables free access to virtually the entire Coursera catalog of courses and specializations created by academic institutions. Some exceptions apply, including some courses, professional or industry certificate programs, and online degree programs, which are not available for free enrollment.

All current University of Michigan faculty, staff and students at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses are eligible for access. U-M alumni are able to access open online courses and series created by the University of Michigan and hosted on Coursera or edX for free via the course page on Michigan Online.

All that is needed to enroll is a valid U-M email address. Eligible U-M Community members can click the “U-M Free Access” button in the Cost & Enrollment section of the course or series page to gain access using their existing U-M uniqname and password.

Current U-M students, faculty, and staff will have indefinite access to courses in the Michigan x Coursera catalog, so long as they are affiliated with the university and the given course remains in the catalog. Should any course be excluded from the catalog in the future, as dictated by the university offering the course, you will have a minimum of two months to complete the course before its removal from Coursera’s catalog. Graduating students will continue to have unlimited access to courses and series created by the University of Michigan and hosted on Coursera or edX once they transition to alumni.

These courses will not confer course credit upon completion.

Enrollment and participation in a free open online course through Michigan Online x Coursera will not impact your U-M grades or your transcript.

The Center for Academic Innovation is part of the University of Michigan. We are committed to bringing life-changing educational opportunities from the university to a global network of lifelong learners. Our vision is to realize a future in which education connects and empowers learners everywhere to reach their full potential throughout their lives. Michigan Online is maintained by the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation. Learn more at ai.umich.edu.