How to audit an edX class
Did you know you don’t have to pay to review online edX courses? By auditing an online course on edX, you can determine whether the course requirements and materials suit your needs.
Learn how to enroll and audit an edX course in this guide.
Find the right edX course for you
Why it’s worth auditing an edX course
Auditing an edX course means reviewing the course material for free. It’s an option for students who want to explore the rigor and content of the course before signing up for the full experience.
On edX, you can audit nearly all of our online courses from top schools, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and the University of Cambridge.
When you audit a class on edX, you can:
- Determine the commitment required.
- Assess whether the course teaches relevant skills for your goals.
- Learn about the subject without investing in the course.
- Evaluate whether the subject is a good career path for you.
Unlike the full enrollment experience, learners in the audit track can only access the materials for as long as the course is active, generally 4–12 weeks. Only those in the certificate track have unlimited access to the materials once the course has ended.
Steps for auditing an edX class
As an audit learner, you’ll have temporary access to course materials and assignments. Here’s how to get started:
Find your course
Before you enroll to audit a course on edX, determine which course will best suit your needs. Consider what you’re looking to get out of the course and which edX offering speaks best to these goals.
Some professional certificate, MicroBachelors® and MicroMasters®, and XSeries programs allow you to audit their course offerings, but edX Executive Education programs don’t offer an audit track.
Enroll in the course
After picking your class, click the “audit course” link on the page, often below the registration button. This link will refer you to two sign-up options — one that allows you to register for the full experience and another to continue the audit. Click the “audit” option to move forward with enrolling in the audit track.
Read the syllabus
You can now access the course materials and complete assignments. Start by reviewing the syllabus, which often contains a schedule, a list of readings and assignments, and due dates. Then, click through to the instructions for how to use the program’s interactive online system.
Explore the course
Once you’re familiar with the program formatting, you can begin reading through the course materials. These materials vary between courses, instructors, and schools. For the audit track, they generally include readings, video lectures, discussions, and ungraded assignments that you can complete on your schedule.
Complete the course or register for your certificate
While you can view and complete the course on your own time, you’ll only have access to the materials when it’s active. Make sure to complete your audit within the specified timeframe. You can also register for the full experience to keep your access and earn a certificate.
How to decide which class to audit
You can audit almost every course on edX. Consider the following scenarios that may lead a student to audit a course before investing in the certificate:
| If... | Then audit… |
|---|---|
| You want to upskill for AI | IBM: AI for Everyone: Master the Basics |
| You need to build leadership skills before a potential promotion | HarvardX: Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles |
| You want to explore whether you’d like to be a project manager in your field | IBM: Project Management Basics |
| You’re interested in a career in web development but aren’t sure whether you like the field enough to invest in a degree program | IBM: Introduction to Web Development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript |
| You want to see how challenging it would be to add accounting to your management skills | MITx: Financial Accounting |
| You’re a business leader who wants to learn how to make your business more sustainable | SNUx: Sustainability in Action: Strategy to Practices for a Greener Future |
| You want to make data-driven business decisions | GTx: Data Analytics for Business |
| You want to determine how difficult it would be to learn C++ programming | Codio: C++ Programming: Basic Skills |
| You’re interested in integrating AI digital marketing solutions | DavidsonX, GalileoX: Intro to AI for Digital Marketing |
Free classes on edX
Along with the audit option, you can take free courses to earn a certificate on edX. Explore free course offerings such as:
- edX: How to Learn Online – Even experienced students may need to adjust to studying online. This edX course provides techniques to help you thrive in an online learning environment.
- edX: AI Applications and Prompt Engineering – Anyone can learn to use artificial intelligence in their jobs and everyday lives. This free edX course covers how to use AI to transform processes and provide real value.
- edX: Intro Course: Data Storytelling – Data can tell a story. Learn how to clean data, interpret trends, and create narratives that drive business with this free online course from edX.