How do I choose the right Microsoft course for my goals?

Start by identifying the Microsoft product or skill you want to build— Excel for data , Power BI for analytics , Word and PowerPoint for communication , or Azure for cloud computing . For data analysis and dashboards, try the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate . Want to build everyday productivity skills? Explore the Master Microsoft Office 365 and Power Platform Specialization . Interested in cloud technologies? Consider Introduction to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services for a beginner-friendly cloud overview.

Which Microsoft course should I start with as a beginner?

These beginner-friendly courses offer step-by-step guidance using Microsoft tools for work or personal use: Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel – Learn essential Excel formulas, formatting, and data entry. Microsoft Power BI for Beginners – Guided Project to help you create interactive dashboards. Microsoft PowerPoint for Beginners – Build confidence in document creation and visual communication.

What’s the difference between a Microsoft course, Specialization, and Professional Certificate?

A course teaches one tool or task—such as creating spreadsheets, visualizing data, or managing cloud infrastructure, such as Data Visualization . A Specialization combines multiple courses for structured learning—like Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization , which covers Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. A Professional Certificate prepares you for a job role with end-to-end, career-aligned training—such as the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Certificate , which aligns with Microsoft’s PL-300 exam.

Can I take free Microsoft courses on Coursera?

While Microsoft does not offer its full Professional Certificates, Specializations, or courses for free, there are two ways to ensure you have selected the best topic and program to meet your goal. Preview the first module of many Microsoft courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available). Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial. If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate from Microsoft, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

Top Microsoft Courses - Learn Microsoft Online

Explore the Microsoft Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Word, Microsoft 365, Data Visualization, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Collaborative Software, Microsoft Office, Productivity Software, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Windows, Editing, Document Management, Technical Documentation, Writing, Computer Literacy, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Data Literacy, Data Visualization, Data Storage, Microsoft Power Platform, Data Collection, Data Quality, Business Analytics, Timelines, Advanced Analytics, Database Design, Statistical Reporting, Statistical Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Integration, Data Storage Technologies, SQL, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
8.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft IT Support Specialist
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft 365, Network Security, Business Software, Computer Hardware, Cybersecurity, Microsoft Office, Desktop Support, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Network Troubleshooting, Technical Support, Hardware Troubleshooting, Generative AI, Operating Systems, Collaborative Software, System Support, Network Protocols, TCP/IP, Application Security, Microsoft Teams, Cloud Computing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft AI & ML Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Large Language Modeling, Data Management, Natural Language Processing, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Supervised Learning, Microsoft Azure, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Infrastructure Architecture, LLM Application, Responsible AI, Generative AI Agents, Applied Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Data Ethics, Prompt Engineering, Data Processing, Application Deployment
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
217 reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Excel Formulas, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, User Story, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Data Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Quality Management, Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Visio, Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Business Analysis, Scrum (Software Development), Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Prompt Engineering, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Copilot, Dashboard, Forecasting, Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization, Workflow Management, Data Wrangling, Data Quality, Statistical Analysis, Data Transformation
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
194 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft Full-Stack Developer
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, GitHub, C# (Programming Language), HTML and CSS, Load Balancing, Continuous Integration, Git (Version Control System), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Scalability, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Authentications, ASP.NET, Full-Stack Web Development, Web Development, Debugging, SQL, Application Deployment, Microsoft Copilot, .NET Framework, Graph Theory
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
230 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft AI Product Manager
Skills you'll gain: Competitive Analysis, Market Research, User Story, User Interface (UI), Product Roadmaps, Competitive Intelligence, AI Product Strategy, Usability, Persona Development, Product Development, Market Analysis, Product Management, Product Lifecycle Management, Customer Analysis, Market Intelligence, Design Thinking, User Interface (UI) Design, Quality Assurance and Control, Product Strategy, Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
186 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365, Productivity Software, Data Import/Export, Data Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Work Smarter with Microsoft PowerPoint
Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Presentations, Collaborative Software, Microsoft Windows, Editing, Data Visualization, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Master Microsoft Office 365 and Power Platform
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Copilot, Prompt Engineering, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Power BI, Microsoft 365, Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Word, Data Visualization, No-Code Development, Spreadsheet Software, Collaborative Software, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Presentations, Data Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Threat Modeling, MITRE ATT&CK Framework, Penetration Testing, Azure Active Directory, Network Security, Computer Systems, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Testing, Encryption, Cybersecurity, System Testing, Cloud Security, Vulnerability Scanning, Threat Management, Cloud Computing, Authentications, Active Directory, Operating Systems, Data Management, Computer Security Incident Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months