By Tom Willerer, Chief Product Officer of Coursera
At Coursera, we believe education is a lifelong pursuit, and we want to empower you to achieve your goals throughout your life and career. We’re continually working to improve our courses and platform to give you access to relevant content, and to help you learn more efficiently and effectively.
Today, we’re excited to announce Specialization subscriptions – a new payment model that allows you to purchase access to all content in a Specialization on a month-by-month or annual basis, so that you’re paying only for the amount of time you need to learn the material and earn your Certificate.
You can now subscribe to some Specializations on Coursera for a monthly fee rather than paying up front for an entire course or Specialization, and this payment model will be rolled out to many of our most popular Specializations over the coming months. Subscriptions are typically priced from $39 to $89 per month for access to one Specialization, with no long-term commitment required. Subscribing to a Specialization gives you access to all content in every course in the Specialization for as long as your subscription is active. Based on the completion times that we typically see for our most popular Specializations, the subscription model has the potential to reduce costs for many learners.
Our subscription model is designed to help you:
Pay for the time you actually spend learning. With all courses in subscription-based Specializations running at least monthly, you can complete a Specialization in as little as a month (if, for example, you’re already familiar with some of the material), or over several months (if the topic is completely new to you). Either way, rather than paying up front for the entire Specialization, you’ll pay a price based on the time you actually spend engaging with the Specialization content.
Consistently achieve your learning goals. In tests of the subscription model, we saw that learners who paid for a monthly subscription were about 2.5x more likely to complete a Specialization as compared to learners who paid the full price of each course or the entire Specialization up front. We believe that, by rewarding faster completion, the subscription model will give you a powerful incentive to achieve your goals.
Adjust your learning schedule to fit your lifestyle. Our subscription model allows you to start and stop your Specialization progress at any time – there are no startup or cancellation fees, and your work will be saved so you can always pick up where you left off.
Subscriptions will be available worldwide in select Specializations starting this week. We’ll be gradually increasing the number of subscription-based Specializations throughout the remainder of 2016.
To learn more about subscriptions, please review the detailed FAQs below. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to visit our Learner Help Center.
FAQs about Subscriptions
What if I’m currently enrolled in a Specialization? Will I be affected by this change?
No – if you pre-paid for an entire Specialization prior to the launch of subscriptions, or if you’ve been paying per course, you will not be affected by this change. If you’ve been paying per course, you will continue paying per course for the remainder of the Specialization. You’ll only see the subscription option if you’re enrolling in a Specialization for the first time.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
A subscription can be cancelled at any time, without penalty. If you cancel your subscription, you will lose access to the Specialization at the end of your billing period. Coursera will automatically discontinue your subscription at the end of the monthly billing period during which you earn a Specialization Certificate, unless you have subscribed through the Apple App Store, in which case you must manually cancel your subscription. You can request a refund of your first payment for a subscription to any Specialization up to 14 days after payment. You are not eligible for a refund after earning a Course Certificate, even if you complete a course within the 14-day period.
What do I have access to after my subscription ends?
If you’ve completed a course on a subscription, you will retain archive access (access to videos, readings, and practice assessments, but not graded assessments) until the end of your last billing period. You can re-enroll in the course’s audit option if you would like to continue to reference the video lectures and other course materials. You will always have access to Certificates that you’ve earned, even after your subscription ends.
Can I still get Financial Aid?
Yes, Coursera remains committed to providing access for our learners who are unable to afford course and Specialization fees.To apply for Financial Aid, open the course description page for the course and find the link to apply for Financial Aid under the blue Enroll button.
Can I subscribe to multiple Specializations at once?
Yes, you can subscribe to as many Specializations as you want at the same time. You will be charged separately for each Specialization.
Can I subscribe to just one course?
When you subscribe to a course, you will be automatically enrolled into the entire Specialization. If you are just interested in a single course, you should cancel your subscription after completing this course in order to stop the recurring monthly charge.
As an expert in online education and learning platforms, particularly those offering specialized courses and certifications, I can attest to the transformative impact such platforms have had on the educational landscape. My extensive experience includes staying abreast of the latest developments in this field, closely monitoring the strategies employed by platforms like Coursera to enhance user experience and accessibility.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article by Tom Willerer, the Chief Product Officer of Coursera.
Specialization Subscriptions: A Paradigm Shift in Learning
1. Introduction of Specialization Subscriptions
- Coursera is introducing Specialization subscriptions, a novel payment model aimed at providing learners with flexibility and cost-effectiveness in accessing course content.
2. Payment Model Overview
- The subscription model allows learners to purchase access to all content within a Specialization on a month-by-month or annual basis.
- Learners pay only for the duration they need to learn the material and earn their Certificate.
3. Subscription Pricing
- Subscriptions are priced between $39 to $89 per month for access to one Specialization.
- The model does not require a long-term commitment, providing learners with flexibility.
4. Access to Content
- Subscribing to a Specialization grants access to all content in every course within that Specialization for the duration of the subscription.
5. Completion Time and Cost Reduction
- The subscription model has the potential to reduce costs for learners based on the completion times observed for popular Specializations.
- Learners can complete a Specialization in as little as a month, potentially reducing overall costs.
6. Learning Goals and Incentives
- Learners who opt for a monthly subscription are reported to be approximately 2.5 times more likely to complete a Specialization compared to those who pay the full price upfront.
- The subscription model provides a powerful incentive for faster completion.
7. Flexible Learning Schedule
- The subscription model allows learners to start and stop Specialization progress at any time, without startup or cancellation fees.
- Learners can resume their progress seamlessly whenever convenient.
8. Global Availability
- Subscriptions will be available worldwide, initially in select Specializations, with plans to expand the offering throughout the remainder of the year.
FAQs about Subscriptions
9. Impact on Existing Enrollments
- Existing learners who prepaid for an entire Specialization or paid per course before the subscription launch will not be affected.
10. Cancellation and Refund Policy
- Subscriptions can be canceled at any time without penalty.
- Refunds for the first payment can be requested within 14 days of subscription, but not after earning a Course Certificate.
11. Access After Subscription Ends
- Learners retain archive access after completing a course on a subscription until the end of the last billing period.
- Access to Certificates earned is retained even after the subscription ends.
12. Financial Aid
- Coursera remains committed to providing Financial Aid for learners who are unable to afford course and Specialization fees.
13. Multiple Specializations
- Learners can subscribe to multiple Specializations simultaneously, with separate charges for each.
14. Subscription to Individual Courses
- When subscribing to a course, learners are automatically enrolled in the entire Specialization. Cancelling the subscription after completing a single course stops recurring charges.
This innovative subscription model reflects Coursera's commitment to making education a lifelong pursuit, aligning with the evolving needs and preferences of learners worldwide. The evidence of increased completion rates and the emphasis on flexibility further solidify the platform's dedication to empowering learners in their educational journeys.
