International organisations publish free online courses on development, climate change, nutrition, disaster response and leadership. For scholarship applicants they are a low-cost way to build knowledge in your field and show initiative on your CV. Here are ten official platforms, with what each one offers.
The 10 platforms
- UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research): free, self-paced courses on topics such as leadership, peace and disaster response.
- UNSSC (United Nations System Staff College): leadership and development-focused courses. Some are paid, so check the fee on each course page.
- World Food Programme (WFP): NutX, a learning platform focused on nutrition.
- World Bank Group Academy: courses on economic development, financial inclusion and related topics. You need a free account to sign in.
- DisasterReady: a large free library for humanitarian aid and disaster management.
- UNDP Learning for Nature: courses on biodiversity, nature and sustainable development.
- OpenLearn (The Open University, UK): free courses across almost every subject.
- UN CC:Learn: the United Nations climate change learning platform. See our UN CC:e-Learn page.
- FAO elearning Academy: courses on food security, agriculture and nutrition. See our FAO eLearning Academy page.
- ADBI E-Learning (Asian Development Bank Institute): tuition-free courses on development in Asia and the Pacific.
How to choose a course
- Pick courses that match the field you want to study. Two relevant courses are worth more than ten random ones.
- Check the time required and whether a certificate is offered before you start. This differs by course.
- Finish what you start. An unfinished course cannot go on your CV.
How to use these courses in a scholarship application
- Add completed courses to a “Training and Certifications” section of your CV with the provider and year. See our academic CV template.
- Mention one relevant course in your motivation letter and say what you learned from it. Our motivation letter template shows where it fits.
- Use the knowledge in interviews when you explain why you chose your field.
Online courses support an application but do not replace grades, research experience or strong recommendation letters. Treat them as one part of your profile.
Course catalogues change often. We checked these links on 4 October 2026, so confirm the details on each platform before you enrol.
What "free" means on these platforms
Free can mean three different things, and it is worth knowing which one applies before you start a course.
- Free course, free certificate: you pay nothing at any stage. The FAO elearning Academy works like this. All its courses are free, and a digital badge is awarded on certified courses when you pass the final test with 75 percent or more.
- Free course, paid certificate for some courses: on UN CC:e-Learn all course content is free. You need at least 70% in the quiz, within three attempts, to earn a certificate. Some certificates are free, and for some courses the official UN certificate costs 10 to 30 US dollars.
- Free to audit, paid verified certificate: Harvard’s free online courses can be followed without payment. A verified certificate is optional and paid, starting at about 50 US dollars on edX.
For a scholarship application, the knowledge and the project matter more than the paper. Pay for a certificate only when you have a clear reason.
How many courses should you take?
Two or three well-chosen courses are enough. Selection panels are not impressed by a list of twenty certificates. They want to see that you chose a course for a reason, finished it and used what you learned. One course that you can discuss in detail is worth more than ten that you clicked through.
Choose a course in ten minutes
- Start from a gap. Compare your transcript with the entry requirements or the course list of your target programme. What is missing: statistics, a programming language, research methods, a policy area?
- Check the provider. Prefer courses from UN agencies, development banks and universities, because readers recognise them.
- Check the assessment. A course with a final test or project gives you something to show.
- Check the time. Be honest about your weekly hours. A finished 10-hour course is better than an abandoned 60-hour one.
A four-week study plan
| Week | What to do | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Complete the first modules and take notes in your own words | One page of notes |
| 2 | Complete the middle modules and try each exercise | Answers to the exercises |
| 3 | Finish the course and pass the final test | Certificate or badge |
| 4 | Apply one idea from the course to a small task of your own | A one-page summary, chart or short report |
Week 4 is the one most students skip, and it is the one that makes the course useful in an application.
How to list online courses on your CV
Professional Development - Introduction to Climate Change, UN CC:e-Learn (certificate, June 2026) - Food Security and Nutrition Data Analysis, FAO elearning Academy (digital badge, August 2026) Applied the methods to district-level data in my final-year project
Give the course title, the provider, what you received and the date. Add one line on how you used it, if you did. Put this section after your education and projects, not before them.
How to write about a course in your statement
Do not write: "I completed many online courses to improve my knowledge." Write one specific sentence that connects the course to your plan: "To prepare for the quantitative modules of this programme, I completed a course on data analysis from the FAO elearning Academy and used its methods to re-analyse my thesis survey." This shows initiative, a result and a link to the degree.
What online courses cannot do
- They do not replace a degree requirement, such as a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- They do not replace an English test where one is required.
- They do not make up for a statement that has no clear plan.
- A certificate of attendance, without a test, carries little weight.
Use courses to fill a gap and to show direction. Do not use them as decoration.
Common mistakes
- Collecting certificates: many short courses, with no link between them.
- Listing courses you did not finish: panels may ask about the content.
- Paying for unknown providers: a paid certificate from an unknown website has no value. The platforms in this guide are free or low-cost.
- Using a course name as proof of a skill: show what you did with it.
Examples of good course choices by field
| Your target field | A sensible course topic | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, food or nutrition | Food security analysis, sustainable agriculture, nutrition data | FAO elearning Academy |
| Climate, environment or energy | Climate change basics, climate policy, the green economy | UN CC:e-Learn |
| Computer science or data | Programming foundations, data science basics | Harvard’s free online courses |
| Public health | Health topics from UN agencies and universities | The health platforms in the list above |
| Economics, policy or development | Development topics, public finance, project management | The development bank platforms in the list above |
Choose the course that is closest to a module in your target programme. That makes the link easy to explain in your statement.
Use a course to test a field before you commit
A short free course is a cheap way to find out whether you enjoy a subject before you spend two years on it. If you are deciding between two master’s fields, take one introductory course in each. Notice which one you finish more easily and want to read more about. Your experience also gives you an honest sentence for your statement about why you chose this field.
How to keep and share your certificates
- Download each certificate or badge as a PDF or image on the day you earn it, and save it with a clear file name.
- Keep the verification link or code, if the platform gives one. Readers can use it to check that the certificate is real.
- Add the course to your LinkedIn profile and your CV in the same week.
- Upload certificates to an application only when the form asks for supporting documents. Otherwise the line on your CV is enough.
A weekly routine that fits around your studies
Three sessions of 45 minutes each week are enough for most of these courses. Choose fixed times, switch off notifications, and write five lines of notes after each session. If you miss a week, restart with a shorter session. Do not give up the course.
Frequently asked questions
Do free online courses help me win a scholarship?
They help when they fill a real gap and you can show how you used them. They are a supporting detail, not the main reason anyone is selected.
Should I pay for the verified certificate?
Only if the certificate itself matters for your goal. For most applications, the free version of the course and a clear line on your CV are enough.
Can I add courses I am still taking?
Yes, marked as "in progress" with the expected completion date. Remove the line if you do not finish.
Are these certificates accepted as university credit?
Usually not. They show interest and preparation. Ask your target university if you need formal credit.
Where should I look next?
If you want practical experience as well, read our guides to the WHO Internship Programme and the UNICEF Internship Programme.
Scholarships with the nearest deadlines
| Scholarship | Funding | Stipend | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan | Fully funded | 2,400 yen per working day, plus one round trip and shared on-campus housing | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Kochi University of Technology SSP Scholarship in Japan | Fully funded | 150,000 yen a month for 3 years, plus fee exemptions | 16 Oct 2026 |
| CERN Administrative Student Programme 2027 in Switzerland | Fully funded | 3,486 Swiss francs a month, tax free | 16 Oct 2026 |
| CERN Technical Student Programme 2027 in Switzerland | Fully funded | Monthly net allowance of 3,486 Swiss francs | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral | Fully funded | CAD 40,000 per year | 17 Oct 2026 |
| Commonwealth Scholarships 2027/28 in the UK | Fully funded | 1,712 pounds a month, or 2,000 pounds a month at universities in the London area (current rates) | 20 Oct 2026 |
| EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027–28 in Italy | Partial | Basic grant of 2,850 euros per month | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan | Partial | 230,000 yen a month (degree of 1 to 2 years), 210,000 yen a month (3-year degree) or 180,000 yen a month (degree longer than 3 years) | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–28 in Switzerland | Partial | CHF 2,450 per month for living costs | 31 Oct 2026 |
| University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships 2027 in Australia | Fully funded | 41,100 Australian dollars a year (2027 rate), plus a full fee offset | 31 Oct 2026 (expected) |
This list updates itself from our scholarships page. Stipend figures are shown where the provider publishes them. See all scholarships.
