6 Free Deep Learning Courses to Get You Career-Ready
Deep learning sounds complex, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right beginner courses, you’ll go from curious to confident in building smart systems.
Deep learning is the intelligence powering much of today’s AI. It's what enables voice assistants to recognise you, what Netflix recommends watching next, and what autonomous cars recognise as stop signs.
And don't fret, deep learning isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. It’s simply a subset of machine learning that mimics how our brains think, with artificial "neurons" stacked upon one another to sense patterns and make decisions.
The people behind these smart systems are Deep Learning Engineers, Researchers, and Practitioners, those who teach machines to "see," "hear," and "learn" from vast amounts of data.
But the good news is that you don't have to be a computer science PhD holder to start learning how it works. If you want to learn about AI, enjoy working with data, and love building intelligent systems, there are introductory classes that can get you ready for deep learning today.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Here are six affordable courses to get you started on deep learning.
1. Deep Learning Specialisation – Coursera (by Andrew Ng & DeepLearning.AI)
Taught by Andrew Ng, one of the most renowned names in AI, this five-course specialisation guides you through the basics of deep learning using Python and TensorFlow.
What you will learn:
- Neural networks and backpropagation
- Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for computer vision
- Sequence models for natural language processing
- Best practices for structuring machine learning projects
Why take it:
This is the go-to course for beginners. It’s clear, hands-on, and trusted by thousands of AI professionals.
2. Intro to Deep Learning with PyTorch – Udacity (Free)
This free course teaches deep learning fundamentals using PyTorch, a popular open-source framework used in AI research.
What you’ll learn:
- Building neural networks from scratch
- Training models on image and text data
- Using transfer learning and GPU acceleration
Why take it:
PyTorch is used widely within the AI space these days, and this course has you coding it up in a hurry—no fluff, just code and real-world examples.
3. Deep Learning for Beginners – Kaggle (Free)
Offered by Kaggle, this bite-sized course uses Python and TensorFlow to teach you to build and train your very first neural network—right in your browser.
What you'll learn:
- Deep learning basics
- Model building with Keras
- Training on data and evaluation
Why take it:
It's completely browser-based, simple to start with, and you'll be building models in the first 10 minutes. Setup-free.
4. Fast.ai's Practical Deep Learning for Coders (Free)
This course is geared towards people who already have some experience with Python, as it skips the theory and gets you building high-performance deep learning models rapidly.
What you'll learn:
- Image classification, natural language processing
- Working with Jupyter notebooks and GPU tools
- State-of-the-art techniques used by top researchers
Why take it:
If you prefer a learn-by-doing approach and must get results quickly, this course delivers. And it's entirely free and updated regularly.
5. AI For Everyone – Coursera (Free)
This isn't a course for engineers alone—it's for anyone who wants to understand what AI and deep learning can do (and can't).
What you’ll learn:
- How AI is impacting industries
- Ethical concerns and job trends
- Communicating with AI teams and understanding terminology
Why take it:
Perfect if you’re not a coder but still want to understand deep learning’s role in business, product development, or policy.
6. CS50’s Introduction to AI with Python – Harvard (Free)
This course combines computer science fundamentals with hands-on AI, including search algorithms, neural networks, and more.
What you’ll learn:
- Building search agents, optimisation algorithms
- Creating basic neural networks and training data
- Real-world AI applications in Python
Why take it:
It's challenging, but entry-level accessible—ideal if you want to learn the internals of AI and how deep learning operates.
Conclusion
Deep learning powers some of the most awe-inspiring tech on the planet—from ChatGPT to facial recognition and beyond. And the good news? You can start learning it today, without investing a ton of money or going back to school.
Whatever your aspiration—developing the next image recognition platform, working as an AI research employee, or just understanding what goes on behind the magic of contemporary smart systems—these classes are a fine place to start.
Start with one that fits your pace—whether video lessons, browser-based coding, or project work—and see where it takes you.
Your journey into deep learning starts here.
