Over the past decade, online learning platforms have been everywhere and have gained more and more popularity, with Udemy being one of those whose success keeps increasing.
If you have ever searched for an online class to join, then you have already seen Udemy or have had somebody suggesting you join it to attend the classes taught by Udemy instructors you are interested in. But is Udemy legitimate?
Online courses are relatively new and quite revolutionary when considering the traditional methods of learning in school and university classrooms.
That is why many people are hesitant to join Udemy, thinking it might not be legit and worthy of the time, effort, and money spent on the courses. If you are also hesitant, keep reading below to find the answer to “Is Udemy legit?” and worthy of a try or not!
Is Udemy Legitimate?
When asking about the legitimacy of an online learning platform, you are most probably looking to find out whether your money and time are worth spending on it. In the case of Udemy, we can tell you that it certainly is.
Udemy is justifiably one of the best online learning platforms, so finding courses that are worth your money and time is quite easy.
Moreover, there’s no need to worry about whether or not Udemy is a scam as the company has existed since 2010 and it’s provided its customers with high-quality courses and services.
Are Udemy Classes Worth It?
There are thousands of Udemy classes that are worth it, but that always depends on your level of expertise or knowledge and your area of interest.
For example, if you are a newbie in fashion and interested in learning more about basic design and styling, taking the “Fashion 101 | Design & Styling- Textures, Shaping, & More!” is a perfect choice for you.
On the other hand, if you are an intermediate learner in fashion or have some expertise and knowledge and are looking to delve deeper into a sub-area of the industry, then such a course would be unnecessary to join and a waste of money and time.
In other words, even though Udemy courses are worth it, you need to always read through their descriptions and have a quick look at the ‘What You’ll Learn’ boxes on every course page to see if the knowledge provided and the things learned are suitable for you.
Moreover, all courses have a ‘Requirements’ as well as a ‘Who this course is for’ note, both of which have more information as to the knowledge you need to have prior to signing up for a course.
So, while some courses need no previous knowledge of the subject they’re exploring, there are others that need at least a basic understanding of the fundamentals, while others need you to have some extra knowledge or experience on theirs.
Who Are The Teachers On Udemy?
Everyone can teach on Udemy, so there are thousands of course instructors offering their own courses and knowledge on the platform.
This means that you must do some research on every Udemy instructor too and their own course if you want to make sure that you are learning from someone with substantial knowledge and expertise.
However, if you don’t want to look through every single teacher’s biography, reading through every Udemy review of each paid course can give you a good idea of how good they are and what the course quality is like.
Signing Up For A Course On Udemy
To sign up for a course, you need to click on the ‘Add to Cart’ option after checking how much particular Udemy courses cost and then pay for their lifetime access once you’ve selected all the courses you want to join. There are also free courses you can try out.
To choose the right course, let’s have a quick summary of what you need to be looking for in every single one of those that interest you:
Who Is Teaching The Course And What Is Their Expertise?
You need to make sure that the teacher of the Udemy course has the necessary skills and expertise in what they’re teaching.
The Course’s Rating On Udemy And The Reviews Of People Who’ve Taken The Course
In the case of ratings, you should be looking at how many there are in total.
A web development course that, for example, has 4.8/5 starts but only 10-course reviews is not taken by enough past students to guarantee its effectiveness.
On the other hand, taking one with 4.8 starts and 1000+ ratings is a safer bet.
The Number Of Students Enrolled: This Goes Together With The Ratings
When lots of students have taken a course, then you know that the number of ratings is more accurate.
Date The Course Was Last Updated
In fields like cryptocurrency and fashion that are constantly changing, you need to check the date they were last updated.
If you see that, for example, a cryptocurrency course was last updated years ago, then it definitely has information that is ‘old news’ or does not apply in today’s crypto world.
Moreover, it will lack the latest updates and innovations, so it won’t be successful in teaching you everything you need to know about it.
Is Udemy Accredited?
Even though for every completion of a course Udemy offers you a certificate of completion you can share on LinkedIn or add to your CV to enhance it, it is not accredited, considering that Udemy isn’t an accredited institution.
That means that you cannot use any of the courses completed as credits for universities, but you can always make a positive impression on potential employers.
The Bottom Line
Udemy is 100% legitimate as a business and its offer is one of the best you can find online, so there’s no need to be searching for Udemy alternatives.
It is a learning platform that includes courses on thousands of topics taught by a wide range of teachers.
However, you do need to be careful when choosing a course on a subject you are interested in, as every teacher and course are offering knowledge of a different level, so reading through the details before paying for a course is essential to make sure you’re not joining a 101/basic level course on a subject you’re rather experienced in.
