Course catalog · Summer 2026
Pick one course. Finish it. We'll pay for the certificate.
A pre-vetted list of free online courses from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and UCLA Extension. All are free to start. The certified ones (★) cost a fee — OCT pays it when you finish all the coursework this summer.
How to pick
Three quick steps.
Pick a category
Coding, AI, data science, or business. Go with what excites you.
Pick your level
New to it? Start at Beginner. Already comfortable? Try Intermediate.
Tell us in your application
Drop the course name in the application form. We'll talk it through during onboarding.
★ Certified OCT pays the fee on completion · Free / no cert Free enrichment, no fee to pay
MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Two paths: MITx on edX & MITx Online offer certified courses; MIT OpenCourseWare is free archived material with no certificate.
Introduction to Computer Science using Python (6.00.1x)
MITx on edX
The classic MIT intro to programming. No prior experience needed.
Computational Thinking using Python (XSeries)
MITx on edX
A bundle that builds on 6.00.1x with problem-solving and data work.
Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning
MITx on edX
Best after some Python and high-school stats. Real ML, not just hand-waving.
Probability — The Science of Uncertainty and Data
MITx on edX
A rigorous foundation. The math under data science and ML.
6.0001 — Introduction to CS & Programming in Python
MIT OpenCourseWare
Full lectures, slides, and problem sets. Self-paced. No certificate.
6.006 — Introduction to Algorithms
MIT OpenCourseWare
A solid bridge from "I can code" to "I can think like a computer scientist."
Harvard
Harvard University (HarvardX on edX)
CS50 is the most popular online CS course in the world. Free to audit; verified certificate optional. Browse all CS50 courses.
CS50x — Introduction to Computer Science
HarvardX on edX
The flagship. Scratch → C → Python → SQL → JavaScript over 11 weeks. Two-thirds of CS50 students start with no CS background.
CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python
HarvardX on edX
Python-only spin-off of CS50. Pick this if Python is what you want to nail.
CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
HarvardX on edX
Search, knowledge, optimization, learning, neural nets. Hands-on Python projects.
CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript
HarvardX on edX
Django, React, SQL, deployment. Picks up where CS50x leaves off.
CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals
HarvardX on edX
No coding. For founders, PMs, and decision-makers who want tech literacy.
Introduction to Data Science with Python
HarvardX
pandas, numpy, matplotlib. Builds toward intro ML. Best after some Python practice.
Stanford
Stanford Online
A mix of fully free programs and paid-cert courses on Coursera (financial aid available). Code in Place is explicitly open to learners 16 and up.
Code in Place
Stanford Online
A free 6-week Python program based on Stanford's CS106A. Cohort-based with TAs, or a self-paced version. Record of completion.
Machine Learning Specialization
Stanford Online & DeepLearning.AI on Coursera
Andrew Ng's redesigned ML course. Free to audit; cert via Coursera (financial aid available).
Statistical Learning with Python
Stanford Online
A free, self-paced version of the celebrated "ISLP" course. Strong for serious data work.
UCLA
UCLA Extension — UCLAxOpen
UCLAxOpen offers tuition-free, non-credit courses taught by UCLA Extension instructors. Topics rotate each term. No certificate, but real learning from a real university.
The deal
How OCT supports your course.
You pick
Choose any course on this page. We'll talk it through with you during onboarding to make sure it's the right level.
You finish
We build study time into the work week. This isn't extra homework after hours.
OCT pays the cert
For any ★ Certified course, OCT covers the verified-certificate fee in full when you complete the coursework this summer.
Free / no cert courses (MIT OCW, UCLAxOpen, Code in Place, Stanford Statistical Learning) are listed as enrichment options — there's no fee to reimburse, just learning.
Found one you like?
Apply to the OCT Summer 2026 Internship and tell us which course you want to take in your application.
Apply to the internship