MathWorks, the company behind the MATLAB programming language and software, offers 24 free online courses through their MATLAB Academy platform.
The courses introduce learners to the MATLAB language and tools — with a focus on machine learning — and MathWorks’ specialized software, such as Simulink.
These MATLAB Academy courses include a free certificate of completion as well as an accompanying progress report.
Note, this is different from MathWorks’ official certification program, which offers proctored exams for a fee. If you’re looking for professional certification, see the MathWorks Certification Program.
Mathworks Academy also offers an additional 47 self-paced online courses and learning paths through an Online Training Suite Subscription.
In this article, we discuss MATLAB Academy, its online courses, and how to earn a free certificate.
- Platform
- Free Courses with Certificates of Completion
- Free Certificates: How to Earn One
- More Free Certificates
If you’re looking for MATLAB courses beyond MATLAB Academy, see our MATLAB subject and 10 Best MATLAB Courses for 2026.
Platform
As its name suggests, MATLAB Academy is MathWorks’ one-stop shop for learning MATLAB, and more generally, the MathWorks suite of software and tools.
The platform is dead simple. It takes the form of a list of resources broken down by subject, ranging from introductory free courses to more advanced paid courses. In this article, we focus on the free offerings.
MATLAB Academy’s resources essentially fall into two categories:
- Introductions to the MATLAB language and tools.
- Applications of MATLAB to topics like machine learning.
The courses interleave explanatory videos and practical activities that you’ll complete via a web-based version of MATLAB, which closely mirrors the experience you’d get installing the software locally.
Free Courses with Certificates of Completion
| Topics | Courses | Details |
MATLAB Basics |
MATLAB Onramp | Hands-on introduction to MATLAB programming, covering basic commands, data manipulation, plotting, and problem-solving techniques for scientific computing and data analysis. |
Simulink & Model-Based Design |
Simulink Onramp | Learn to model and simulate dynamic systems using Simulink’s graphical environment. Practice with automotive, thermostat, and falcon dive projects while mastering basic algorithms and system types. |
| Stateflow Onramp | Learn the basics of creating, editing, and simulating state machines in Stateflow. | |
| Control Design Onramp with Simulink | Get started quickly with the basics of feedback control design in Simulink. | |
| System Composer Onramp | Explore model-based systems engineering with System Composer . Build system architectures, trace requirements, create specialized views, and link to Simulink for behavior verification. |
|
Machine Learning & AI |
Machine Learning Onramp | Learn the basics of practical machine learning methods for classification problems. |
| Deep Learning Onramp | Get started quickly using deep learning methods to perform image recognition. | |
| Reinforcement Learning Onramp | Master the basics of creating intelligent controllers that learn from experience. | |
| Computer Vision Onramp | Learn the basics of computer vision to design an object detector and tracker. | |
Signal & Image Processing |
Signal Processing Onramp | An interactive introduction to signal processing methods for spectral analysis. |
| Image Processing Onramp | Learn the basics of practical image processing techniques in MATLAB. | |
| Wireless Communications Onramp | Learn the basics of simulating a wireless communications link in MATLAB. | |
Physical Modeling & Simulation |
Simscape Onramp | Learn the basics of simulating physical systems in Simscape. |
| Circuit Simulation Onramp | Learn the basics of simulating electrical circuits in Simscape. | |
| Power Electronics Simulation Onramp | Learn the basics of simulating power electronics converters in Simscape. | |
| Power Systems Simulation Onramp | Explore microgrid modeling, three-phase circuits, and power system algorithms like droop control and maximum power point tracking in this hands-on simulation experience. | |
| Simscape Battery Onramp | Simulate battery management systems for safe charging/discharging, using Simscape to model battery packs and implement algorithms like coulomb counting and CC-CV charging. | |
| Multibody Simulation Onramp | Discover how to model and simulate 3D mechanical systems using Simscape Multibody, from rigid body assembly to building an actuated robot drawing arm with hands-on exercises. | |
MATLAB Programming |
Object-Oriented Programming Onramp | Learn the basics of using object-oriented programming in MATLAB to model real-world objects and manage software complexity |
| App Building Onramp | Learn effective ways to develop applications in MATLAB using App Designer. | |
| MATLAB Coder Onramp | Learn to generate C/C++ code from MATLAB functions, fix compatibility issues, and use MEX functions. Master the code generation workflow and configure outputs for optimal performance. | |
Math & Optimization |
Optimization Onramp | Learn the basics of solving optimization problems in MATLAB using the problem-based approach. |
| Statistics Onramp | Get started using statistical methods for analysis in MATLAB. | |
| Curve Fitting Onramp | Explore curve fitting basics, compare fits, and apply results to determine optimal electric vehicle speed using the Curve Fitter app. |
Free Certificates: How to Earn One
To take a free course on MATLAB Academy and earn a free certificate, simply:
- Create a MathWorks account here.
- Enroll in one of the free courses above.
- Access your free certificate.
Once you enroll in a course, you’ll get immediate access to a certificate, like the one shown at the top of this article. The certificate lists your course progress. So if you want a 100% completion, you’ll still need to finish all the activities, naturally.
In addition, you’ll also get access to a progress report that lists the specific topics covered in the course as well as your per-topic progress, as you can see above.
More Free Certificates
If you don’t find what you need in the course list below, browse Class Central’s catalog of 250K courses or visit our thematic collections:
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You can find all the Class Central free certificate articles here.
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