3 ways to learn data science for free

Data science is one of the most in-demand and high-paying fields today.?HRForecast, predicts that digital literacy, data analytics, and data visualization and exploration are among the top skills that will be needed to stay competitive in the coming decades. A recent report by?PricewaterhouseCoopers?estimates that 7 out of 10 employers in the United Kingdom required data science and analytics skills from candidates in the year 2021.

Data science is definitely one of the fields that you can get into and reasonably expect to have a stable, well-paying job for years to come. However, it isn’t necessarily easy to break into. There’s simply no blueprint or pre-built roadmap for becoming a data scientist. That’s why it requires some extra thought and effort on your part.

If you’re interested in making this your career, but you don’t have the money to go back to school (or pay for pricey courses) or take time off from work, you need somewhere else to look. Thankfully, there are several ways that you can learn data science for free and in a fairly flexible approach. In this article, I share my top 3 resources for learning data science.

#1? WorldQuant University

The first free data science program we will look at is WorldQuant University (WQU), an accredited not-for-profit organization leveraging the power of technology to offer high-quality online and tuition-free education. WorldQuant University currently offers two programs, an Applied Data Science Lab (which you can complete in 6 months or less) and a 2-year MSc in Financial Engineering. If you are a first-timer, the Applied Data Science Lab will give you hands-on training to tackle complex real-world problems using data science. If you are looking to build on your already existing data science skills and apply them in the financial industry then the 2-year MSc program is for you. Visit their website?https://www.wqu.edu/?to learn more.

I am currently enrolled on the Applied Data Science Lab and I can confirm first hand that the instructors like Nicholas Cifuentes-Goodbody are absolutely amazing!

#2? ExploreAI Academy

Next, let’s look at ExploreAI Academy. ExploreAI is a team of high-level experts in data science who have packaged their experience and teaching into a world-class data science education program. While their offering is not entirely free like WorldQuant they offer innovative, flexible payment options. If you are a South African citizen, you can apply for a company-sponsored scholarship. You can also pay your tuition in the form of a 36-month long loan. Nonetheless, the most amazing financing option offered by ExploreAI academy is the Accelerator Income Share Agreement, where you study the high-level course at zero-payment upfront. The academy then helps you find a job and when you do get one, you pay up to 15% of your salary per month until you clear your tuition. Amazing right?! Visit the academy website here?https://explore-datascience.net/?to learn more.

#3? Coursera

The last option we’ll look at is Coursera. Coursera is a general online learning platform that offers courses on a wide range of topics. There are thousands of courses available, many of which are completely free. For some, you will have to pay if you want a certificate of completion. But even without the certificate, the courses are still useful to build your skills. So for this one, I’m going to ask you to dive into their website here and pick the one that works best for you!

There are also a number of specializations within the data science field that you can pursue. These include data science in healthcare, data science for social good, and data science for business.

Happy learning!

Conclusion

Learning data science is a challenging but rewarding process. It’s a skill that will take a significant amount of time and effort to master. As such, it’s important to get started as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can learn data science for free. Some programs are free and self-paced while others are free but less structured. The good news is, the learning sea is so wide and you can find your perfect spot, no matter how big or small a fish you are!

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