Are you learning Spanish and looking for completely free university-level courses? You have come to the right place. This page lists every major Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for English speakers who want to learn Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and conversation skills.
Unlike other websites that only show paid courses, all 16 courses on this page are 100% free to access. Some platforms like Coursera and edX require you to click the “Audit” option during enrollment. Others like OpenLearn and MIT OpenCourseWare give you full access without any registration.
Whether you are a complete beginner (A1 level) or an advanced learner (C1 level), you will find a course that matches your level.
All courses come from real universities including UC Davis, UNAM in Mexico, Universidad de Chile, UniversitĂ di Napoli, MIT, and King’s College London.
🔓 How to get these courses for FREE
On Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn: click “Enroll” then look for the small “Audit” or “Free access” link. You do NOT need to enter credit card information. On OpenLearn, Language Transfer, MIT OCW, and Destinos, everything is 100% open.
🌱 Beginner (A1–A2)
University of California, Davis – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
Spanish is the second most spoken language on earth, second only to Mandarin. This specialization is designed for beginners with no prior experience. You will build a functional vocabulary of 1,500 of the most used Spanish words and phrases. The specialization includes 5 courses that progressively build your skills, culminating in a project where you prepare a written travel plan to a Spanish-speaking nation. Taught by Dr. Robert Blake, a distinguished professor of Spanish linguistics.
1,500+ words
5 courses
4.6 rating
University of California, Davis – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
¡Hola! ¿Cómo Estás? This entry-level course is the first step toward exploring Spanish grammar and pronunciation. You will learn to talk about yourself, your family, and friends in the present tense. The course includes video lessons, interactive activities, speaking, reading, and writing exercises. With over 268,000 enrolled learners and a 4.6 rating from 3,300+ reviews, this is one of the most popular Spanish courses on Coursera.
4.6 rating
2 weeks
18 assignments
Università di Napoli Federico II – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
This beginner-level course focuses on vocabulary fundamentals, grammar basics, and everyday conversation. It includes 6 modules with 55 assignments and is taught in Spanish (with subtitles available). Recently updated in October 2025. Perfect for learners who want immersion from day one.
A1 level
2 weeks
55 assignments
Universidad de Chile – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
This 4-module course is taught by instructors Constanza Sarralde Tassara, Gloria Toledo Vega, and Francisco Quilodrán Peredo. With a 4.8 rating from 25 reviews, it covers interrogatives, vocabulary, grammar, and intercultural competence. Only 6 hours to complete — perfect for a quick but solid introduction.
4.8 rating
6 hours
A1.1 level
Universitat Politècnica de València (UPValenciaX) – edX | Free audit / Paid certificate
This popular three-course series takes learners from absolute zero to an A2 level. It covers essential grammar, common vocabulary, and everyday conversational skills. Perfect for complete beginners.
A1 to A2
3 courses
The Open University (OpenLearn) | 100% free + free statement of participation
A practical module focused on travel essentials — using public transport, asking for directions, and navigating a Spanish-speaking city. Short and immediately useful.
Travel focus
Short module
Language Transfer | 100% free (non-profit)
An unconventional 90-episode audio course that uses the “Thinking Method.” It skips rote memorization by teaching you the logical connections between English and Spanish. No grammar drills.
Audio only
90 episodes
Pontifical Bolivarian University – FutureLearn | Free limited access / Paid upgrade
Practical phrases for immediate use: ordering food, asking for help, basic courtesies, and simple conversations. Designed for travelers and absolute beginners.
Phrases
Travel
Anahuac University & UNAM – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
Fortalece tu comunicación en español para interactuar clara, eficaz y estratégicamente en el trabajo. This 3-course series is taught by Dr. Rodrigo Navarro Hernández, José Ignacio González, and Susana Carolina Barradas. Recently updated in April 2026, it focuses on building complex sentences for workplace and daily interactions.
Intermediate
3 courses
4.6 rating
UNAM – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
This course is part of the Business Spanish Specialization above. Taught by Fernanda Fernández Meneses, it covers expressions, strategies, gestures, and social skills for effective workplace communication in Mexican and Latin American business contexts. Topics include negotiation, business correspondence, meeting facilitation, and telephone skills.
Intermediate
1 week
9 assignments
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
This course targets workplace communication, covering professional networking, email etiquette, and business culture in Spanish-speaking countries.
B1+
Business
MIT OCW | 100% free (no certificate)
Direct access to MIT’s residential course materials. Includes full syllabi and assignments for students who want to follow an elite university curriculum independently.
Intermediate
Self-study
UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) | 100% free
Intermediate and advanced speaking – conversation course. An initiative from the UOC that focuses on real spoken interaction.
Speaking
Conversation
🏥 Professional & Thematic Spanish
Rice University – Coursera | Free audit / Paid certificate
A critical resource for medical professionals. This course teaches medical terminology and communication strategies for doctor-patient interactions in a clinical setting.
Medical
B1+
🎬 Immersive & Visual Learning
Learner.org | 100% free
A classic “telenovela” style course with 52 episodes. It uses a compelling mystery storyline to teach the language naturally through immersion and context.
Story-based
52 episodes