In a world that has rapidly become data-driven and increasingly reliant on digital transformation, it’s clear that there are a lot of opportunities in the tech industry. Despite recent slowdowns, the outlook for the field still remains positive, as trends shift and companies reorient. For any prospective career changers looking for a relatively cost-effective way to garner the basic knowledge and key concepts needed, a free data science bootcamp might prove to be an invaluable resource.
This article will highlight some popular free data science bootcamps and other no-cost online data science courses, as well as the organizations that offer them. Additionally, it will provide a breakdown of data science processes and the essential skills that potential employers look for in employees. We also offer some tips that can help you prepare for a data science bootcamp.
Key Takeaways
- Free data science bootcamps provide a cost-effective way to learn the basic knowledge and key concepts needed for a career in data science.
- Some well-known free data science bootcamps are AI Planet, Fellowship.AI, and NYC Data Science Academy.
- These bootcamps offer live or self-paced instruction, real-world experience, and cover essential skills like Python, data analysis, visualization, and machine learning.
- You can also find free resources for learning data science on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, DataCamp, and freeCodeCamp.
- Other great resources to learn data science are Khan Academy, Kaggle, Elite Data Science, and The Open Source Data Science Masters.
Free Coding Bootcamps to Learn Data Science
| Coding Bootcamp | Data Science Program | Location | Free For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Planet (Previously DPhi) | 5-Week Data Science Bootcamp | Online | Everyone |
| Correlation One | Diversity and Inclusion in Data Science | Online | Underrepresented communities in tech |
| The Data Incubator | Data Science Fellowship | Online | Scholarship recipients |
| Fellowship.AI | Data Science and Machine Learning BootCamp | Online | Fellows |
| Flatiron School | Free Data Science Prep | Online | Bootcamp preppers and everyone |
| Microsoft | Research Data Science Summer School | New York City, NY | High-performing undergraduates in the NYC area |
| NYC Data Science Academy | Intro to Data Science | Online | Bootcamp preppers and everyone |
| Hack the Hood | Data Science | Oakland, CA | Black, Latinx, AAPI, and Indigenous learners 14–25 years old |
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for data scientists is expected to grow by 36% through 2033 (much less than the national average of 4% across all industries). Due to this widespread demand for data science skills, there is a diverse selection of bootcamps that teach various data science courses.1
Many programs offer introductory courses to learn to code for free. Free data science bootcamps typically cover at least one programming language, basic data science terminology, and real-world applications of data science skills. This list features some popular free data science bootcamps that will set you on the path to becoming a data scientist.
AI Planet | 5-Week Data Science Bootcamp
AI Planet, previously DPhi, has a self-paced data science bootcamp made up of 66 tutorials and 15 exercises. Spanning five weeks, it covers a range of topics from fundamentals for absolute beginners to advanced concepts like machine learning models before culminating in working on real-world datasets.
Correlation One | Diversity and Inclusion in Data Science
Correlation One provides a free course that is dedicated to helping members of underrepresented groups gain essential skills needed to explore a lucrative career in tech. This fellowship utilizes employer sponsorships to help people gain hands-on practice through real-world projects and peer learning.
Although Data Science for All is free, fellows can expect to receive robust technical training that is simultaneously immersive. By the end of the course, fellows will learn how to use data skills to solve real-world problems and business challenges.
The Data Incubator | Data Science Fellowship
The Data Incubator offers two paid bootcamp programs and one shorter course that covers the essentials of data science. Under its initiative called the Data Incubator Fellowship, select students will receive a full-tuition scholarship for either the Data Science Bootcamp or the Data Science Engineer Bootcamp.
Note that there are limited spots available so the scholarship is highly competitive. However, if you are one of the lucky recipients, you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best instructors who have taught at renowned institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. You will also learn to use in-demand tools to build a robust portfolio of real-world data projects.
Fellowship.AI | Data Science and Machine Learning BootCamp
This program is tailored exclusively to those already within the industry or academia. The Data Science and Machine Learning BootCamp program from Fellowship.AI aims to sharpen the knowledge of the selected participants and is facilitated by senior data scientists. The coursework covers 20 topics within a 12-week window, focusing on real-world applications of data.
Flatiron School | Free Data Science Prep
Flatiron School’s free bootcamp prep is an introduction to the Flatiron School Data Science Bootcamp. It is a beginner-friendly program that covers the fundamental concepts of data and their applications in the real world. You can also download the full syllabus if you wish to sharpen your basic knowledge before going into the prep course. To gain access to Flatiron School’s free courses, all you have to do is sign up on the website.
Microsoft | Research Data Science Summer School
This online program from Microsoft is available to undergraduate students residing within the NYC area. It runs for four weeks, going through the introductory and core curricula before delving into assessment and practical application. This is all facilitated by Microsoft research scientists via the Microsoft Teams platform. Only 12 students are accepted per iteration of Microsoft’s data science summer school, and spots are limited to residents of NYC.
NYC Data Science Academy | Intro to Data Science
NYC Data Science Academy’s Intro to Data Science is an eight-hour introductory course that focuses on Python programming. The curriculum is divided into three units: Conda installation, Intro to Python programming, and data structures and control flows. It also exposes students to the fundamentals of object oriented programming and real-world data applications.
Hack the Hood | Data Science
Based in Oakland, CA, this school is geared toward Black, Latinx, AAPI, Indigenous students between the ages of 14 and 25 years old. Amid their other tech and career support programs, they also offer a free data science class, utilizing lectures, career exposure panels with industry professionals, peer-to-peer learning, video tutorials, and workshops in order to learn how to address data problems using Python.
Popular Free Data Science Courses
Aside from the free data science bootcamps mentioned above, there are other resources that can help you acquire data science skills in a cost-effective way. These include free data science courses online, typically offered by massive open online course (MOOC) providers like Udemy and Coursera. Below we highlight some of the best free data science courses available.
Free Coursera Data Science Courses
- A Crash Course in Data Science. This Coursera data science free course provides a more general overview of data science as a discipline. Offered in collaboration with John Hopkins, it touches on all crucial topics that fall under the data science umbrella. It also gives direction to data science beginners who are seeking to further their knowledge.
- Data Science Math Skills. This course allows you to acquire or reacquaint yourself with essential math skills required to study data science. It’s more general than most courses, focusing on data-related math skills. This Coursera free data science course is offered in collaboration with Duke University.
- Introduction to Statistics. Data science is invariably tied to the study and utilization of statistics as an analysis tool. As such, this course on statistics is perfect for those not familiar with this branch of mathematics. It provides an easy introduction to statistics and is offered in collaboration with Stanford.
- Machine Learning. Machine learning is a branch of data science, said to be the future of many fields. In collaboration with Stanford, this course offers a comprehensive education on the basics of machine learning and how it’s changing the world we live in.
- Python for Everybody Specialization. Python is the backbone of a lot of the work done in data science, so a good foundation in this data science programming language is important. This course offers specialized knowledge and prepares you to work on practical programming. This free Coursera data science course is offered in collaboration with the University of Michigan.
Free Udemy Data Science Courses
- Data Science, Machine Learning, Data Analysis, Python & R. This Udemy free data science course is a favorite among beginners. It covers over eight hours worth of materials related to artificial intelligence, deep learning, and data visualization. It’s a great option for those interested in learning R programming language.
- Intro to Data for Data Science. A great data science course for beginners, this super concise video tutorial uncovers what data science is all about. Expect to learn about why and how data is important, along with insights into the data lifecycle in just a little over 60 minutes.
- SQL for Data Analysis: Solving real-world problems with data. This is a great data science free course on Udemy, especially for students who are interested in learning SQL. In less than two hours, you will discover how to use SQL effectively to generate solutions for real-world problems.
- Introduction to Data Science using Python. This free course is the first module out of three, delving deep into the relationship between Python and data science. Learners start with the basics of Python before moving on to a popular Python library for data analysis called scikit-learn. It is taught by experienced data professional and instructor Rakesh Gopalakrishnan.
- Learn Data Science With R. This data science free course is a 10-part tutorial that focuses on R programming. It covers topics such as basic mathematics, statistics, and coding. Each part discusses an aspect of data science in detail, making this a great data science course for beginners.
Free DataCamp Courses
- R for the Intimidated. This DataCamp course is free for students and all modern learners. It walks you through the fundamentals of R programming such as basic functions and data structures before moving on to data techniques and management. At the end of the course, you will have to complete a final project using real-world datasets.
- Introduction to Deep Learning in Python. Part of several related tracks, this 4-hour class covers how to apply Python skills to deep learning with the Keras 2.0 library, tought by ex-Google data scientist and Keras contributor, Dan Becker.
- Statistical Inference in R. This online DataCamp course explores the more technical part of data science. Using R, you will learn topics like probability, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, linear regressions, and more. It includes interactive exercises to help you polish your newly learned skills.
- SQL Tutorial for Marketers. Data science skills are extremely versatile and can be useful in any career. This course will show you exactly how to leverage your SQL and data science knowledge to create and execute successful marketing campaigns.
- Basic Statistics. In this introductory class to basic statistics, you’ll cover the fundamentals of R programming, relationships between variables, probability distributions, and hypothesis testing, among others.
freeCodeCamp Data Science Material
freeCodeCamp is a great place to start for those looking to learn data science for free. It offers several data-related archived coursework, as well as several articles relevant to data science, most of which are straightforward explainers that are suitable for beginners. Others offer helpful advice or insights into a career in data science. Regardless of where you are in your journey, you would likely find a freeCodeCamp data science post that is worth reading.
Learn Data Science for Free: Other Online Resources
- Khan Academy. Khan Academy is an online platform offering a wide array of online courses on a variety of topics including data science. You can find everything from introductory courses to niche tutorials for free on Khan Academy. It also offers video tutorials, exercises, and articles.
- Kaggle. Kaggle is one of the best data science learning resources out there. It is a free community platform that is used by data scientists and machine learning experts. It is a space where data enthusiasts publish their datasets, find collaborators, and explore online data challenges.
- Elite Data Science. Elite Data Science is one of the best free resources to learn data science. It offers a lot of guidance on the path to a data science career, covering everything from a modern overview of the field to directions on how to land a high-paying job. You can also find code tutorials and concept explainers on the website.
- The Open Source Data Science Masters. Some of the best data science learning resources are completely free. This website, for example, is a handy collection of data science reading material and references. While some of the material is not free, the guide itself is readily available and contains a lot of useful knowledge to help you on your way.
How to Choose a Free Data Science Bootcamp or Course
The best way to choose a free data science bootcamp or course is by looking at several factors. First, you have to identify the skills that you would like to learn. This ties in with your background knowledge. If you already know how to code in R or Python, for example, you can directly pursue a program with an advanced data science bootcamp curriculum.
Meanwhile, if you’re a complete beginner, free online data science bootcamps are a great way to test the water. You will get an introduction to basic concepts without having to worry about the cost of a full data science bootcamp. Ultimately, the best free data science bootcamp would be the one that fits your career goals, skill level, and capacity.
Free Data Science Bootcamps FAQ
The best data science bootcamp prep course is the one offered by a coding bootcamp that you’re interested in attending. This ensures smooth learning progression as you progress through the curriculum and pick up new skills.
Can you start a career in the tech industry with just a data science bootcamp?
Yes, it’s possible to get a job from just a data science bootcamp. Many industry professionals value technical skills with practical applications. As such, a lot of companies lean heavily on technical interviews in lieu of a data science degree. You can also find job placement figures for data science bootcamp graduates online, but be sure to look carefully at each school’s methodology, sample size, criteria, and whether the numbers have been verified by a third party.
What should I do after a data science MOOC?
Some of the things you should do after a data science MOOC include reinforcing your new skills through coding exercises and projects. If you’re looking to pursue a new data science career, you can continue to work on projects as they will boost your technical portfolio. Once you’re ready, you can start applying for relevant jobs and start preparing for your technical interview.
How effective are data science bootcamps at preparing students for employment opportunities?
Depending on the bootcamp, it may be pretty effective at preparing students for employment opportunities. Bootcamps are generally more career-centric, offering a curriculum that is based on the latest industry trends and tools. But the value of each individual program will depend on several factors, so before committing, take a look at online reviews, career support offered, and how up-to-date the curriculum is.
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