Auditing an edX class | edX How to audit an edX class Did you know you don’t have to pay to review online edX courses? By auditing an online course on edX, you can determine whether the course requirements and materials suit your needs. Learn how to enroll and audit an edX course in this guide. Create an account By: Shelby Campbell, Edited by: Valerie Black Last updated: October 1, 2025 Why it’s worth auditing an edX course Auditing an edX course means reviewing the course material for free. It’s an option for students who want to explore the rigor and content of the course before signing up for the full experience. On edX, you can audit nearly all of our online courses from top schools, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and the University of Cambridge. When you audit a class on edX, you can: Determine the commitment required. Assess whether the course teaches relevant skills for your goals. Learn about the subject without investing in the course. Evaluate whether the subject is a good career path for you. Unlike the full enrollment experience, learners in the audit track can only access the materials for as long as the course is active, generally 4–12 weeks. Only those in the certificate track have unlimited access to the materials once the course has ended. Steps for auditing an edX class As an audit learner, you’ll have temporary access to course materials and assignments. Here’s how to get started: Find your course Before you enroll to audit a course on edX, determine which course will best suit your needs. Consider what you’re looking to get out of the course and which edX offering speaks best to these goals. Some professional certificate, MicroBachelors® and MicroMasters®, and XSeries programs allow you to audit their course offerings, but edX Executive Education programs don’t offer an audit track. Enroll in the course After picking your class, click the “audit course” link on the page, often below the registration button. This link will refer you to two sign-up options — one that allows you to register for the full experience and another to continue the audit. Click the “audit” option to move forward with enrolling in the audit track. Read the syllabus You can now access the course materials and complete assignments. Start by reviewing the syllabus, which often contains a schedule, a list of readings and assignments, and due dates. Then, click through to the instructions for how to use the program’s interactive online system. Explore the course Once you’re familiar with the program formatting, you can begin reading through the course materials. These materials vary between courses, instructors, and schools. For the audit track, they generally include readings, video lectures, discussions, and ungraded assignments that you can complete on your schedule. Complete the course or register for your certificate While you can view and complete the course on your own time, you’ll only have access to the materials when it’s active. Make sure to complete your audit within the specified timeframe. You can also register for the full experience to keep your access and earn a certificate. How to decide which class to audit You can audit almost every course on edX. Consider the following scenarios that may lead a student to audit a course before investing in the certificate: If... Then audit... You want to upskill for AI IBM: AI for Everyone: Master the Basics You need to build leadership skills before a potential promotion HarvardX: Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles You want to explore whether you’d like to be a project manager in your field IBM: Project Management Basics You’re interested in a career in web development but aren’t sure whether you like the field enough to invest in a degree program IBM: Introduction to Web Development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript You want to see how challenging it would be to add accounting to your management skills MITx: Financial Accounting You’re a business leader who wants to learn how to make your business more sustainable SNUx: Sustainability in Action: Strategy to Practices for a Greener Future You want to make data-driven business decisions GTx: Data Analytics for Business You want to determine how difficult it would be to learn C++ programming Codio: C++ Programming: Basic Skills You’re interested in integrating AI digital marketing solutions DavidsonX, GalileoX: Intro to AI for Digital Marketing You want to upskill for AI Then audit... IBM: AI for Everyone: Master the Basics You need to build leadership skills before a potential promotion Then audit... HarvardX: Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles You want to explore whether you’d like to be a project manager in your field Then audit... IBM: Project Management Basics You’re interested in a career in web development but aren’t sure whether you like the field enough to invest in a degree program Then audit... IBM: Introduction to Web Development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript You want to see how challenging it would be to add accounting to your management skills Then audit... MITx: Financial Accounting You’re a business leader who wants to learn how to make your business more sustainable Then audit... SNUx: Sustainability in Action: Strategy to Practices for a Greener Future You want to make data-driven business decisions Then audit... GTx: Data Analytics for Business You want to determine how difficult it would be to learn C++ programming Then audit... Codio: C++ Programming: Basic Skills You’re interested in integrating AI digital marketing solutions Then audit... DavidsonX, GalileoX: Intro to AI for Digital Marketing Free classes on edX Along with the audit option, you can take free courses to earn a certificate on edX. Explore free course offerings: How to Learn OnlineedX Course AI Applications and Prompt EngineeringedX Course Intro Course: Data StorytellingedX Course Frequently asked questions about auditing an edX class Can I put an audited course on my résumé? While you can use an audited course on your résumé, hiring managers may request proof of a passing grade. Learners who choose the audit track don’t earn a verified certificate, which offers a link that validates that you’ve taken and passed the class. Is it better to audit a course than get a certificate in the course? No, it’s typically better to have a certificate after completing an online course. Recruiters often prefer to see evidence, such as an edX verified certificate, that your online course programs provided enough rigor to prepare you for real-world experience. Is there any limit to the number of classes I can audit on edX? No, you can audit any number of courses on edX for free. Will I learn as much from auditing a course as I would if I enrolled in the course? While the course materials are available for free in the audit track, enrolling in a course allows you to receive feedback from professors, potentially helping you learn more. This individualized, constructive feedback can help you address any areas of weakness or misunderstanding and gain a well-rounded view of the subject. Share this article Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Linkedin Share on Email