Computer Science Courses: Top Free & Paid Picks for Students

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Jul 1, 2023 • 9 min read

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As we continue the slow march towards an AI-powered future, the coding and technical skills computer science graduates have are in increasingly high demand. This demand accounts for the high salary expectations of a computer science expert (the average salary in the field is €5,700 in Germany) and makes you more attractive as a hiring prospect to employers.

The challenge – finding a quality computer science course that provides the knowledge you need and has a reputation that forces employers to take notice. The four courses in this article (combined with related studies) transform you from computing enthusiast to sought-after computer scientist.

Top Free Computer Science Courses

Kicking off this computer science course list, we have a pair of the best free online computer science courses for building a foundation within the subject area.

Course 1 – CS50: Introduction to Computer Science (Harvard University)

If you’re looking for a free course that carries plenty of prestige, anything with the “Harvard” label attached is a good start. CS50 is a self-paced course, with Harvard estimating an 11-week completion time with between 10 and 20 hours of daily studying. It’s offered in English (sadly, no alternative languages exist at the time of writing) and it’s free to take, though you’ll pay $189 (approx. €175) for an official certificate.

The course covers programming language basics, starting with simple web-based HTML and advancing into Python and C. Advanced computing concepts, such as data structures and cybersecurity, are also covered, though you’re getting more of a baseline knowledge than specialized teaching. Think of the course as a computer science primer designed to give you a foundation that’s ideal for moving on to more complex studies. Add to that the Harvard seal of approval, which looks great on any CV, and you have a course that’s available globally and ideal for impressing employers.

Course 2 – CompTIA A+ (CompTIA)

This free course is A+ by name and mostly A+ by nature, with CompTIA advertising it as the perfect pathway to follow if you want a career in IT or computer sciences. You get an industry-recognized credential that employers will love, with the course focusing as much on practical skills (such as thinking on your feet in an IT crisis) as it does on theoretical instruction.

That’s not to say that theory isn’t covered. Once you’ve gotten to grips with the basics of the hardware and various operating systems, you’ll move into practical modules focused on networking, software, and cybersecurity. The course providers carry some industry weight, too, as titans like Dell, HP, and Intel recommend CompTIA’s courses for anybody who wants to break into the workforce.

There are some downsides – namely the minimal theoretical teaching makes it harder to understand why the practical things you’ll learn work. But as a companion piece to a more technical course (such as CS50), A+ is a great way to develop much-needed skills.

Other Notable Free Courses

The two courses listed above are far from the only free computer science course options available, with the following also being solid choices:

Python for Everybody – Coming from the University of Michigan, this course teaches the ins and outs of a popular programming language used in AI and machine learning.
IBM Data Science Professional Certificate – As something of a computer science-adjacent course, IBM’s certificate hones in on data science topics, such as visualization and machine learning models.
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming – Put together by the best minds at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this is a great course for beginners who are starting from square one when it comes to programming.

Top Paid Computer Science Courses

If you have some money to spend on your education (or access to student funding) these are the best courses for computer science students who value a more traditional paid education.

Course 1 – Bachelor in Modern Computer Science (OPIT)

As an entirely online course, OPIT’s offering allows you to learn at mostly your own pace, though you’re still expected to complete coursework and pass exams at appropriate times. It’s a three-year course (though two-year fast-track options are available) and it’s provided by an institution that has European Qualification Framework (EQF) credentials.

Granted, the course doesn’t come cheap, with its €3,600 per year tuition fees adding up to €10,800 for a three-year course. But that money buys you a comprehensive computer science education, starting with the basics of software development before moving on to modern concepts, like AI and cloud computing. Along the way, you’ll earn professional certifications from Microsoft and Google, giving you something tangible to place on your CV even as you’re still studying. Credit transfer is also available for students who started a computer science course elsewhere and want to transfer to OPIT’s offering.

Course 2 – Computational Science and Engineering (Technical University of Munich)

Perpetually hovering around the top 50 universities in the world (it ranked 50 ^th in 2021), the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is like the MIT of Europe. With this course, TUM offers something for students who’ve already started on the computer science track and now feel ready to bring those skills together with applied math and engineering for a Master’s certification.

Lasting four semesters of full-time study, the course costs €152.30 and delivers 120 ECTS credits. You’ll hone in on numerical simulation, focusing on how to develop math-based problem-solving methods that help in developing systems and simulations. Theory is king in this course. But you’ll come away with such a solid grounding in that theory (as well as experience with simulated applications) that prepare you for a computer science and engineering career.

Other Notable Paid Courses

More thought goes into choosing a paid computer science course because you’re investing more than just time into your studies. If neither of the above two courses whets your appetite, the following are a few other notable providers offering courses to European and international students:

Computer Science BSc by Cambridge University – You get more than a degree from one of the UK’s most prestigious universities with this course. Given that Cambridge University lies in the heart of “Silicon Fen,” this course puts you in the ideal location to gain exposure to over 1,000 Cambridge-based tech companies.
Computational Thinking for Problem Solving – Devised by the Penn University faculty, this four-week online course starts by teaching the “pillars” of computational thinking, ending with an applied task using the Python programming language.
Computer Science 101L Master the Theory Behind Programming – Available via Udemy, this course costs about €69 or is available with a monthly subscription to Udemy. It features nearly 12 hours of recorded teaching sessions, alongside articles and other resources, that teach the basics of computer science.

Related Courses for a Well-Rounded Computer Science Education

The courses covered so far focus on computer science, with some variance in a few cases, which is like building the foundations for a house. To turn those foundations into something special (and something from which you can make a living), you may need a few more materials. Computer science-related courses give you those materials, with the following areas being great targets for further study.

Programming Languages

Programming is the beating heart of computer science. Every piece of software you’ll ever use has a program behind it. Most basic computer science courses teach general programming skills, often in Python, but further study into languages like SQL, Java, and C broadens your skillset to make you more attractive to employers.

Web Development

According to web3.career, the average European web developer picks up €70,000 per year, with potential to hit six figures with the right company and training. Many of the basics of web development are things you’ll pick up in a computer science course, though those looking for more formal certification should consider the following:

Full-Stack Web Development for Free (CodingNinjas)
Intro to HTML 5 (University of Michigan)
Web Developer on Google Digital Garage (Google)

Cybersecurity

The European Council’s research suggests that the cost of cybercrimes amounted to €5.5 trillion on the continent alone, with ransomware attacks being among the biggest threats facing EU companies. Therein lies an opportunity – businesses don’t want to lose trillions of euros and your cybersecurity skills could be the shield they need to fend off cyberattacks.

Top cybersecurity courses to consider include:

Google Cybersecurity (Google)
The Complete Cyber Security Course (Udemy)
Introduction to Cybersecurity Foundations (Infosec)

Data Science

Estimates state that the data science industry will have a 29% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2029, making it an ever-growing monolith in the computer science sector. Your ability to extract insights from massive datasets could be useful to employers and is buoyed by the following top courses:

Data Science MicroMasters (University of California San Diego)
CS109 Data Science (Harvard University)
Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (Imperial College London)

Tips for Choosing the Right Computer Science Course

The computer sciences courses covered in this article run the gamut from beginner-level programs to full Master’s degrees. If you feel like you’re struggling to navigate the sheer volume of options available, these tips help you pick an appropriate course:

Be honest with yourself about your current skill level to choose a computer science course that challenges without being overwhelming.
Compare the course’s curriculum and learning outcomes with your goals to ensure you’ll get what you need from your studies.
Measure your time commitments (and how the course format allows for these commitments) against those the course demands.
Research the instructors who created the course and check online reviews from past and current students.
Determine whether the cost of the course (both monetary and time-wise) delivers a suitable return on your investment.

Start Your Computer Science Journey With the Right Course

Options abound when you’re looking for a computer science course, with quality free options sitting right alongside traditional paid courses. Whatever course you choose, always remember – one step in the right direction still means that you’re moving forward. By choosing a course, you take your first step into a constantly evolving and expanding world that could provide you with a lifelong career.

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From the same author
Il Sole 24 Ore: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into the Enterprise – Challenges and Opportunities for CEOs and Management
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology

April 14, 2025
Source:
- Il Sole 24 Ore, published on April 14th, 2025
Expert Pierluigi Casale analyzes the adoption of AI by companies, the ethical and regulatory challenges and the differentiated approach between large companies and SMEs

By Gianni Rusconi

Easier said than done: to paraphrase the well-known proverb, and to place it in the increasingly large collection of critical issues and opportunities related to artificial intelligence, the task that CEOs and management have to adequately integrate this technology into the company is indeed difficult. Pierluigi Casale, professor at OPIT (Open Institute of Technology, an academic institution founded two years ago and specialized in the field of Computer Science) and technical consultant to the European Parliament for the implementation and regulation of AI, is among those who contributed to the definition of the AI Act, providing advice on aspects of safety and civil liability. His task, in short, is to ensure that the adoption of artificial intelligence (primarily within the parliamentary committees operating in Brussels) is not only efficient, but also ethical and compliant with regulations. And, obviously, his is not an easy task.

The experience gained over the last 15 years in the field of machine learning and the role played in organizations such as Europol and in leading technology companies are the requirements that Casale brings to the table to balance the needs of EU bodies with the pressure exerted by American Big Tech and to preserve an independent approach to the regulation of artificial intelligence. A technology, it is worth remembering, that implies broad and diversified knowledge, ranging from the regulatory/application spectrum to geopolitical issues, from computational limitations (common to European companies and public institutions) to the challenges related to training large-format language models.

CEOs and AI

When we specifically asked how CEOs and C-suites are “digesting” AI in terms of ethics, safety and responsibility, Casale did not shy away, framing the topic based on his own professional career. “I have noticed two trends in particular: the first concerns companies that started using artificial intelligence before the AI Act and that today have the need, as well as the obligation, to adapt to the new ethical framework to be compliant and avoid sanctions; the second concerns companies, like the Italian ones, that are only now approaching this topic, often in terms of experimental and incomplete projects (the expression used literally is “proof of concept”, ed.) and without these having produced value. In this case, the ethical and regulatory component is integrated into the adoption process.”

In general, according to Casale, there is still a lot to do even from a purely regulatory perspective, due to the fact that there is not a total coherence of vision among the different countries and there is not the same speed in implementing the indications. Spain, in this regard, is setting an example, having established (with a royal decree of 8 November 2023) a dedicated “sandbox”, i.e. a regulatory experimentation space for artificial intelligence through the creation of a controlled test environment in the development and pre-marketing phase of some artificial intelligence systems, in order to verify compliance with the requirements and obligations set out in the AI Act and to guide companies towards a path of regulated adoption of the technology.

“CEOs who already work with AI – explains the OPIT expert – see the investment in compliance as necessary, the latter as an opportunity: and the latter, on paper, have the advantage of being able to define a strategy also in terms of ethics and civil responsibility”

SMEs in greater difficulty

There is a further theme that accompanies the diffusion of AI in the European corporate fabric and that is the difference in “approach” between large companies and SMEs. The top executives of enterprise-class organizations, as Casale confirms, have budgets and resources to adequately address and manage the challenge of compliance. Small and medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, are in a waiting position to understand how to carry forward the development process and the risk that many may slow down in the innovation path, and that a conservative attitude towards the use of artificial intelligence prevails, is clear.

Lastly, no less important is the issue of skills, which is very much felt in both the technical and legal fields. “The skills and requirements of AI Engineers and Data Scientists, with all their variations on the theme, are now defined and it is clear – Casale assures – that there is a strong increase in demand. However, I am of the opinion that there cannot be training that is only engineering-based or focused solely on regulatory aspects: instead, we need paths that combine the two dimensions and that lead to preparing the new Chief AI Officers, that is, high-level responsibility figures called to govern all activities related to the use of artificial intelligence”. Nonetheless, according to the expert, we need a layer of specialists who study the impacts and implications of technology on society, anticipating possible risks.

Old universities are not enough

In conclusion, it remains to be asked whether Italy is up to speed in meeting this need, and in this regard Casale’s answer is once again precise and transparent: “Old-style universities can no longer be functional for this purpose, because we need to understand how to teach a new mindset and not a technology as such, given the speed of its evolution. We are in the midst of a phase of great change and evolution towards dynamic study paths, and in other European countries this transformation has already begun”. In the meantime, artificial intelligence continues on its course and suggests that it will not be a passing fad. On the contrary. “AI – concludes the OPIT professor – exists and is here to remain a protagonist: to teach it and bring it to the ground in an adequate way, correct governance of the technology is necessary and the AI Act is an important first step in this direction. But there is still a lot of work to do”.

Read the full article below (in Italian):
- Il Sole 24 Ore
Check out OPIT degrees

BSc in Digital Business MSc in Digital Business and Innovation MSc in Responsible Artificial Intelligence MSc in Applied Data Science and AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI
- Career aligned
- Fully Online
- EU-accredited institution
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CCN: Australia Tightens Crypto Oversight as Exchanges Expand, Testing Industry’s Appetite for Regulation
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology

March 31, 2025
Source:
- CCN, published on March 29th, 2025
By Kurt Robson

Over the past few months, Australia’s crypto industry has undergone a rapid transformation following the government’s proposal to establish a stricter set of digital asset regulations.

A series of recent enforcement measures and exchange launches highlight the growing maturation of Australia’s crypto landscape.

Experts remain divided on how the new rules will impact the country’s burgeoning digital asset industry.

New Crypto Regulation

On March 21, the Treasury Department said that crypto exchanges and custody services will now be classified under similar rules as other financial services in the country.

“Our legislative reforms will extend existing financial services laws to key digital asset platforms, but not to all of the digital asset ecosystem,” the Treasury said in a statement.

The rules impose similar regulations as other financial services in the country, such as obtaining a financial license, meeting minimum capital requirements, and safeguarding customer assets.

The proposal comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government prepares for a federal election on May 17.

Australia’s opposition party, led by Peter Dutton, has also vowed to make crypto regulation a top priority of the government’s agenda if it wins.

Australia’s Crypto Growth

Triple-A data shows that 9.6% of Australians already own digital assets, with some experts believing new rules will push further adoption.

Europe’s largest crypto exchange, WhiteBIT, announced it was entering the Australian market on Wednesday, March 26.

The company said that Australia was “an attractive landscape for crypto businesses” despite its complexity.

In March, Australia’s Swyftx announced it was acquiring New Zealand’s largest cryptocurrency exchange for an undisclosed sum.

According to the parties, the merger will create the second-largest platform in Australia by trading volume.

“Australia’s new regulatory framework is akin to rolling out the welcome mat for cryptocurrency exchanges,” Alexander Jader, professor of Digital Business at the Open Institute of Technology, told CCN.

“The clarity provided by these regulations is set to attract a wave of new entrants,” he added.

Jader said regulatory clarity was “the lifeblood of innovation.” He added that the new laws can expect an uptick “in both local and international exchanges looking to establish a foothold in the market.”

However, Zoe Wyatt, partner and head of Web3 and Disruptive Technology at Andersen LLP, believes that while the new rules will benefit more extensive exchanges looking for more precise guidelines, they will not “suddenly turn Australia into a global crypto hub.”

“The Web3 community is still largely looking to the U.S. in anticipation of a more crypto-friendly stance from the Trump administration,” Wyatt added.

Read the full article below:
- CCN
Check out OPIT degrees

BSc in Digital Business MSc in Digital Business and Innovation MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI MSc in Data Science & AI
- Career aligned
- Fully Online
- EU-accredited institution
Read the article
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Authors

Francesco Profumo

John Loewen

Professor @OPIT, PhD in Computer Science, Former Professor @Chulalongkorn University and @Vancouver Island University. Location: Italy Teaches Computer Architectures (BSc).

Karim Bouzoubaa

Professor @ OPIT, Professor of Data Science & AI @ Mohammed V University in Rabat, PhD @ Laval University. Location: Canada, Morocco. Teaches Programming courses (BSc).

Khaled Elbehiery

Professor @ OPIT, Senior Director & Network Engineer @ Charter Communications, Professor @ DeVry University and @ Park University. Location: USA. Teaches: Computer Networks (BSc).

Lokesh Vij

Professor @ OPIT, Software Engineer @ Symantec, Faculty @ Seneca College. Location: Canada. Teaches Cloud Computing courses (BSc), Big Data and Cloud Computing Infrastructure (MSc).

Go to all authors

Il Sole 24 Ore: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into the Enterprise – Challenges and Opportunities for CEOs and Management

OPIT - Open Institute of Technology

Apr 14, 2025 • 6 min read

Source:

Il Sole 24 Ore, published on April 14th, 2025

Expert Pierluigi Casale analyzes the adoption of AI by companies, the ethical and regulatory challenges and the differentiated approach between large companies and SMEs

By Gianni Rusconi

Easier said than done: to paraphrase the well-known proverb, and to place it in the increasingly large collection of critical issues and opportunities related to artificial intelligence, the task that CEOs and management have to adequately integrate this technology into the company is indeed difficult. Pierluigi Casale, professor at OPIT (Open Institute of Technology, an academic institution founded two years ago and specialized in the field of Computer Science) and technical consultant to the European Parliament for the implementation and regulation of AI, is among those who contributed to the definition of the AI Act, providing advice on aspects of safety and civil liability. His task, in short, is to ensure that the adoption of artificial intelligence (primarily within the parliamentary committees operating in Brussels) is not only efficient, but also ethical and compliant with regulations. And, obviously, his is not an easy task.

The experience gained over the last 15 years in the field of machine learning and the role played in organizations such as Europol and in leading technology companies are the requirements that Casale brings to the table to balance the needs of EU bodies with the pressure exerted by American Big Tech and to preserve an independent approach to the regulation of artificial intelligence. A technology, it is worth remembering, that implies broad and diversified knowledge, ranging from the regulatory/application spectrum to geopolitical issues, from computational limitations (common to European companies and public institutions) to the challenges related to training large-format language models.

CEOs and AI

When we specifically asked how CEOs and C-suites are “digesting” AI in terms of ethics, safety and responsibility, Casale did not shy away, framing the topic based on his own professional career. “I have noticed two trends in particular: the first concerns companies that started using artificial intelligence before the AI Act and that today have the need, as well as the obligation, to adapt to the new ethical framework to be compliant and avoid sanctions; the second concerns companies, like the Italian ones, that are only now approaching this topic, often in terms of experimental and incomplete projects (the expression used literally is “proof of concept”, ed.) and without these having produced value. In this case, the ethical and regulatory component is integrated into the adoption process.”

In general, according to Casale, there is still a lot to do even from a purely regulatory perspective, due to the fact that there is not a total coherence of vision among the different countries and there is not the same speed in implementing the indications. Spain, in this regard, is setting an example, having established (with a royal decree of 8 November 2023) a dedicated “sandbox”, i.e. a regulatory experimentation space for artificial intelligence through the creation of a controlled test environment in the development and pre-marketing phase of some artificial intelligence systems, in order to verify compliance with the requirements and obligations set out in the AI Act and to guide companies towards a path of regulated adoption of the technology.

“CEOs who already work with AI – explains the OPIT expert – see the investment in compliance as necessary, the latter as an opportunity: and the latter, on paper, have the advantage of being able to define a strategy also in terms of ethics and civil responsibility”

SMEs in greater difficulty

There is a further theme that accompanies the diffusion of AI in the European corporate fabric and that is the difference in “approach” between large companies and SMEs. The top executives of enterprise-class organizations, as Casale confirms, have budgets and resources to adequately address and manage the challenge of compliance. Small and medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, are in a waiting position to understand how to carry forward the development process and the risk that many may slow down in the innovation path, and that a conservative attitude towards the use of artificial intelligence prevails, is clear.

Lastly, no less important is the issue of skills, which is very much felt in both the technical and legal fields. “The skills and requirements of AI Engineers and Data Scientists, with all their variations on the theme, are now defined and it is clear – Casale assures – that there is a strong increase in demand. However, I am of the opinion that there cannot be training that is only engineering-based or focused solely on regulatory aspects: instead, we need paths that combine the two dimensions and that lead to preparing the new Chief AI Officers, that is, high-level responsibility figures called to govern all activities related to the use of artificial intelligence”. Nonetheless, according to the expert, we need a layer of specialists who study the impacts and implications of technology on society, anticipating possible risks.

Old universities are not enough

In conclusion, it remains to be asked whether Italy is up to speed in meeting this need, and in this regard Casale’s answer is once again precise and transparent: “Old-style universities can no longer be functional for this purpose, because we need to understand how to teach a new mindset and not a technology as such, given the speed of its evolution. We are in the midst of a phase of great change and evolution towards dynamic study paths, and in other European countries this transformation has already begun”. In the meantime, artificial intelligence continues on its course and suggests that it will not be a passing fad. On the contrary. “AI – concludes the OPIT professor – exists and is here to remain a protagonist: to teach it and bring it to the ground in an adequate way, correct governance of the technology is necessary and the AI Act is an important first step in this direction. But there is still a lot of work to do”.

Read the full article below (in Italian):

Il Sole 24 Ore

Read the article

CCN: Australia Tightens Crypto Oversight as Exchanges Expand, Testing Industry’s Appetite for Regulation

OPIT - Open Institute of Technology

Mar 31, 2025 • 3 min read

Source:

CCN, published on March 29th, 2025

By Kurt Robson

Over the past few months, Australia’s crypto industry has undergone a rapid transformation following the government’s proposal to establish a stricter set of digital asset regulations.

A series of recent enforcement measures and exchange launches highlight the growing maturation of Australia’s crypto landscape.

Experts remain divided on how the new rules will impact the country’s burgeoning digital asset industry.

New Crypto Regulation

On March 21, the Treasury Department said that crypto exchanges and custody services will now be classified under similar rules as other financial services in the country.

“Our legislative reforms will extend existing financial services laws to key digital asset platforms, but not to all of the digital asset ecosystem,” the Treasury said in a statement.

The rules impose similar regulations as other financial services in the country, such as obtaining a financial license, meeting minimum capital requirements, and safeguarding customer assets.

The proposal comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government prepares for a federal election on May 17.

Australia’s opposition party, led by Peter Dutton, has also vowed to make crypto regulation a top priority of the government’s agenda if it wins.

Australia’s Crypto Growth

Triple-A data shows that 9.6% of Australians already own digital assets, with some experts believing new rules will push further adoption.

Europe’s largest crypto exchange, WhiteBIT, announced it was entering the Australian market on Wednesday, March 26.

The company said that Australia was “an attractive landscape for crypto businesses” despite its complexity.

In March, Australia’s Swyftx announced it was acquiring New Zealand’s largest cryptocurrency exchange for an undisclosed sum.

According to the parties, the merger will create the second-largest platform in Australia by trading volume.

“Australia’s new regulatory framework is akin to rolling out the welcome mat for cryptocurrency exchanges,” Alexander Jader, professor of Digital Business at the Open Institute of Technology, told CCN.

“The clarity provided by these regulations is set to attract a wave of new entrants,” he added.

Jader said regulatory clarity was “the lifeblood of innovation.” He added that the new laws can expect an uptick “in both local and international exchanges looking to establish a foothold in the market.”

However, Zoe Wyatt, partner and head of Web3 and Disruptive Technology at Andersen LLP, believes that while the new rules will benefit more extensive exchanges looking for more precise guidelines, they will not “suddenly turn Australia into a global crypto hub.”

“The Web3 community is still largely looking to the U.S. in anticipation of a more crypto-friendly stance from the Trump administration,” Wyatt added.

Read the full article below: