5 Coursera Courses Every PhD Student Should Follow

Manousos A. Klados
4 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Pursuing a PhD means more than mastering your field—it’s about becoming an adaptable scholar with skills in writing, analysis, project management, well-being, and more. These five fully available Coursera courses offer critical support for navigating academia and beyond.

1. Writing in the Sciences – Stanford University

Instructor: Dr. Kristin Sainani

Duration: ~30 hours

Why take it:

This course is a gold standard for improving clarity and precision in scientific writing. It’s especially helpful when preparing your thesis, publishing papers, or writing grant proposals.

2. Data Analysis with R Programming – Google/Coursera

Instructor: Google Career Certificates

Duration: ~35 hours

Why this is a strong choice:

Many PhD projects involve data—even in qualitative fields. This course introduces R programming and essential data analysis techniques in an approachable, beginner-friendly format.

Key topics include:

Data wrangling and cleaning
Basic statistical analysis
RStudio environment
Creating data visualizations

Ideal for students seeking to build confidence with data, without prior coding experience.

3. Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning – McMaster University

Instructor: Dr. Barbara Oakley

Duration: ~15 hours

Why take it:

Mindshift helps you confront imposter syndrome, mental fatigue, and intellectual blocks—all common challenges during a PhD. You’ll gain strategies to become a more agile learner and thinker.

4. The Science of Well-Being – Yale University

Instructor: Dr. Laurie Santos

Duration: ~20 hours

Why take it:

PhD work is rewarding—but also stressful. This course brings scientific insights into happiness, well-being, and sustainable productivity. You’ll learn how to reframe your mindset and build resilience.

5. Project Management Principles and Practices – UC Irvine

Instructor: Rob Stone

Duration: ~20 hours (4-course series)

Why take it:

From thesis deadlines to lab collaborations, PhD life is full of complex projects. This course equips you with tools for planning, scheduling, and managing academic or interdisciplinary work effectively.

Wrap-up

Whether you’re running experiments, writing a dissertation, or preparing for an academic or industry career, these five Coursera courses provide essential support—helping you thrive, not just survive, during your PhD journey.