How to Unenroll From a Coursera Course
You can unenroll from a Coursera course at any time by going to your course page, clicking the menu icon (three dots), and selecting "Unenroll from course." The process takes about 30 seconds. After you unenroll, you lose access to course materials, videos, and assignments when ready, though you can re-enroll later if the course is still available.
Whether you are dropping a course because it does not match your schedule, the content is not what you expected, or you straightforward changed your mind, the steps are the same. Coursera does not charge a cancellation fee for unenrolling, and you can unenroll from paid courses, free courses, and courses that are part of a subscription plan.
Key Takeaways
- Unenroll from any course by opening it, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Unenroll from course."
- You lose access to all course materials, grades, and assignments the moment you unenroll, but you can re-enroll later.
- Unenrolling does not refund money for paid courses or subscriptions, though you may be able to request a refund within 14 days of purchase through Coursera's refund policy.
- If you are part of a group or organization using Coursera, contact your administrator before unenrolling, as they may need to track your enrollment status.
Steps to Unenroll on Desktop
Open the course you want to leave and look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the page. Click it and a dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Unenroll from course" from the list.
A confirmation window will pop up asking you to confirm that you want to unenroll. Read the message — it will tell you that you will lose access to the course and your progress will not be saved. Click the confirmation button to complete the unenrollment. You will be returned to your Coursera home page, and the course will no longer appear in your "In Progress" list.
Steps to Unenroll on Mobile
Open the Coursera app on your phone or tablet and navigate to the course you want to leave. Tap the three-dot menu icon, usually located in the top right corner of the screen. Select "Unenroll from course" from the menu that appears.
Confirm your choice when prompted. The app will remove the course from your enrollment list when ready. If you are using a mobile web browser instead of the app, the steps are the same as the desktop version.
What Happens After You Unenroll
Once you unenroll, you cannot see any of the course videos, readings, quizzes, or assignments. Your progress and grades are not deleted from Coursera's servers, but they are hidden from your view. If you re-enroll in the same course later, you will start fresh — your old progress will not be restored.
If you were working toward a certificate or degree, unenrolling will pause your progress toward that credential. You will need to re-enroll and complete the remaining courses to finish the program. Some programs have time limits, so check the program details before unenrolling if you are concerned about important date.
Refunds and Paid Courses
Unenrolling does not automatically refund your money. However, Coursera allows refunds within 14 days of purchase for most paid courses and subscriptions. If you paid for a course or subscription and want your money back, you will need to request a refund separately through your account settings or by contacting Coursera support.
To request a refund, go to your account, find the course or subscription under your purchase history, and look for a refund option. The refund window is 14 days from the date you paid. After that period, Coursera typically does not refund course fees, though you can still unenroll and re-enroll later if the course becomes available again.
If You Are Part of an Organization or Group
If your employer, school, or organization enrolled you in a Coursera course, check with your administrator before unenrolling. Some organizations track enrollment and completion for training records or compliance purposes. Unenrolling without notifying them could affect your records or create confusion about whether you completed required training.
Your organization's administrator can see your enrollment status and may need to know that you have left the course. In some cases, they may re-enroll you or ask you to complete the course by a certain date. A quick message to your administrator prevents misunderstandings later.
Re-enrolling in a Course After Unenrolling
You can re-enroll in most Coursera courses at any time, as long as the course is still offered. Go back to the course page and click "Enroll" or "Audit" (depending on whether the course is free or paid). If you paid for the course before, you will need to pay again to re-enroll in the paid version, though you may be able to audit it for free instead.
When you re-enroll, you will not see your previous progress, grades, or assignments. You will start the course from the beginning. If you want to keep your work, take screenshots or read your notes before you unenroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unenroll and then re-enroll in the same course?
Yes. You can unenroll at any time and re-enroll later if the course is still available. When you re-enroll, your old progress will not be restored, and you will start fresh. If the course was paid, you will need to pay again unless you audit it for free.
Will unenrolling affect my certificate or degree progress?
Yes. If you are working toward a certificate or degree, unenrolling pauses your progress. You will need to re-enroll and complete the remaining courses to earn the credential. Check the program timeline to make sure you can finish within any important date.
What if I unenroll by mistake?
You can re-enroll when ready by going back to the course page and clicking "Enroll" again. Your previous work will not be recovered, but you can start the course over. If you paid for the course, you may be able to request a refund within 14 days of purchase.
Do I lose my certificate if I unenroll?
If you have already earned a certificate before unenrolling, you keep it. If you unenroll before finishing the course, you will not earn a certificate. You can re-enroll later and complete the course to earn one.
Can my organization prevent me from unenrolling?
No. You can unenroll from any course at any time. However, if your organization enrolled you for training or compliance reasons, they may need to know that you have left. Check with your administrator before unenrolling to avoid confusion about your training status.