In today’s rapidly changing world, sustainability and global development are more critical than ever. The United Nations (UN) offers free UN online courses to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle global challenges. Whether you’re a student, professional, or simply passionate about making a difference, these courses provide valuable insights into sustainable development, climate action, and social equity—all at no cost.
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Why Take Free UN Online Courses?
The UN is a global leader in promoting sustainability, peace, and human rights. By enrolling in these free UN online courses, you can:
Gain expertise from world-class institutions and experts.
Learn at your own pace with flexible online access.
Earn certificates to boost your resume and career.
Contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Who Can Enroll?
One of the best things about these free UN online courses is that they are designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of background, education level, or location. Here’s a breakdown of who can enroll:
1. Students & Researchers
High school, college, or university students looking to expand their knowledge in sustainability, climate change, human rights, or finance.
Researchers who want to deepen their understanding of global issues for academic projects or papers.
2. Professionals & Career Changers
Employees in NGOs, government agencies, or corporate sustainability roles seeking to upskill.
Business leaders who want to align their companies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Career changers interested in transitioning into sustainability, humanitarian work, or environmental policy.
3. Activists & Changemakers
Non-profit workers and volunteers who want to strengthen their advocacy skills.
Community leaders aiming to implement sustainable practices in local projects.
Anyone passionate about social justice, climate action, or global development.
4. Educators & Trainers
Teachers & professors who want to integrate sustainability topics into their curriculum.
Workshop facilitators looking for credible resources to train others.
5. General Public (No Prerequisites Needed!)
No prior degree or experience is required for most courses.
Open to all ages (though some platforms may require users to be at least 13-16 years old).
Available worldwide—anyone with an internet connection can enroll.
Here are 6 Free UN Online Courses
1.UN 2.0 Fundamentals E-Learning Path
According to the Policy Brief, UN 2.0 represents a modernized vision for the United Nations(UN), where cutting-edge skills and forward-thinking cultures empower UN entities to drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As UN Personnel, what does this mean for you? How can it make a difference in your everyday work? To support you the United Nations System Staff College( UNSSC) has developed a comprehensive learning path that focuses on the five critical skills that can contribute to making UN 2.0 real:
Innovation
Strategic Foresight
Behavioural Science
Data
Digital
Upon successful completion of the learning path, participants will be able to:
Define fundamental concepts of the Quintet of Change (Data, Innovation, Digital, Foresight, and Behavioral Science).
Recognize UN 2.0 good practice across the UN System.
Identify key frameworks utilized to design, develop, implement, and evaluate interventions relevant to each element of the Quintet of Change.
Course Link Click Here
2.My Sustainable Lifestyles Challenge
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development introduced a paradigm that recognizes a sustainable future for all requires the participation of every member of society.
Adopting new initiatives and processes alone does not guarantee a shift in culture — unless efforts are made to change behaviours. Individual actions must work in conjunction with systemic change to ensure a sustainable future in which people can live a life of dignity and prosperity on a healthy planet.
Course contents
MSLC takes learners on a six-week journey in an immersive environment, in which they learn about sustainability, system change, and the impact of their lifestyles across the domains of food, housing, mobility, consumption and leisure by participating in engaging weekly challenges.
Every week, a new challenge presents teams with thought-provoking content prepared in collaboration with experts from the UN Environment Programme, in an accessible and fun way. The weekly activities nudge participants to put their learning into practice through real-life actions. By enabling participants to share expertise and ideas with peers, the activities solidify commitments and accountability.
Course Link Click Here
3.Workplace Mental Health and Well-being: Lead and Learn
Leaders and managers play a crucial role in creating a workplace that enhances mental and physical health and well-being, as well as supporting staff who live with mental health challenges. To address the needs of United Nations personnel and increase their capacity to advocate for and protect mental health, the UN Secretary-General launched the United Nations Mental Health and Well-being Strategy in October 2018. The strategy has been endorsed by the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
Objectives
Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be able to:
Adopt and apply strategies to thrive as a manager and enhance your personal well-being;
Explain the importance of mental health and well-being in the workplace and your role as a manager in fostering a supportive environment;
Advocate for stigma reduction and take concrete actions to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems in the workplace;
Develop the skills and confidence to support a colleague who is experiencing poor mental health in the workplace.
Course Link Click Here
4.Practical Approaches for Climate, Peace and Security Programming Repository
The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) has launched a new platform, called: Practical Approaches to Climate, Peace and Security Programming Repository. This platform collects best practices, lessons learnt and practical examples from experts from all around the globe on how to analyze, design, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate climate, peace and security projects.
If you a practitioner, analyst or researcher working in the area of climate, peace and security, or if you are simply curious and passionate about this field and its programmatic aspect, then this platform is for you!
Course Link Click Here
5.The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework
The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) is a core instrument for providing a coherent, strategic direction for UN development activities by all UN entities at country level. It guides the UN system in planning and implementing UN development activities at country level, as well as in mobilizing a spectrum of development partners beyond the United Nations.
The 2019 UNSDCF Guidance provides a direction for strategic planning, funding, implementation, monitoring, learning, reporting and evaluation, all of which are undertaken by the UN development system with the host government and partners. For UN Country Teams to provide coherent and effective support to countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda, UN staff at global, regional, and country levels need to be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the UNSDCF Guidance.
This self-paced online course is jointly designed by the UN Development Coordination Office and the UN System Staff College to equip participants with an in-depth understanding of the UNSDCF as a centrepiece of UN development system reform. It will enable reflection on how to clearly articulate the UN development system’s collective response to support countries in their pathways towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Embodying the spirit of partnerships that are at the core of the 2030 Agenda, it aims to help turn our collective promise to leave no one behind into tangible action for people on the ground.
Course Link Click Here
6.Green Marketing Challenge
Nowadays, consumers are becoming more conscious of the impact that their consumption choices can have on the environment. Therefore, they are looking for better product options to reduce their environmental footprint.
Companies are aware of this change within consumption patterns and see this switch of mentality as a market opportunity, creating messages that can capture the attention of these new potential consumers. However, the market is teeming with a vast array of products and a variety of green claims. It is important for businesses and consumers alike to understand how to communicate and understand product sustainability information and avoid misleading and confusing information as well as greenwashing etc.
To strengthen good practices and increase awareness of the relevance of providing clear and reliable consumer information, UNEP and the ITC launched the Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information. The guidelines aim to benefit both the consumer and the producer by outlining how companies can provide quality information to empower sustainable consumption decisions, and serving as a reference for governments, standard and labelling bodies and NGOs
Course Link Click Here
How to Make the Most of These Free UN Online Courses
Set Clear Goals – Decide what you want to learn and how it applies to your career or activism.
Engage with the Community – Join forums and discussions to exchange ideas.
Apply Your Knowledge – Use what you learn in local projects or advocacy work.
Add Certificates to Your Resume – Showcase your commitment to sustainability.
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Final Thoughts
The free UN online courses listed above are an incredible opportunity to educate yourself on critical global issues—for free! Whether you’re interested in climate action, human rights, or sustainable finance, these courses provide valuable knowledge to help build a better world in 2025.
