Course / Training•Remote

CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity

Funding

Free

Program dates

TBA

CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity is a free online course from Harvard University, taught by David J. Malan, that introduces cybersecurity to technical and non-technical audiences alike. Across five weeks of material plus a final project, learners study how to secure their accounts, data, systems, and software against present-day threats, and how to preserve their privacy. The course is delivered fully online and self-paced via Harvard's OpenCourseWare, and is also distributed through edX, YouTube, and other platforms. Learners who complete the work can earn a free CS50 certificate; an optional paid verified certificate is available separately through edX.

Benefits & funding

  • Free access to all course material (lectures, problem sets, and the final project) via Harvard OpenCourseWare.
  • A free CS50 Certificate for learners who score at least 70% on each of the course's problems and the final project.
  • Optional verified certificate available through edX for an additional fee (price is set by edX and not stated on the official course page).
  • Option to pursue transfer credit or accreditation through Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School.
  • Self-paced format: study on your own schedule, with no live attendance required.

Eligibility

  • Open to all — no nationality, residency, or degree requirements.
  • No prerequisites; designed for both technical and non-technical learners.
  • The course is described as perhaps best suited for learners aged 12 and up; younger learners may need help from a parent (a suggestion, not a hard age limit).
  • Learners are encouraged to review the course map to confirm the course is a good fit.

Application process

  1. 1
    Visit the official course page and begin the free, self-paced material via OpenCourseWare (no application needed); or enroll through edX at cs50.edx.org/cybersecurity if you want the verified certificate.
  2. 2
    Work through Weeks 0–4 (Securing Accounts, Securing Data, Securing Systems, Securing Software, Preserving Privacy) and the accompanying problem sets.
  3. 3
    Complete and submit the final project per its specification, scoring at least 70% on each problem and the project to earn the free CS50 certificate.

Program timeline

  1. Self-paced

    enroll and begin at any time.

  2. 5 weeks of material (Weeks 0–4) plus a final project.

  3. 31 December 2026, 11:59PM UTC

    current overall deadline to complete the course for the certificate (CS50 staff may extend it by six or twelve months).