Building a product that users love isn’t magic. Without UX research, designers would be building products based on mere guesses. But with it, you can see through your users’ eyes and understand their needs, wants, and frustrations.
An online course on UX research can help you unlock user needs.
I’ve scoured the web to find the best UX Research courses available, comparing course offerings, curriculums, and expertise levels. Each course on this list is packed with the information you need to choose a course that can help you build a solid foundation on the principles of UX research and master research techniques.
So if you want to elevate your UX research skills, tap into a lucrative career, or become an asset to your company, you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s get started!
What is the best UX Research course?
Here are my top 10 UX Research courses:
- Professional Certificate in User Research (UX Design Institute)
- Google Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts (Coursera)
- UX Foundations: Research (LinkedIn Learning)
- UX Research Fundamentals: Unveiling User Insights (Udemy)
- UX Research Course (UXCel)
- Conducting UX Research (Pluralsight)
- UX Research at Scale: Surveys, Analytics, Online Testing (Coursera)
- Practical UX Research & Strategy (Designership)
- UX Research Bootcamp (Memorisely)
- HECMontrealX: UX Research (EdX)
Of these, my top choice would be UX Design Institute’s Professional Certificate in User Research. It combines everything you’d want in a course to jumpstart your career – a hands-on experience in UX, a user research portfolio to showcase your future employers, a certificate from an accredited university, and an in-depth curriculum that will take you through the complete range of UX skills.
But if you’re looking for a course within a lower budget both in terms of time and money, Google’s Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts on Coursera offers expert-led instruction on analyzing user behavior, conducting usability studies, presenting your research findings, and applying UX research insights to design.
Best free UX Research course
UX Foundations: Research on LinkedIn Learning is a great course and can be accessed with a month-long free trial. Led by Amanda Stockwell, a UX professional who has worked with Fortune 100 companies and startups, it’s a short course that covers how to plan and execute your research.
That being said, the best UX course is the one that fits your learning style, budget, and goals.
Best UX Research course reviews
1. Professional Certificate in User Research (UX Design Institute)
Platform: UX Design Institute | Length: 3 hours per week at 16 weeks, totaling 48 hours
The UX Design Institute offers online courses validated by UX professionals from top companies, including Meta. In this course, the Institute has collaborated with Glasgow Caledonian University to offer a Professional Certificate with an in-depth curriculum that covers a complete range of UX research skills.
You’ll learn how to:
- Build a professional user research portfolio
- Create a research plan and collaborate with stakeholders
- Perform qualitative research methods such as ethnography and contextual inquiry
- Analyze research data and translate it into user goals and diagrams
- Design, conduct, and analyze online surveys and A/B tests
- Communicate your research
Pros:
- Certificate from an accredited university to showcase to future employers
- Combines self-paced online learning with live support and mentoring
- Incorporates lessons on using AI tools for research
- Includes resume prep sessions to help you land a role in UX
- Provides a preview of the syllabus
Cons:
- One of the pricier courses on this list at around $2,020
- Requires significant time commitment
Who it’s for: This course is great for UX researchers seeking a formal qualification to validate their expertise. It’s also aimed towards researchers or social scientists seeking a career in UX, as well as product managers and owners who need research skills to succeed in their roles.
Overall: By the end of this course, you’ll have crafted a research portfolio so you can walk out of your virtual classroom with confidence. This in-depth program equips you with a comprehensive UX research skillset, preparing you to confidently enter the UX field.
2. Google Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts (Coursera)
Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Google Career Certificates | Length: 20 hours
Google’s course on UX Research is embedded into the Google UX Design Professional Certificate. This course offers comprehensive modules on UX research, beginning with planning your research to conducting usability studies, analyzing results, and sharing research insights.
You’ll learn how to:
- Test products with real people through usability studies
- Analyze user behavior
- Present research findings with persuasive presentation skills
- Apply research to UX design
Pros:
- Earn a shareable career certificate from Google
- 19 quizzes to reinforce learning
- Highly rated at 4.8 stars and reviewed by over 4,970 learners
Cons:
- Automatically enrolls you into the full seven-part specialization, which may be a drawback for learners not seeking to enroll in the full program
- Recommends taking the three earlier courses for a foundational understanding of UX research, which lengthens the learning process
Who it’s for: Ideal for aspiring UX designers looking to hone their research skills. If you’re already familiar with Adobe XD or Figma, you can take this course alone. Taking the preceding courses is also great for complete beginners looking to solidify their background in UX research.
Overall: Coursera’s Google-led UX research course will equip you with the skills you need to excel, from crafting solid research plans to extracting valuable insights and communicating them effectively. With this course, you can set yourself apart from other candidates through a career certificate from Google, all by learning at your own pace.
3. UX Foundations: Research (LinkedIn Learning)
Platform: LinkedIn Learning | Teacher: Amanda Stockwell | Length: 1 hour 12 minutes
Amanda Stockwell is the President of Stockwell Strategy, a UX research practice focused on lean research methods and integrating user knowledge with business goals. She brings more than a decade and a half of working with Fortune 100 companies and startups on Linkedin Learning to teach impactful UX research.
You’ll learn:
- Different types of research methodologies
- Usability tests and conducting interviews
- Card sorts, eye tracking, multivariate testing, and desirability testing
- How to use expert reviews, surveys, diary studies, participatory design workshops, and personas
- Plan and execute your research
Pros:
- Brief and clear explanations of UX research core skills
- Six quizzes and one exercise file to reinforce learning
- Accessible with a free trial
- Earn a shareable certificate
- Accessible via tablet and phone for learning on the go
Cons:
- No peer-to-peer or instructor feedback
- Not suitable for advanced learners
Who it’s for: This course is perfect for beginners seeking to scratch the surface of UX research principles and methods. Through clear and concise explanations, you’ll gain an understanding of foundational concepts and basic techniques essential for getting started in the field.
Overall: Amanda Stockwell’s UX Research course is the best free course on the topic out there. With no large time commitment needed, you can focus on mastering the basics and kickstarting your journey in the field.
4. UX Research Fundamentals: Unveiling User Insights (Udemy)
Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Richard Tamunotonye | Length: 1.5 hours
Richard Tamunotonye has been recognized by companies such as Behance, Bootcamp, and UXPressia. He brings a wealth of experience to this comprehensive introduction to UX research. After having worked with various companies including Udacity, he leads this course to equip you to uncover user insights and craft compelling research reports.
You’ll learn:
- Generative and evaluative research methodologies
- Best practices for documenting data
- The role of research in UX design
- Data analysis techniques, from empathy mapping to persona creation
- How to create a strategic research plan
Pros:
- Useful downloadable resources
- Hands-on exercises to reinforce learning
- Full lifetime access and certificate of completion
- Accessible through mobile phones for on-the-go learning
Cons:
- Some learners have complained about low audio volume
- Lacks advanced methods according to some learners
Who it’s for: This course is ideal for aspiring UX researchers and designers, product managers seeking user research skills, or anyone who wants to learn how to conduct user research and translate insights into actionable design decisions.
Overall: Led by an industry-recognized instructor, this UX research comes with downloadable resources and hands-on exercises to equip you with the essential skills to uncover user needs and make user-centered decisions.
5. UX Research (Uxcel)
Platform: UXcel | Length: 23 lessons
UXcel has served 300,000 learners specializing in mastering UX/UI design. This course breaks UX research into five stages, from outlining actionable goals for your research project to analyzing the data you’ve collected. It also focuses on teaching learners how to apply those insights to the design process.
You’ll learn how to:
- Draft clear goals for your UX research
- Identify the right research method for your study
- Understand how to collect, analyze, infer, and report data
- Explore ways to create and make use of UX research deliverables
Pros:
- Intuitive interface and interactive modules for an enjoyable learning experience
- The first module is free so you get a good grasp of whether this course suits you
- Provides articles, videos, and case studies to help reinforce your understanding of the material
- Shareable completion certificate to showcase your achievement when you subscribe for $20 monthly or $96 yearly
Cons:
- More ideal for learners with some knowledge already on UX terminology
- Lack of information on course instructors
Who it’s for: Perfect for intermediate-level individuals whose roles bridge UX research and design. It’s great for anyone looking to wear both hats and advance into both of these careers.
Overall: This course emphasizes research as the backbone of excellent UX design, so it doesn’t isolate UX research from the crucial parts of product development. It’s ideal for intermediate learners as you won’t just gather data, you’ll learn how to translate insights directly into user-centered design decisions.
6. Conducting UX Research (Pluralsight)
Platform: Pluralsight | Teacher: Krispian Emert | Length: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Krispian Emert leads this course with over ten years of experience and a track record of consulting for top companies such as Microsoft, Toyota, the NFL, and ING Bank. Delivered through Pluralsight, the leading platform offers a free 10-day trial and a preview of the course so you can get a good feel of the class to see if it suits your needs.
You’ll learn:
- Where UX research fits into the product development timeline
- Various UX research techniques
- When to apply specific techniques
- UX research deliverables
Pros:
- Comes with a research exercise to simulate a real-world UX research project
- Highly rated by learners at 4.5 stars
- Led by a top industry expert
- Comes with a free preview and offers a 10-day free trial
Cons:
- Not recently updated
- Lack of support from peers or instructors
Who it’s for: This course is perfect for UX beginners, product managers new to user research, or anyone who wants a foundational understanding of how UX research drives successful product development.
Overall: This Pluralsight course provides a beginner-friendly introduction to UX research. You’ll learn the core principles, various techniques, and their appropriate application, all geared towards crafting user experiences that are both intuitive and enjoyable.
7. UX Research at Scale: Surveys, Analytics, Online Testing (Coursera)
Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Lila Hogan and Clifford Lampe | Length: 18 hours
Led by University of Michigan instructors with decades of experience between them, this course has eight modules covering connecting needs to the characteristics of users and drawing insights into their attitudes towards the systems they use.
You’ll learn:
- Techniques for gaining UX insights from large numbers of users
- When and how to use surveys
- Survey methodology from the UX perspective
- Web analytics, A/B testing, and remote unmoderated studies
Pros:
- Earn a certificate from a recognized learning platform
- Practical exercises to reinforce learning
- Contains slides, videos, and transcripts which caters to various learning styles
Cons:
- Some learners have experienced confusion when answering the assessments
- One of the lengthier courses on this list
Who it’s for: This course is perfect for both UX beginners seeking a strong foundation and seasoned professionals looking to refresh and refine their research expertise.
Overall: This Coursera-hosted program offers the opportunity to dive deep into UX insights with industry veterans. You also have the opportunity to earn a career certificate to master user research techniques and design user-centered experiences.
8. Practical UX Research & Strategy (Designership)
Platform: Designership | Teacher: Michael Wong | Length: 13 hours and 28 minutes
Michael Wong leads this course on Designership, which offers courses and resources on UX/UI design for people of all experience levels. With solid experience working with 50+ high-growth startups that have raised over $400M in venture capital, he offers a hands-on curriculum, combining design theory with applied learning exercises to prepare students for real-world work.
You’ll learn how to:
- Conduct product prioritization
- Deeply understand user desires
- Plan and execute a research strategy
- Hone your business acumen and product strategy
- Incorporate frameworks, customer journey maps, and more into your reports
Pros:
- Teaches both soft and hard skills to not only master UX research but make business decisions
- Comprehensive curriculum with 13+ hours of videos and 65 other resources
- Highly rated by learners at 4.8/5 stars
- Lifetime access to all course materials with 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- At $650, it’s one of the pricier courses on this list although a payment plan is available
- Completely self-paced which may be a drawback for learner seeking instructor feedback
Who it’s for: This is an intermediate-level course that suits junior designers, senior designers, product managers, and freelancers alike.
Overall: Students rave about the quality of this course, with learners praising its easy-to-follow high-quality content. It’s a comprehensive program designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to excel in UX research and contribute to informed business decisions.
9. UX Research Bootcamp (Memorisely)
Platform: Memorisely | Length: 8 weeks
Memorisely offers live bootcamps and online video courses on UX/UI Design. With small class sizes at around 20 students, you’ll get personalized attention that includes instructor support on top of quality course content materials.
You’ll learn how to:
- Synthesize data in Dovetail, a software for streamlining the UX research process
- Incorporate UX Research best practices
- Utilize AI to speed up your workflow
Pros:
- No powerpoint policy to focus on hands-on learning with design tools
- 98% completion rate of students
- Learn-by-doing approach alongside classmates from all over the world
- Student success stories with alumni working at companies such as Google and Puma
Cons:
- Has definite cohort dates, which makes it less flexible than other courses
- Requires turning on camera during live sessions, which may be a drawback for learners who prefer otherwise
- Lacks detailed information on instructors
Who it’s for: Ideal for aspiring UX research professionals who prefer to have live instructor support or peer-to-peer feedback to solidify learning.
Overall: Memorisely is a strong choice for learners who thrive on live online classes. Memorisely’s UX Research bootcamp offers an immersive learning experience that includes hands-on-learning in a micro class. By the end of the bootcamp, students will have completed a research report in Dovetail.
10. HECMontrealX: UX Research (EdX)
Platform: EdX | Teachers: Sylvain Sénécal and Yany Grégoire | Length: 6 weeks at 6 to 9 hours per week
This EdX course is led by professors of marketing at the prestigious Hautes études commerciales de Montréal (High Commercial Studies of Montreal). In this course, Sylvain Sénécal and Yany Grégoire will teach you to connect with users at every step of a digital product’s life.
You’ll learn:
- How to collect user information throughout the digital product’s development.
- Purpose, pros and cons of qualitative and quantitative UX methods
- Internal, external, primary, and secondary data sources
- User interviews, focus groups, observations, surveys, analytics, and more
- Extracting insights from collected data
Pros:
- No previous knowledge needed
- Can be audited for free with upgrade available for shareable certificate
- Taught by experts from a prestigious institution
Cons:
- Not regularly updated course content
- Less detailed course curriculum
Who it’s for: This course is intended for beginner-to-intermediate learners who are keen to pursue UX Research within a product development context.
Overall: Sénécal and Grégoire’s course values a good UX as profitable for organizations and how UX research expertise is highly sought in thriving companies. With no previous knowledge needed, this course teaches you how to uncover insights to nurture the design process.
What are the advantages of taking a UX Research course
A UX research course equips you with the skills to gather valuable data, analyze it effectively, and translate insights into actionable improvements. Here’s how:
- Structured Learning: With an organized online learning environment, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of UX research principles, methodologies, and best practices.
- Build a Strong Portfolio: Many courses offer opportunities to work on real-world projects, building a portfolio to showcase your skills.
- Develop Core Skills: Learn to conduct user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and data analysis.
By understanding users, you’ll hone your mindset and contribute to products that make a real difference in user’s experiences.
Buyers guide: what to look out for
With a variety of UX research courses available, here’s what to consider when making your choice:
- Expertise Level and Course Content: Are you a beginner looking for an introduction to the field of UX research? Or are you an intermediate learner seeking to gain specific skills? Ensure the curriculum covers the specific skills you want to develop (e.g., user interviews, data analysis).
- Project Focus and Learning Goals: If you’re an aspiring UX professional seeking to break into UX, look for courses that offer practical projects to build your portfolio. This can help you showcase your skills to attract potential employers.
- Learning Style: Do you prefer instructor-led, self-paced, or a blended approach?
- Cost and Time Commitment: Consider the investment in terms of time and money, with options ranging from free audits to comprehensive paid programs.
How much does it cost?
Plenty courses on this list can be audited for free, such as the UX Foundations: Research course on LinkedIn Learning. In general, a UX research course can cost from free of charge to $2,000+ for longer courses that also offer certification or university credit.
For instance, UX Design Institute’s complete course costs about $2,020. While it’s pricier than all the courses on this list, it’s still considerably cheaper than in-person teaching. Plus,
How long does it take to learn UX Research?
The time it takes to learn UX research depends on several factors, such as your prior experience (since learners with exposure to the UX field might learn faster), as well as the course format and the time commitment of your chosen online class.
Introductory courses can last between 1 to 2 hours, while more in-depth courses can take up to 16 weeks at several hours a week. Working on real-world projects or building a UX research portfolio may also be more time intensive, but allows you to progress quicker and retain your skills on a more long-lasting level.
Conclusion
Choosing the best UX research course depends on your specific needs and learning style. This guide has presented a variety of options to suit different preferences, but to help you narrow it down, here are two top contenders based on the information we explored.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive and career-oriented program, then the Professional Certificate in User Research offered by the UX Design Institute might be the best fit. This in-depth program dives deep into the world of UX research, equipping you with a complete skillset that will prepare you to confidently enter the UX field.
While it’s pricier than other courses at around $2,020, it comes with valuable features that can jumpstart your career, such as the opportunity to build a UX research portfolio and earn a certificate upon completion.
But if you’re looking for a course within a lower budget both in terms of time and money, Google’s Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts on Coursera offers expert-led instruction on various research methodologies and applying UX research insights to design.
Ultimately, the best course for you depends on your budget and goals. Consider the time commitment and financial investment required by each option, and weigh the importance of a certificate and portfolio building in your career aspirations.
Finn founded Learnopoly to provide unbiased, in-depth online course reviews, helping learners make informed choices. With a decade in financial services, he developed strategic partnerships and business development expertise. After a frustrating experience with a biased course review, Finn was inspired to create a trusted learning resource.