Whether you are a high school student looking forward to graduating and moving on to a career in electrical engineering or someone looking to go back and study a different field than the one in which you currently work, it can be difficult to find programs and courses suited to your needs that also are affordable. Well, thanks to the internet, partnerships between higher education institutions and open courseware providers, and new licensing guidelines, it is possible to learn electrical engineering online. And, in this case, we decided to sweeten the deal and scour the internet for the most reputable, reliable sources of information on electrical engineering that just so happen to be free.
To make our list, the resources had to be from experts with years of experience, top universities, and/or leading authorities in electrical engineering. We also searched for resources that include several features or topics related to electrical engineering, so that you can make the most of your time and get several services from one resource. Several of the resources we’ve chosen received rave reviews from previous and current students who highly recommend them to people just beginning to study electrical engineering. And, don’t forget, they are all free. We offer 50 of the best resources for learning electrical engineering here, in no particular order.
This guide was developed by Pannam Imaging, membrane switch technologies
MITOpenCourseWare provides lecture notes, exams, and videos without any required registration. The course best suited for those seeking to learn electrical engineering is Circuits and Electronics, which includes more than 20 video lectures.
Key Topics:
- Basic Circuit Analysis Method
- Inside the Digital Gate
- Amplifiers – Small Signal Model
- Digital Circuit Speed
MAKE magazine is on YouTube, bringing DIY to technology. For people who want to learn electrical engineering online, Collin Cunningham’s MAKE Series is a perfect place to start. Dozens of videos featuring Collin and his expertise are available on YouTube, complete with demonstrations and explanations.
Key Topics:
- Circuit Skills
- Binary & Hex
- Capacitors
- Circuit Board Etching
The Digital Library is updated and includes objects created and built by instructors from the Fox Valley Technical College and other colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System. The learning objects are intended for teachers and students. The Electromechanical Library’s focus is on devices, systems, and applications, and includes a robust collection of interest to people who want to study electrical engineering.
Key Topics:
- AC Electronics
- Electric Motors
- Robotics
- Process Control
- Ladder/PLCs
Darryl Morrell provides instructional videos covering a wide range of electrical engineering topics on his YouTube channel. Informative and fun to watch, Darryl has more than 15,000 subscribers and 3,000,000 views. His videos include information about DC Circuit Analysis, AC Circuit Analysis, Signals, and more.
Key Topics:
- Signals and systems
- Circuit analysis
- Mechanics
Arduino is an “open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software.” The best part about Arduino is that they provide materials for purchase as well as free online video tutorials so that beginners in electrical engineering can gain hands-on experience and practice.
Key Features:
- Getting Started with Arduino section that covers everything from an introduction to troubleshooting
- Robust list of Instructions for other boards
- Online language reference guide
- Support forum and blog
With more than 70 electrical engineering courses to choose from, the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) is one of the most useful online resources for anyone interested in studying electrical engineering. Various types of courses are available from NPTEL, including video, web, and those with a syllabus, among others. Browse the course titles and choose that that best fit your needs.
Key Topics:
- Digital Control Systems
- Chaos, Fractals & Dynamic Systems
- Introduction to Electronics Systems Packaging
- Power Quality in Power Distribution Systems
Circuits and Electronics, a course offered by edX, is rated very highly by course participants for its interesting and thorough material and the professor’s enthusiasm. Available through edX, a nonprofit dedicated to giving everyone access to education through a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform, Circuits and Electronics has everything to offer someone just beginning to learn electrical engineering.
Key Topics:
- Resistive elements and networks
- Independent and dependent sourcesEle
- Switches and MOS transistors
- Digital abstraction
- Design in the time and frequency domains
Coursera offers “the world’s best courses, online, for free,” and their electrical engineering courses don’t disappoint. With course offerings from some of the top universities, including Rice University, Coursera is a great resource to browse and select just the right learning opportunity for your electrical engineering studies.
Key Topics:
- Electrical engineering laboratory
- Constructing and measuring electrical circuits using modern laboratory instruments
- Elementary signal theory
- Time- and frequency-domain analysis of signals
Dubbed “one of the world’s largest professional web portals dedicated to electrical science and education,” the Electrical Engineering Portal is a gigantic resource for anyone interested in learning electrical engineering. From articles to an online PLC Programming Training to the Electrical Engineering Guides, the Electrical Engineering Portal has thought of everything an electrical engineering student could need for successful online learning.
Key Features:
- Recommended Electrical Engineering articles
- Video lectures
- Siemens Basics of Energy and Automation Guides
- Subscription service for free technical articles, electrical books, guides, and more exclusive content via email
10. Resource Host
Resource Host is a blog that offers a wide range of information relating to electrical engineering. Topics include tips and tricks for MATLAB, book recommendations, and more that students of electrical engineers will find both useful and informative.
Key Topics:
- 8 new electrical, electronics, communication, control engineering online courses
- 30 engineering handbooks that an engineer must have
- Advanced Level C/C++ Lecture and Courses
Electrical Knowhow claims to be “Where you can know more…” and that certainly seems to be true when considering everything the site has to offer people who want to learn more about electrical engineering. Electrical Knowhow offers courses, a download library, a quiz and answer section, and more to help people on their quest to learn electrical engineering online.
Key Features:
- Electrical Library
- PDF, electrical, and inspection courses
- Electrical calculators
- How To section
- Articles
12. Ustudy.in
An e-learning site, UStudy.in aims to provide educational materials for polytechnic college students in India, but they strive to provide content to the learning community at large. Contents feature instructional and reference materials, images, videos, and resource links. The Department of Electrical Engineering offers several useful resources on topics relevant to the discipline.
Key Topics:
- Electrical circuit theory
- Electrical estimation and energy auditing
- Microcontrollers
- Digital electronics and linear ICs
From Delft University of Technology, the Analog Integrated Circuit Design course is an introductory course in analog circuit synthesis for microelectronic designers. The study load is approximately 100 hours, and the course itself is at the Master level. Those interested in studying electrical engineering will find links to course information, lectures, course documents, and exams.
Key Topics:
- Analog design basics
- Linear and non-linear analog building blocks
- Harmonic oscillators
- Translinear circuits
14. Linear Systems and Optimization | The Fourier Transform and Its Applications@stanfordeng
Offered through Stanford Engineering Everywhere (SEE), Linear Systems and Optimization | The Fourier Transform and Its Applications strives to provide students of electrical engineering with “a facility with using the Fourier transform, both specific techniques and general principles, and learning to recognize when, why, and how it is used.” Course materials include lectures, a syllabus, handouts, assignments, and exams.
Key Topics:
- The Fourier transform as a tool for solving physical problems
- Fourier series
- The Dirac delta, distributions, and generalized transforms
- Relating the theoretical principles to solving practical engineering and science problems
From the University of California Berkeley, this YouTube video shows the first lecture from the Introduction to Digital Integrated Circuits course. Nearly an hour and a half long, the video features professor Jan Rabaey, author, co-author, and award winner. Students of electrical engineering will be excited to see Professor Rabaey at work.
Key Topics:
- Microprocessors
- Power dissipation problem
- Digital integrated circuits
From Utah State University and Professor Todd K. Moon, Signals and Systems is a course offered online for those interested in studying electrical engineering. Course materials include a syllabus, schedule, homework, and labs/programs.
Key Topics:
- Time and transform domain analysis of discrete-time systems
- Vector-space concepts
- Fourier series
- Fourier transforms in continuous and discrete time
With over 600 free, interactive certification and diploma courses, ALISON is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to educate themselves, but it is a great choice for people looking to learn electrical engineering. Most of the electrical engineering courses are for beginners and are a great fit for people who want to learn about electrics and electrical wiring systems, among other related topics.
Key Topics:
- Electrics and electrical wiring systems
- Electrical technology
- Electrical drawings and test equipment
- The electrical trade
SkilledUp is known for providing great online courses and training, all in one. What makes SkilledUp so attractive to students is that it compiles dozens of courses from reputable universities and services so that prospective students can choose the course that’s right for them. Electrical engineering courses are available through SkilledUp from MIT, Udacity, Georgia Tech, and other institutions known for their quality programs.
Key Topics:
- Circuits and electronics
- Dynamics and control
- Advanced engineering systems in motion
- Introduction to power electronics
Provided by a partnership between Coursera and Rice University, the Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering course centers on “the creation, manipulation, transmission, and reception of information by electronic means.” The course includes 12 weeks of study, with an estimated 8-10 hours of work/week, the course syllabus, suggested readings, lecture videos, quizzes, and more.
Key Topics:
- Elementary signal theory
- Time- and frequency-domain analysis of signals
- Conversion of analog signals to a digital form
- How information can be represented with signals
An online electrical engineering study site, Electrical4u provides information and study notes, questions, engineering animation, video presentations, and more. The site is created and run by a team of experienced electrical engineers in various fields of electrical technology, so individuals looking to learn electrical engineering can trust the expertise available from Electrical4u.
Key Topics:
- Electrical engineering and technology
- Electrical power systems
- Basic electrical theories and definitions
- Electrical power transmission systems
- Electrical power distribution systems
FreeVideoLectures, “an organization committed to improve the education quality,” provides more than 18,000 video lectures from mover than 20 universities. For those looking to study electrical engineering, FreeVideoLectures is a great resource for lectures and tutorials covering a broad range of topics related to the electrical engineering field.
Key Topics:
- Pulse with modulation for power electronic converters
- Digital system design
- Basic electronics
- Switched mode power conversion
- MATLAB
22. DiplomaGuide
Diploma Guide offers free online electrical engineering and electronics courses from some of the top universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The site also includes related articles for further reading and study by those interested in learning electrical engineering online.
Key Topics:
- Dynamic programming and stochastic control
- Dynamic systems and control
- Power electronics
- Discrete-Time signal processing
Open Culture is a fantastic resource for people looking to study culture or education online. With free courses, movies, audio books, eBooks, and daily posts, Open Culture has something for everyone. Their engineering courses are specifically geared to people who are serious about learning electrical engineering online, and they are provided by some of the world’s top universities and professors and available for download to your computer or mp3 player.
Key Topics:
- Advanced analog integrated circuits
- Basic electronics
- Control systems engineering
- Electronics and communication engineering
- Linear dynamical systems
Academic Earth is a provider of online courses from leading universities, but it also is a great resource for links to journals and other resources related to the fields of study. As for electrical engineering, Academic Earth offers more than 15 courses, plus has links to electrical engineering journals and trade magazines, plus links to grants and scholarships, internships, and student and professional organizations related to the field. This is one of the most comprehensive online resources available for learning about electrical engineering online.
Key Topics:
- Analysis and design of digital integrated circuits
- Circuits and electronics
- Convex analysis and optimization
Class Central is a MOOC provider with courses from acclaimed universities including Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and others; Class Central also offers courses in conjunction with companies such as Coursera, Udactiy, edX, and more. Courses begin at dates throughout the year, and participants can browse the extensive list of offerings to choose those that best suit their educational and scheduling needs.
Key Topics:
- Alternative energy systems
- Vehicle dynamics:Vertical oscillations
- Dynamics of three dimensional motion
- Electrical circuits
The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) seeks to provide “an outstanding practical engineering and technology education” and does so by offering diplomas through Masters degrees, plus free courses and resources. Instructors and lecturers all have real engineering experience, and EIT engages students through remote laboratories and simulation software.
Key Features:
- Free engineering resources, including links to apps and eBooks
- Free courses including live, interactive, instructor-led courses; free course resources with a copy of session recordings and slides; and free munch, lunch, and learn sessions
- Links to the sessions so no software installation is required
- An archive of past topics with links to slides
- YouTube Library
27. Online Video Lecture
Online Video Lecture is dedicated to providing online learning opportunities for anyone interested in pursuing studies in a wide variety of areas. This database of videos contains dozens of lectures related to electrical engineering, so people wishing to learn more about the industry should browse the topics and choose those that are of most interest to them.
Key Topics:
- Intelligent systems and control
- Power system dynamics
- Linear integrated circuits
- Embedded systems
A site provided by E. J. Mastascusa, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Bucknell University, Exploring Electrical Engineering contains basic electrical engineering lessons for anyone interested in beginning the journey of learning electrical engineering. Featuring measurements, lesson notes, study guides, and other resources, Exploring Electrical Engineering would be a great place to start for people interested in starting electrical engineering studies.
Key Topics:
- Basic concepts
- Electrical elements
- Digital signals and logic
- Time and frequency
- Measurements
29. Dnatube
Dnatube, the scientific video site, provides full-length electrical engineering lectures. Electrical engineering students will appreciate the ability to search videos by latest courses or most viewed courses, plus the wide variety of topics covered by the more than 30 offerings provided by Dnatube.
Key Topics:
- Microelectronic devices
- Advanced topics in circuit design
- Linear integrated circuits
- Advanced analog integrated circuits
A course offering from Tokyo Tech OpenCourseWare, Guided Wave Circuit Theory focuses on guided wave theory and “its application to the design of guided wave circuit in microwave, millimeter-wave and optical regime.” The course for individuals interested in this aspect of electrical engineering includes a lecture, textbook and reference links, and lecture notes.
Key Topics:
- Electromagnetic wave in waveguides
- Dispersion in an optical fiber
- Coupled mode theory
- Electromagnetic wave in a periodical structure
- Scattering matrix representation
Schneider Electric’s Energy University is an e-learning website that provides the latest information and training opportunities on energy efficiency and best practice. The courses from Energy University are geared toward energy experts, students, or anyone who wants to advance their career in the electrical industry, so they are perfect for people who want to learn about electrical engineering online.
Key Topics:
- Alternative power generation technologies
- Building controls
- Active energy efficiency using speed control
- Distributed generation
- Efficient motor control with power drive systems
32. Mierva+
Minerva+, a free video course website, offers video lectures and articles on a broad range of topics. Its electrical engineering offerings are from some of the leading experts at MIT, Stanford, and other top universities, so anyone interested in learning more about the topic can rest assured that the video lectures from Minerva+ are informative and educational.
Key Topics:
- Computer system engineering
- Robotics
- Circuits and electronics
Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems, a course provided by the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California Santa Cruz, is a great choice for individuals looking to learn about electrical engineering online. Course materials include lecture videos, handouts, and access to the midterm and final reviews.
Key Topics:
- Linear functions and applications
- Linear systems with input and output
- Controllability
- Observability
With their online research, collaboration, teaching, and more than 350 simulation tools, plus other resources, nanoHUB is a robust site for learning. Using the search term electrical engineering, site visitors will find tutorials, articles, lectures, presentations, and more to help them learn about electrical engineering online.
Key Topics:
- Molecular electronics from the electrical engineering perspective
- Electrical fluctuations at the nanoscale
- Electrical conduction in percolative systems
- Quantum band engineering in III-nitride Semiconductors
A course offered in conjunction with Columbia University and Coursera, MOS Transistors will teach participants how MOS transistors work and how to model them. A 10-week course with an expected 8-10 hours of work/week, MOS Transistors will help those in pursuit of knowledge about electrical engineering to study the MOSFET very carefully.
Key Topics:
- Basic physical principles
- MOS transistor phenomena
- Hierarchy of models
- Concepts on which CAD MOS transistor models are based
LearnersTV is a large repository of educational video courses. Site contents include video lectures and courses, science animations, lecture notes, online tests, and lecture presentations. The engineering category is robust, with several offerings tailored to electrical engineering.
Key Topics:
- Circuits and electronics
- Basic electronics
- Basic electrical technology
- Robotics
- Circuit theory
SL2College, an educational nonprofit organization, helps Sri Lankan students with higher education by providing accurate and in-depth information. However, their online resources are available to anyone, and they especially useful to people looking to learn electrical engineering online because they include a list of free online courses in computer science and electrical engineering.
Key Features:
- Links to video lectures
- Links to open courseware projects
- Links to audio and video courses and lectures from educational institutions
A resource for courses in a number of fields, MyFreeCoursesOnline features many useful links to people looking to pursue a new career or further their education. With the search term electrical engineering, visitors to the site can access a long list of courses available from several organizations and institutions. This is a great timesaver for individuals looking to participate in online courses to learn electrical engineering.
Key Topics:
- Circuit and electronics
- Electromagnetic and applications
- Electronic transport in semiconductors
- Microwave circuit design
Billed as “your free universal education portal,” CosmoLearning provides several courses from various institutions in a number of disciplines. More than 20 courses are available in the electrical engineering field, and the course materials in several of them include video lectures to make the learning even more accessible.
Key Topics:
- Digital signal processing
- Probabilistic systems analysis and applied probability
- Advanced analog integrated circuits
- Power system analysis
ElectronicsTheory.com offers Electronics Theory 101, an online electronics theory course, for anyone from the basic to advanced level in electrical. Other features of the site include links to other classes related to the electrical and engineering fields, projects and kits, and more that will be of interest to people seeking to learn about electrical engineering.
Key Topics:
- Electronics theory
- Tube theory
- Electronics projects
- Robots
A course made available through NPTEL, Dynamics of Physical Systems contains 34 different lectures. This series covers a multitude of topics related to equations, circuits, and other information that those aiming to learn about electrical engineering will find useful and informative.
Key Topics:
- Using the lagrangian equation to obtain differential equations
- The graph theory approach for electrical circuits
- The bond graph approach
- Dynamics of nonlinear systems
- Discrete-time dynamical systems
The University of California San Diego provides podcasts for various courses through the Academic Computing & Media Services (ACMS). These podcasts are available online for anyone to listen to, and they cover entire courses. Site visitors can browse the current classes available for podcasts or select past quarters for archived podcasts. People pursuing knowledge about electrical engineering will enjoy the options for learning from ACMS.
Key Topics:
- Linear Electronic Systems
- Introduction to Active Circuit Design
- Introduction to Digital Signal Processing
- Linear Circuits
Networks and Systems is a course provided by NPTEL that includes 50 lectures. Viewers have the option of watching the video directly from the site or from YouTube, or they can choose from an MP4 or 3gp format for download. This in-depth course is a great fit for individuals looking to learn more about electrical engineering online.
Key Topics:
- Fourier series and transforms
- Laplace transforms
- Network functions
- Discrete-time systems
- State variable methods
Available from Open Yale courses, this lecture is a part of Professor Ramamurti Shankar’s Fundamentals of Physics II course. The course covers electricity, magnetism, optics, and quantum mechanics, and other sections of the course may be of interest to electrical engineering students. This particular lecture is a great fit for those students because of its relevant subject matter.
Key Topics:
- Review of inductors
- Inductive circuits
- LCR circuits driven by an alternating source
- Relationship between voltage, inductance, and current
Stanford University offers several of its engineering classes online as part of Stanford Engineering Everywhere (SEE). The program offers video lectures, reading lists, handouts, quizzes and tests, and access to communication with other SEE students. Courses of particular interest to those studying electrical engineering are those in the artificial intelligence and linear systems and optimization categories.
Key Features:
- Access SEE materials any time, anywhere via streaming or downloaded media
- Full course materials that include the syllabus, handouts, homework, exams, and more
- Online social networking with other SEE students
- Support for PCs, Macs, and mobile devices
Open Polytechnic is New Zealand’s specialized open and distance learning institution. Since 2010, it has become one of the more popular sites for people looking to study online. For individuals interested in learning electrical engineering online, Open Polytechnic offers two certificates: National Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Advanced Table, Level 5) and National Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Electrician for Registration, Level 4). Please note, there are strict guidelines and deadlines for free registration.
Key Topics:
- Electrical switchgear and switchboard
- Electrical installation practice
- Lighting installations
- Building management systems
- Electrical theory
The Free Dictionary is exactly what its name conveys: a dictionary available for free use online. However, the Free Dictionary does not end there. The site is a comprehensive dictionary available in several languages that also includes other reference materials. The best part about the Free Dictionary is that you can tailor the pages to your subjects, including electrical engineering. For students just beginning to study electrical engineering, the Free Dictionary is an invaluable resource.
Key Features:
- Acronyms
- Encyclopedia
- Literature reference library
- Search engine
- Create your customized personal homepage with content suited to your interests
- Add bookmarks and RSS feeds from anywhere on the internet
Engineering Statistics is a course available online through the Open Learning Initiative (OLI), a group funded by grants at Carnegie Mellon University. The course is considered a core class necessary to truly understanding engineering and includes many interactive elements that include simulations. Electrical engineering students should not pass up this course as a general prerequisite.
Key Topics:
- Forces
- Free body diagrams
- Machines and structures joined by engineering connections
49. Courses.com
Courses.com is a deep collection of online courses provided by top educational institutions. Courses are available in dozens of fields, including 12 dedicated to electrical engineering. The universities providing courses in conjunction with Courses.com include the University of California Berkeley, MIT, and the University of New South Wales, among others. People looking to learn electrical engineering online should begin with the offerings from Courses.com to get a comprehensive understanding of the field.
Key Topics:
- Linear integrated circuits
- Digital signal processing
- Analysis and design of VLSI analog-ditial interface integrated C
- Advanced topics in circuit design
A digital learning platform, Course Hero provides students with documents for studying, expert tutors, and customizable flashcards. In terms of electrical engineering, dozens of lectures are available from Course Hero from experts in the field from reputable higher learning institutions, including Brad Osgood of Stanford, David Forney of MIT, David Culler of UC Berkeley, and others.
Key Topics:
- Machine structures
- Principles of digital communication
- Circuits and electronics
- The Fourier transform