GetSmarter Reviews

GetSmarter provides an extensive course portfolio. It offers over 250 programs, covering more than ten fields of study, including AI, business management strategy, human resource management, IT, and health sciences. Fortunately, the company does a great job organizing all the courses on its website, making it easy to find and pick a program that fits your needs. You can filter by category or university, and all courses have a dedicated page where you can find a comprehensive prospectus.

Keep in mind that although GetSmarter partners with some of the best worldwide universities, the short courses available are non-credit bearing. Still, students who complete their program get a digital and physical certificate. Additionally, some courses are endorsed by certain employers and may contribute points towards programs such as Continuing Professional Development, Continuing Education Units, or Professional Development Units. When this is the case, you’ll find all the details on the course page.

You’ll notice right away that all programs have an enrollment date. Unlike some of its competitors, this timing is actually important. GetSmarter courses are classroom-based, meaning that you study alongside fellow students. And even though most of the classes are on-demand, student interaction is encouraged through (optional) live classes and discussion forums. In reality, engaging with other students makes up part of your grade. Although this may seem a pain, it’s the perfect way to expand your network.

In addition to the course itself, students get access to 2U’s Career Engagement Network, which remains accessible after the course ends. From industry-informed events to CV builders, interview prep sheets, and a job board, this helpful extra is excellent to push your career to the next level.

Since GetSmarter only provides short courses, programs usually take around three to twelve weeks (30 to 120 hours) to complete. The programs are divided into weekly modules, which include a wide variety of on-demand learning materials. All modules start and end with a self-evaluation survey regarding your understanding of the section’s learning outcomes. Although these questions are optional, it’s a great way to check your evolution throughout the module.

Most classes are video-based, and GetSmarter’s video player comes with various helpful tools. It’s possible to turn on English subtitles, search the video for a particular theme, change the speed, and select specific chapters. Of course, we recommend watching the video in full the first time. But when you’re returning for a refresher, these features will help save some time.

Below the videos, you can find a written overview of what was discussed. So, if you’re more of a reader, you can skip the video entirely and just go over the notes. Additionally, modules come with some mandatory reading, made available on Perusall. Although this platform is brilliant for engaging with other students, we would have liked the option to download the material in PDF.

Finally, all modules include several forum discussions to interact with other people and a final project that needs to be submitted by the end of each week. These two exercises are mandatory and make part of your passing grade.

It’s easy to get the hang of GetSmarter’s e-learning platform. Each university has its own online classroom, which contains all the courses you’re taking. When you log in, the first thing you see is your dashboard. Here, you can easily check approaching deadlines, your course overview, and grades. It’s possible to jump right in where you left off by clicking on the ‘go to current module’ button, but you can also find your course homepage through the sidebar.

The platform also comes with a built-in calendar with all your important deadlines. The best part is that you can either export the calendar or directly add it to your favorite calendar app like Outlook or Google. Additionally, GetSmarter can send you a reminder email or text message the day before the deadline.

The course classroom page shows a rundown of all the modules. Bear in mind that future sections are locked, as GetSmarter wants all students to keep progressing simultaneously. Still, it’s possible to revisit a completed module anytime you want. Some other important tabs to visit include Announcements and Resources, and My Grades. All features are available at your fingertips through GetSmarter’s mobile app, and you can download most of the learning materials for offline studying.

How much you spend on GetSmarter highly depends on the course and university you want to enroll in. Prices can vary from $900 to $3,000, and the company doesn’t usually offer discounts. Even so, there are few financing options. For courses with a duration of up to nine weeks, payments can be split in two. Meanwhile, programs that take between ten and 12 weeks to complete can be paid in three parts. Finally, GetSmarter offers a four-payment plan for courses longer than 12 weeks. Keep in mind that these solutions come with an administration fee of 3% of the program’s total price.

Considering how expensive GetSmarter can get and that you need to pay before the program even starts, it’s good to know that the company offers a window to ask for a refund. For courses of up to three weeks, you can ask for a full refund within 14 calendar days after the program’s start date. For all other courses, you have until the start of module three to ask for your money back.