upGrad

What it is

upGrad is an online higher education company that sells executive certificates, executive diplomas, master's degrees, MBAs and doctorates in partnership with universities and business schools, along with free short courses, tutorials, webinars and classroom bootcamps. Its about page presents upGrad as a higher education technology platform for South Asia and says it serves over 10 million learners globally, a figure the company gives for itself.

The about page timeline traces the company from its 2015 founding by Ronnie, Mayank and Phalgun (Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar and Phalgun Kompalli, listed as co-founders) and its official launch on March 23, 2015. Its first program was "Startup with upGrad" in entrepreneurship, its first university partnership was with IIITB for a data science program, and its first batch of 114 learners graduated in 2016. The timeline then records 1 million registered learners in 2020, the launch of upGrad Degrees, upGrad Rekrut and upGrad Study Abroad, and in 2021 unicorn status at a $1.2 billion valuation, expansion to North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and three mergers and acquisitions.

The main reader is a working professional or manager choosing a university-branded executive program in AI, data science, management or leadership; a second is anyone wanting a free course to test a subject first.

Executive programs and certificates

The program menus are organized by domain, with the partner institution named on each card. In AI and agentic AI, IIIT Bangalore offers an Executive Post Graduate Programme in Applied AI and Agentic AI and an Executive Diploma in Machine Learning and AI (12 months, with what the card calls 360° career support). IIT Kharagpur runs Executive Post Graduate Certificates in Building AI Products, Systems and Services (6 months) and in AI-Native Software Engineering (8 months). IIT Delhi offers a Certificate Programme in Cybersecurity and AI Security (6 months), and IIM Kozhikode a Professional Certificate Programme in AI for Business Professionals (6 months).

Leadership programs are grouped under "Step into leadership roles." They include a Chief Technology Officer and AI Leadership Programme and a Chief Data and AI Officer Program, both from IIIT-B and IIM Udaipur over 6 months, and an Executive Programme in Generative AI and Agentic AI for Leaders from IIIT Bangalore (5 months, dual certification). The University of Waterloo is listed for a Chief Technology and AI Officer Program, and IIM Bangalore for a Certificate Programme in General Management for Young Leaders (11 months). MICA offers an Advanced Certificate in AI-Powered Digital Marketing and Communication that carries MICA Executive Alumni Status.

Microsoft-branded certificates cover generative AI: a Generative AI Foundations Certificate Program of 6 hours and four Generative AI Mastery Certificates of about 2 months each, for data analysis, software development, managerial excellence and content creation. Project management certifications are delivered through Knowledgehut and include PMP, CAPM, PRINCE2 and PRINCE2 Agile preparation, change management and Microsoft Project courses.

Degrees and doctorates

The degree catalog pairs upGrad with universities in several countries. MBA options include an MBA from Golden Gate University, an MBA from O.P. Jindal Global University (12 months, with live case studies and projects), an MBA from Edgewood University, an MBA from Liverpool John Moores University with IIM Udaipur certification, an MBA from Paris School of Business with certification from IIM Lucknow, a 90 ECTS MBA from ISM Germany (16 months) and a Touro University MBA (18 months), the last two with IELTS and visa support. Master's programs include a Master of Science in Machine Learning and AI and a Master of Science in Data Science from Liverpool John Moores University and a Master's Degree in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from O.P. Jindal Global University.

Doctorates are a sizable line: a DBA from ESGCI, Paris (24 months, with 1:1 thesis supervision), a Golden Gate University DBA in Emerging Technologies with a concentration in generative and agentic AI (27 months), a Doctor of Technology in Applied and Agentic AI, and DBA programs from the Swiss School of Business and Management, Edgewood University and Rushford Business School. Education degrees include an M.Ed. from Northeastern University and a dual M.Ed. and Ed.D. program from Edgewood University.

Free courses, tutorials and webinars

Free courses run from 1 hour to about 50 hours. Introduction to Data Analysis using Excel shows 99.2k+ learners for 9 hours of learning, Learn Basic Python Programming 42.7k+ learners for 5 hours, and Data Structures and Algorithm 35.3k+ learners for 50 hours. Categories cover ChatGPT and AI, data science, technology, management, marketing, career planning, soft skills and law. The free-courses FAQ says they are "completely free to enroll in," with "no hidden charges, subscriptions, or extra fees," that there is no strict deadline, that no prior qualifications are needed, that learners can join from any country, and that every free course comes with a shareable certificate for LinkedIn or a resume. It also notes that paid programs add "deeper knowledge, advanced projects, mentorship, and placement support."

The tutorials library offers step-by-step material with lesson and hour counts, for example a SQL tutorial of 80 lessons and 18 hours, a C++ tutorial of 75 lessons and 24 hours and an HTML tutorial of 50 lessons and 12 hours. Free webinars by industry experts last about 60 minutes including Q&A, run on Zoom and require advance registration.

Classroom centers and support

For people who prefer a classroom, upGrad runs offline centers with "100% classroom-based learning" in AI, data science and full stack development, with career guidance and hands-on projects. Classroom programs, such as Gen AI-powered Data Science with Machine Learning (6 months) and an Accelerated Digital Marketing Certification Program (4 months), are advertised with merit-based scholarships of up to 50%.

The about page lists 1400+ hiring partners, 200+ courses, 250+ industry experts for live classes, 500+ career experts and 300+ industry problems for practical work, with a disclaimer that individual results may vary. Learner support takes calls 7 days a week, 10 AM to 7 PM, with separate contacts for Indian nationals and foreign nationals. upGrad also has Android and iOS apps and an upGrad for Business offer for teams.

Who it suits

upGrad suits a working professional or manager who wants a recognized Indian or international institution's name on an executive certificate, diploma, MBA or DBA, especially in AI and data science, and who is comfortable choosing from a large, partner-led catalog. Senior technologists can look at the CTO and Chief Data and AI Officer programs; early-career managers at the IIM Bangalore young leaders program. Free courses, tutorials and webinars let anyone sample a subject first.

Fees are not printed on the program cards, so buyers should request the syllabus or talk to a counselor for program costs and schedules.