Top 10 Machine Learning Online Courses: Online Degrees Programs & Certificates In 2024

The popularity of courses in the domains of machine learning and artificial intelligence has experienced a major surge in the current decade, with a number of programmers and computer science enthusiasts turning their careers towards ML engineering, AI development etc. As a result of the rising demands of formal courses and qualifications in machine learning, a number of technological institutions have started offering such courses in the fully online mode in India and abroad. 

If you are also a candidate interested in pursuing a fully online course in ML based on your convenience and needs for upskilling, then this blog will give you a detailed synopsis of the online degrees, certifications and diploma courses available to be pursued in machine learning and related domains available to pursue in India. 

Continue reading to explore more and find the best online course in machine learning for your academic and professional needs!

What is Machine Learning? 

Machine learning is a subdomain of artificial intelligence which focuses on the aspect of strengthening the accuracy of prediction of an AI model. Aimed at training AI models to provide accurate predictions for solutions, ML functions mainly by utilising statistical techniques or algorithms to crawl large labelled and unlabelled datasets and identify patterns in the data that can effectively guide the problem-solving and decision making by the model. 

Machine learning makes use of a number of strategies for model training including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi supervised learning, reinforcement learning etc. Commonly used algorithms in ML include those like regression (linear, logistic, polynomial etc.), K-means, fuzzy means, decision trees, random forests, neural networks etc. The applications of machine learning are wide and pervasive, spanning across domains from cybersecurity and fraud detection to self-driving cars and personalised recommendations. ML is thus emerging as one of the popular arenas within computer science not only in a professional context but also an academic context. 

What are Online Courses in Machine Learning: Are They Worth It? 

In the modern educational arena guided actively by the integration of ICT services and internet-powered educational facilities, online education in technology is gaining momentum. Accordingly, there are a number of public and private institutions in India and abroad that have started offering their much-demanded courses in machine learning in the fully online mode. 

The trust in online courses and their popularity has surged in the past few years based on a number of factors including those like their accreditations, value in comparison to regular courses, affordability and so on. Pursuing a technology course like that in machine learning can confer many advantages to the student taking the course, a few of which have been highlighted herein. 

• Equivalent Value as a Regular ML Course- The first and foremost advantage associated with an online course in ML is the equivalent credibility that they have compared to regular machine learning courses. Identifying the transformative role that online courses can play for higher education in India, the UGC-DEB has granted equivalent status to online degrees, diplomas and certificates compared to their regular counterparts. As a result, a student pursuing an online course in machine learning gets a qualification of equivalent credential as compared to a regular course. 

• Choices from Elite Institutes and Universities -A major benefit a student experiences if they go for an online instead of a regular course in machine learning is the wider variety of course and institutional choices. Since online education allows the candidate to take the course up from any location of their convenience, one can easily explore options of universities and institutes beyond one’s city or state of residence. This means one can choose courses from the elite technology institutes in India as well as global institutions for machine learning and technological studies, adding credibility to one’s profile and resume. 

• Flexibility of Learning- The flexibility of learning accompanying online courses is one of the major motivators guiding students towards online courses in ML. Firstly, an online course usually lacks rigid schedules and timetables requiring mandatory attendance, meaning that students can flexibly complete the course at any time of their convenience, managing multiple commitments at once. Secondly, there are a number of online courses which are self-paced (with a maximum time limit within which they must be completed), allowing learners with differing proficiencies and learning speeds manage their coursework and complete the course without lagging behind. Lastly, the lectures, practicals and examinations of most of these courses are online-proctored, thus preventing hassles of travel or relocation and allowing them to complete the course from the location of their convenience. 

• Learning While Working -With the vast benefits of flexibility conferred by the online mode of learning, students choosing to pursue online ML programs can conveniently pursue other commitments, such as jobs, internships etc. Thus, one can continue to grow their professional experience and insights while pursuing an online course in machine learning alongside. This is an aspect of e-learning which is unconducive in the case of regular learning. 

• Affordability of Education-The average fee bracket within which the online ML courses are offered are in a relatively more pocket-friendly range than similar regular courses. Moreover, most of these courses are provided alongside financial support options such as low-interest EMI options, scholarships etc., and hence are more affordable for students from diverse financial and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

• Impact on Career Escalation -Lastly, and quite importantly, pursuing an online course in the domain of machine learning can be quite beneficial for one’s career. This domain being quite lucrative, upskilling oneself in machine learning can be beneficial in garnering lucrative job opportunities or experiencing career hikes if you are an experienced professional in this domain.

As has been outlined above, taking up an online machine learning program can be quite beneficial for freshers, current students as well as working professionals, providing a leverage to their careers and hands-on skills in the domain. 

Top 10 Online Courses in Machine Learning 

Provided below are the details of some of the most well-known, duly accredited and comprehensive courses provided in the domain of machine learning and related fields like artificial intelligence. 

1)  Online Certificate Courses in ML 

The most popular courses in ML in the online learning mode include certificate programs for undergraduate students, postgraduate students and working professionals wishing to explore the field of machine learning. Certification courses are short and concise, making them more manageable and one of the most preferred courses in ML in the online learning mode. They can be highly useful for candidates seeking to build skills in specific domains of machine learning in a short span of time.

(i) Postgraduate Program in Artificial Intelligence & Machine L earning 

The PG certification program in AI and ML offered by IIIT Bangalore is a well-accredited and popular course choice for graduates seeking PG education in AI and ML in a short span of time. The course curriculum for this programme is carved to suit the skill needs of freshers as well as professionals having some degree of experience in working with ML technologies. The course has a fee range of INR 1,80,000 to INR 2,00,000. There is no entrance exam needed to be qualified to apply for the course. 

More details about the PG certification in AI and ML are provided below. 

Course Name	PG Certification Course in AI & ML
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	8 Months to 13 Months
Course Fee	INR 1,80,000 to INR 2,00,000
General Eligibility	Candidates must have Completed Bachelors’ in Any Discipline from a Recognised University with at least 50% Aggregate Marks   Certain Institutions may demand 1 Year of Professional Experience
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	MLOps Linear Regression Module  Introduction to Neural Networks ‘ Model Selection  Convolutional Neural Network etc.
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	IIIT Bangalore Online

(ii) Job- Guaranteed Program in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence 

With the ever-evolving and VUCA environment in the technological industry, the popularity of job-guaranteed courses in machine learning and artificial intelligence is surging. This is a postgraduate course in this dual specialisation that lasts between 5 months to 12 months, and is offered by the MOOC platform upGrad. Being a PG certification, this course comes with an assured placement opportunity upon successful completion of the course. The returns on investment in pursuing this online course are quite appealing twinned with the credibility and value of a qualification from upGrad, making it a popular choice among tech-enthusiasts. 

Further details about the job-guaranteed certification course in ML and AI are provided below :

Course Name	Job-guaranteed Certification Course Online In Machine Learning and AI
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	5 Months to 12 Months
Course Fee	INR 70,000
General Eligibility	Candidate must have Completed Bachelors from a Recognised Institution with at least 50% Aggregate Marks  Preliminary Knowledge about Machine Learning
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	Functions and Modules  Vectors, Matrices and Matrix Solutions  Natural Language Processing (NLP) Introduction to Deep Learning  Linear Regression, Logistic Regression
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	upGrad

 (iii) Online Certificate in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning 

Certificate courses in machine learning are also available to be pursued by students at the undergraduate level. The online certificate in AI and ML is a course designed for candidates having completed their Higher Secondary education and currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. The duration of this course varies, usually between 3 months to 12 months. This course is available to be pursued on a number of MOOC platforms such as upGrad, Coursera, Great Learning, Simplilearn etc. 

Find more details about this course provided below: 

Course Name	Certification Course in AI & ML
Course Level	Undergraduate
Course Duration	3 Months to 12 Months
Course Fee	INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,00,000
General Eligibility	Candidate must have Completed At Least Higher Secondary Education (Grade 12th) from a Recognised Institution with at least 50% Aggregate Marks
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Deep Learning  Data Mining  Big Data Analytics  Computer Vision Reinforcement Learning  Model Deployment & Production etc.
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	Great Learning, upGrad, Coursera, Simplilearn etc.

(iv) Certificate Program in Machine Learning for Finance (CPMLF)

Designed specifically to cater to the needs of applications of ML in finance, the Indian Institute of Quantitative Finance (IIQF) offers an 8-months online instructor-led program–Certificate Program in Machine Learning for Finance (CPMLF). This course covers a number of preliminary courses and core modules that equip the students pursuing the course to the foundations of ML and how the various ML technologies can be applied to the financial sector. 

Further details about this certificate program are provided below:

Course Name	Certificate Program in Machine Learning for Finance (CPMLF)
Course Level	Executive
Course Duration	8 Months
Course Fee	INR 1,68,000
General Eligibility	Any working professional having the necessary prerequisite skills of accounting and finance, investment analysis, regulatory and internal compliance etc.
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	ML Programming Preliminaries  ML Mathematical Preliminaries  ML Probability & Statistical Preliminaries ML Methodology  ML Financial Use Case Implementation Python
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	Indian Institute for Quantitative Finance (IIQF)

2) Online Diploma Courses in ML

 In addition to short-term certificate programs in machine learning, there are also a number of diploma courses for PG candidates and executives available to be pursued in the virtual learning mode. Diploma courses are relatively longer in duration and include a more detailed coverage of concepts and practical areas of machine learning. Continue reading to find out more about these courses. 

(i) Executive PG Diploma in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

An executive PG diploma in AI and ML is a dual specialisation diploma program in the fully online mode offered over a period of 6 months to 24 months by different institutions. This is a highly sought course in the field of AI and ML, which covers a number of conceptual areas including those like ML, computer vision, nuances of vision learning, NLP, cloud and MLOps etc. Any candidate with a valid Bachelors degree and at least 1 year of professional experience can apply to this course.

Further key details about the executive PG diploma in AI and ML are provided below:

Course Name	Executive Program Online In AI and Machine Learning
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	6 Months to 24 Months
Course Fee	INR 70,000 to INR 3,50,000
General Eligibility	Candidate must have completed Bachelors from a Recognised University with at least 50% Aggregate Marks  Candidates from Any Academic Background can apply although some institutions may demand a mathematics/science/statistical background  Candidates must have at least 1 Year of Professional Experience in a Relevant Industry
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	TOEFL/IELTS etc. in addition to basic eligibility criteria
Major Subjects & Papers	Machine Learning  Computer Vision  Deep Learning  Natural Language Processing (NLP) Cloud & MLOps etc.
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	IIIT Bangalore, Caltech University Online, Purdue University Online, IIM Kashipur, IIT Kanpur, IIM Raipur, upGrad etc.

(ii) Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning 

Many reputed institutes including the IIMs, IIIT Bangalore, GLA University etc. offer a postgraduate diploma in AI and ML that is of a duration of 10 months to 13 months, with an approximate fee range of INR 30,000 to INR 3,35,000. The course is open for candidates having completed their Bachelor’s degree with mathematics or statistics as one of their subjects. A year of professional experience is also desirable in applications. Commonly covered topics in this course include Git and Github, regression, data analytics, neural networks etc. 

Elaborated below are a few of the key highlights of the course. 

Course Name	Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in AI & ML
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	10 Months-13 Months
Course Fee	INR 30,000 to INR 3,35,000
General Eligibility	Candidate must have completed a Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics or Statistics as one of the subjects from a Recognised Institution  Candidate must have at least 1 year of professional experience in the domain
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	Online Eligibility Screening Test (Not Mandatory)
Major Subjects & Papers	Introduction to Git and GitHub Advanced Regression Neural Networks  Unsupervised Clustering  Generative AI  MLOps etc.
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	IIIT Bangalore, IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, upGrad, Great Learning, GLA University etc.

3)  Online Degree Courses in ML 

Fully online degree courses have been the turn of the decade in higher education, allowing students to pursue full-fledged degrees in their area of interest through virtual means of learning. Accordingly, a number of reputed institutions have started offering fully online degree courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in machine learning. Elaborated upon here are a few of the popular and duly accredited online degrees in machine learning that can be pursued in India. 

(i) Online MBA in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning 

An online MBA in the dual specialisations of AI and ML approaches degree education in ML from a managerial perspective. This 2-year PG degree course is designed to cater to the industry needs of management of AI and ML enterprises as well as integration of these technologies into the managerial practice. The average fee range for an online MBA in AI and ML ranges between INR 1.5 lakhs to INR 2.5 lakhs. Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth and Amrita University currently offer an online MBA in AI and ML. 

Find more details about this online program in AI and ML provided below:

Course Name	MBA Online  in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI & ML)
Course Level	Postgraduate Level
Course Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 1,50,000 to INR 2,50,000
General Eligibility	Candidate must have Graduated from a Recognised University with at least 50% Aggregate Marks Candidates from Any Academic Background can Apply
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	Online Eligibility Test/CAT/MAT/CMAT/XAT/GMAT etc. (Not Mandatory for Online MBA)
Major Subjects & Papers	Basics of AI & ML  Business Intelligence  Deep Learning  AI in Business Management  Performing Analytics  Machine Learning Algorithms and Neural Networks
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	Dr. D. Y. Patil University Online, Amrita University Online

(ii) Online MCA in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning 

An online MCA in AI and ML is a two-year PG degree course in computer applications with a specialisation focused on AI and machine learning. In the online learning mode, the course is offered in a fee range of approximately INR 90,000 to INR 2 lakhs. Major institutes offering this course include those like Amrita University Online, Amity University Online, Chandigarh University Online, Vignan University Online etc. An MCA in AI and ML provides opportunities for gaining practical skills as well as strengthening one’s grasp on theoretical foundations of this course. 

Find more details about an online MCA program in AI and ML given below:

Course Name	MCA Online in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI & ML)
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 90,000 to INR 2,00,000
General Eligibility	Candidates must have Completed their BCA/B.E./B.Sc (in Computer Science)/Bachelors from a Recognised University with at least 50% Aggregate Marks  Candidate having Bachelor’s degree in Any Other Stream (unrelated to Computer Applications) should have pursued Mathematics at the Higher Secondary Level
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	Professional Communication  Data Structures & Algorithm Design  Unix/Linux Programming  Deep Learning  Reinforcement Learning
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	Amrita University Online, Amity University Online, Chandigarh University Online, Vignan University Online

(iii) Online MCA in Machine Learning 

In addition to a dual specialisation course of MCA in AI and ML, some institutions such as Amity University, also provide a course with a dedicated specialisation in machine learning foundations, covering a number of topical areas including combinatorics, cryptography, Unix/Linux designing, advanced software engineering principles for ML and so on. The average fee range for this course is INR 1.6 lakhs to INR 2 lakhs. The course is open to applicants who have completed their BCA/B.E./B.Sc/Bachelors degree (with mathematics at the HSC level) from a recognised university.

Find more details about the online MCA program in machine learning. 

Course Name	Online MCA in Machine Learning
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 1,60,000 to INR 2,00,000
General Eligibility	Candidates must have Completed their BCA/B.E./B.Sc (in Computer Science)/Bachelors from a Recognised University with at least 50% Aggregate Marks  Candidate having Bachelor’s degree in Any Other Stream (unrelated to Computer Applications) should have pursued Mathematics at the Higher Secondary Level
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	Combinatorics Advanced Software Engineering Principles Cloud Infrastructure & Services  Unix/Linux Programming  Network Security/Cryptography  Machine Learning for Real World Application
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	Amity University Online

(iv) Online BCA in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning 

An online BCA course in AI and ML is a 3-year undergraduate course with focus on conceptual domains like DBMS, data structures, programming, AI using Azure, RDBMS, security of information systems etc. The course can be taken up by candidates who have completed their higher secondary education from a recognised university with an aggregate of at least 50% to 60%. The average course fee for the program ranges between INR 1.5 lakhs to INR 2 lakhs.

More details pertaining to the course are enlisted below: 

Course Name	BCA Online  in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI & ML)
Course Level	Undergraduate
Course Duration	3 Years
Course Fee	INR 1,50,000 to INR 2,00,000
General Eligibility	Candidate must have Completed Class 12th Education from a Recognised Board with at least 50% to 60% Aggregate Marks
Entrance Exam (If Applicable)	NA
Major Subjects & Papers	Database Management System Introduction to Machine Learning  Data Structures  Programming in Java  RDBMS AI Using Azure  Security of Information System
Institutions/Platforms Offering Course	Amrita University Online

Career Scope of Online Courses in Machine Learning 

The career prospects in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly expanding, with automation and AI-integration impacting personal, lifestyle and professional arenas. Thus, the scope of machine learning is hiking as a career. Not only is it characterised by lucrative compensation, the scope of career growth and escalation are also quite promising in AI and ML engineering and development. 

Job Role	Average Salary in India (per annum)
Machine Learning Engineer	INR 8.29 LPA
Machine Learning Architect	INR 34 LPA
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Scientist	INR 8.14 LPA
Robotics Engineer	INR 4.61 LPA
Software Developer	INR 6.06 LPA
Cybersecurity Analyst	INR 5.95 LPA
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer	INR 8.86 LPA
Data Scientist	INR 9.65 LPA
Business Intelligence Analyst	INR 6.15 LPA
Computer Vision Engineer	INR 6.16 LPA

Enlisted below are a few of the most popularly sought career options in India for machine learning graduates, along with the latest statistics about the annual rates of compensation in the field. 

Accenture	Amazon
Tata Consultancy Services	Wipro
Google	Samsung
Capgemini	Intel Corporation
Apple	Microsoft
Siemens	Tech Mahindra
Deloitte	ABC Network
Bosch	Cognizant

Find more details about the top national and international organisations and enterprises who hire qualified professionals in machine learning and artificial intelligence in major professional positions. 

Conclusion 

Machine learning is a developing field in India with emerging options of upskilling in this domain at the UG, PG and professional levels. With the advancements made in online educational technologies, a large number of institutes and technological universities are now offering machine learning courses in the fully virtual mode in the form of degrees, diplomas and certificate programs. With the selection of the right online course in machine learning as per one’s proficiency in the field and career positionality, one can experience significant benefits to their career and escalate to lucrative positions within a span of a few years.

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