Cardiff and Vale College
BCS Foundation Award: Award in Machine Learning (PLA) is a free course from Cardiff and Vale College, online. It's free under Personal Learning Accounts. It ends with an exam certification.
Starts in 14 days (9 Nov 2026). We rate it intermediate level; the provider doesn't say.
Suits employed adults in Wales who want a more technical grounding in machine learning with a BCS award at the end. What stands out is the free place under PLA and a short run from 9 November to 7 December 2026. The main caveat is that the page does not say how much coding is involved or what software is used. A free self-paced option with some Python is Elements of AI: Building AI, though its certificate costs EUR 50.
Checked against Cardiff and Vale College on 26 Oct 2026
Go to course on cavc.ac.ukWe're independent. Providers can't pay to be listed or ranked.
Evening course on Microsoft Teams leading to a BCS Foundation Award in Machine Learning. Topics include what machine learning is, coding concepts and techniques, common algorithms, real-world uses and practical points for implementation. Certification needs a short multiple-choice exam that can be taken remotely.
More courses on machine learning.
See also: AI certifications compared.
Level: intermediate (our rating). Delivery: live online.
GCSE English at least a C grade.
Free under Personal Learning Accounts. Free for employed adults eligible for a Personal Learning Account (PLA), funded by the Welsh Government; full fee not shown.
Certificate: exam certification. BCS Foundation Award (multiple-choice exam).
Cardiff and Vale College is a UK provider. We checked this course on its own page on 26 Oct 2026.
The price is shown in pounds, as the provider states it.
UK funding: Personal Learning Accounts.
Other UK courses on machine learning: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Online (Forth Valley College), Introduction to artificial intelligence (City Lit), BCS Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT).
See also: free and funded training by nation, AI courses for developers and engineers.
Starts in 14 days (9 Nov 2026).
It's free under Personal Learning Accounts.
Yes: exam certification. The provider calls it "BCS Foundation Award (multiple-choice exam)".
It's an intermediate course (our rating; the provider does not state a level). Prerequisites: GCSE English at least a C grade.
Starts in 14 days (9 Nov 2026).
Yes, every one we list is free or free to learn, including BCS Foundation Award: Award in Understanding the Role of Ethics in the Responsible Use of AI (PLA) and BCS Foundation Award: How AI Can Support Your Organisation (PLA).
BCS* Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts, BCS Foundation Award: Award in Understanding the Role of Ethics in the Responsible Use of AI (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts, BCS Foundation Award: How AI Can Support Your Organisation (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts, BCS Foundation Award: Award in Machine Learning (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts and BCS* Foundation Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) (PLA): Free under Personal Learning Accounts. Fees are shown as Cardiff and Vale College shows them and never converted.
Cardiff and Vale College
Next intake not announced
Imperial College London
Next: 10 Dec 2026
MIT Professional Education
Next: 2 Jun 2027
| Course | Delivery | Cost | Level | Hours | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with PythonHarvard University on edX | Online, self-paced | Free | Intermediate | seven weeks of materialDuration (as stated by provider) | Free certificate |
| Exam Prep Plan: AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C02 - English)AWS Skill Builder | Online, self-paced | Free to learnSome parts paid | Intermediate | 16 | Certificate not stated |
| Elements of AI: Building AIElements of AI (University of Helsinki / MinnaLearn) | Online, self-paced | Free to learnCertificate EUR 50 | Intermediate | 50 | Paid professional certificate |
| Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in PythonUniversity of Oxford Department for Continuing Education (Oxford Lifelong Learning) | Live online | £430 | Intermediate | 100 | Academic award |
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