Certificates of Achievement

We offer Certificates of Achievement as proof of participation in a course.

In this article we'll look at:

• how to get a certificate
• the information included on the certificate
• how your name will be displayed on your certificate
• how you can use your certificate in work and study
• where to find information about shipping and delivery

How to get a certificate

To be eligible for a Certificate of Achievement you need to:

• Be on a Premium, ExpertTrack or Sponsored course, or be an Unlimited learner or have bought an upgrade on your short course
• complete 90% of the steps (using the “Mark as complete” button)
• attempt every test question (if the course contains test steps)
• achieve an overall score of at least 70% (if the course has tests or other scored assessments)

It is no longer possible to buy Statements of Participation or Certificates of Achievements for courses that started before April 2017. 

Please note we only provide printed certificates on our courses on which you have purchased an upgrade, and on our Premium courses. On other courses (including sponsored courses, ExpertTrack courses, and any courses completed under an Unlimited subscription) we offer only digital certificates. Digital certificates are provided in both PDF and clickable URL versions. 

Information included on the certificate

Take a look at the Certificates of Achievement page to see what they look like. Your certificate will include

• your name
• an outline of what you’ve learned
• the length of the course (in weeks)
• the number of hours of study required per week
• The date you became eligible for the certificate
• the logos of the university and other organisations associated with your course
• Your printed certificate will also include the lead educator’s signature.

Your Certificate of Achievement also includes

• Your average test score
• a detailed transcript of what you've learned

How names are displayed on your certificate

At checkout, we ask you to confirm how your name should appear on the printed certificate if it's different from the name you use on your FutureLearn profile. You can make any changes at this point and this will be saved for future purchases as your 'Certificate name'. You can also edit your 'Certificate name' in your profile area. Your digital certificate shows your Certificate name.

Use them for CVs, applications or CPD

Certificates are great to add to your CV or resume when applying for a job, or to reference when applying for further or higher education courses. Employers and admissions tutors often appreciate this evidence of self-directed study.

All certificates state the minimum number of hours required per week and the length of the course, so you can claim that many hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) by showing your employer or organisation the certificate.

The majority of learners who purchase them add them to their CV, but it's important to note that certificates do not imply the award of credit points or the conferment of a university qualification.

Where a course is accredited this information will be included on the course description page.

Shipping and Delivery

If you've purchased an upgrade or paid for a premium course, we'll send you a printed certificate. You can find more about shipping here.

If you've got a digital certificate through Unlimited, an ExpertTrack, a Sponsored course, or a course you've been invited to by your organisation, we won't send you a printed certificate, but you can download your digital certificate and print a copy if you'd like to.