What is an ExpertTrack, and how can it help my career?

With the demand for learning subscriptions on the rise in 2020, we’ve developed ExpertTracks to help people build their skills and advance their careers in 2021 and beyond. Find out the full details here.

For many of us, the world has changed significantly in 2020. We’ve all had to adapt to new situations and overcome all kinds of challenges. During this period, we’ve also seen a change in the way people work and study. We recognise that people are giving greater thought to learning new skills, expanding their knowledge, progressing their careers, and responding to the huge upheavals this year. That’s why we’ve developed ExpertTracks. 

ExpertTracks give you the chance to delve deeper into the subjects and areas you’re interested in. They can help you learn new skills, enhance your CV, and learn in a fast and flexible way. We’re sure you’re going to find them useful for working towards your career goals, so let’s take a closer look at them. 

What are ExpertTracks? 

Let’s start with the basics – ExpertTracks are carefully curated series of online courses that focus on specific areas of learning. They’re designed to help you fast-track your studies across various topics, subject areas, and industries. 

You’ll find ExpertTracks on a diverse range of topics, including ones such as blended learning, getting started with SEO, and fintech innovations. From the basics of psychology to the teaching of practical science, you can develop your skills to match your career aspirations. 

As well as in-demand hard skills such as data analytics, project management, and cyber security, you’ll also find ExpertTracks on soft skills like decision-making and leadership. Whether it’s on psychology, SEO, or jazz piano, you’re sure to find an interesting area of study. 

With an ExpertTrack, you’ll learn from experts and individuals from some of the best universities, businesses, and learning institutions around the world through an on-demand subscription that suits your goals and can fit around your lifestyle. 

So, if you’re hoping to learn new skills, boost your career, or develop your existing knowledge, an ExpertTrack could be the right option for you. Below are just some of the reasons you might choose one. 

• To significantly expand your skills and knowledge in a specific area, whether you’re a complete beginner or building on existing skills. 
• To plan your learning around your schedule and work through detailed courses at your own pace. 
• To earn digital certificates that can boost your CV and make you stand out to employers.
• To gain some of the most in-demand skills, on your terms. 

How can ExpertTracks help me? 

Over the last year, we’ve listened to feedback from our existing learners to develop a service that ticks all the boxes. Here are just some of the reasons why ExpertTracks could benefit you in your career and beyond: 

• They offer deeper learning than standalone courses.
• You can earn digital certificates to share with your professional network and mention on your CV. 
• You can find learning suitable for your current level and continue to progress your understanding. Work your way through beginner, intermediate, and advanced ExpertTracks.
• Try before you buy – you get a 7-day free trial to make sure it’s for you.
• The subscription will auto-cancel when you complete the ExpertTrack, so you only pay while you’re learning.
• On-demand access to fit around your schedule.
• They fit around your finances too; you can cancel at any time and pick back up when you can.

They offer deeper learning than standalone courses

Many of our short online courses offer a great way to get up to speed with a new topic or brush up on your knowledge in an existing area. But for some of our avid learners, they want more. Of course, for those looking for professional or academic credentials, we have microcredentials, but for those who want something in-between, ExpertTracks are just the thing. 

With a monthly ExpertTrack learning subscription, you can master new skills with certified courses from world-class universities, industry leaders and educators. Each ExpertTrack delves deep into a particular subject area, giving you the chance to fully explore it. Whether it’s for your career development or personal interest, you can soon reap the rewards. 

You can earn digital certificates

We know that many of our learners use FutureLearn to help their careers. By completing the courses on our ExpertTracks, you’ll gain digital certificates that show proof of your achievements. If you’re looking to improve your CV, these certificates can demonstrate your continued learning. 

Employers are increasingly looking for people with a mixture of hard and soft skills. ExpertTracks can help you to develop these new skills. At a time when online learning is more accessible than ever before, you have the chance to access world-class university courses, knowledge from industry leaders, and content from experts, covering some of today’s most in-demand skills. 

Find learning for your level

When choosing what to study, it can be tricky to find a course that matches your current knowledge base. Newcomers to a topic might be left scratching their heads, while experienced pros might find that the course content barely scratches the surface. We’ve designed our ExpertTracks with that in mind, giving you the chance to choose one that matches your current level. 

You’ll find three levels on offer across ExpertTracks:

• Beginner: These are designed for those with no prior knowledge or experience in the field, helping you build a solid foundation in your chosen area. 
• Intermediate: For those who already have some related knowledge and experience, this level will boost your current understanding. 
• Advanced: If you’re already an experienced professional, you’ll find that advanced courses will help you to further specialise your knowledge. 

As you progress through the ExpertTrack, you’ll build your understanding and knowledge. Although you might start out with a beginner course, you’ll soon be working your way up to higher levels. 

Try before you buy with a 7-day free trial

If you’re keen on the idea of taking an ExpertTrack but aren’t quite sure if you’re ready to commit to a full month, we’ve got you covered. With our 7-day free trial, you can get full access to your chosen ExpertTrack to decide whether it’s right for you. 

All you need to do is sign up with your payment details (don’t worry, you won’t be charged just yet), and you can start exploring the full content for each of the courses on the ExpertTrack. You can cancel at any point, but if you decide to continue learning, payment will automatically be taken each month. 

Auto-cancel on completion – you only pay while you’re learning

Our ExpertTrack subscription model is designed to give you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Yet if your schedule is hectic, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you need to cancel a subscription. With ExpertTracks, as soon as you’ve finished all of the online courses, your payment automatically stops. 

Of course, if you decide that the ExpertTrack isn’t for you, even after your 7-day free trial, you can cancel at any time. This gives you the freedom to learn at a time that’s convenient for your lifestyle. And, even if you cancel your subscription, once you have the time again, you can pick back up where you left off. 

On-demand learning to fit around your schedule

ExpertTracks are for learners who want to make fast and consistent progress in a particular subject area. They give you on-demand access to detailed and structured content, meaning you get the chance to learn at a pace that suits you. 

Not only does this approach mean that you complete some of the best online courses in a flexible and easy way, but it also means you can upskill without having to radically change your daily schedule. 

How much does an ExpertTrack cost?

We’ve worked hard to create a pricing structure that reflects the best possible value to our customers and provides financial flexibility. This subscription model also offers pricing in multiple currencies, helping you to pay in a currency that best suits you. Prices per ExpertTrack are outlined below: 

• £36 per month
• €36 per month
• USD $39 per month
• AUD $59  per month 

Within each ExpertTrack, you’ll complete at least 20 hours of learning time, often from a top educational or business institution. We think this provides excellent value, particularly as you get a 7-day free trial to explore the course content. It also means that the faster you finish your ExpertTrack, the less you pay overall. 

How can ExpertTracks help my career? 

The global job market has seen huge changes in the last year – some previously-healthy industries are now suffering while others have seen huge growth. This has all meant that huge numbers of people are looking to re-skill to change careers, or upskill to feel more secure. 

ExpertTracks have been supported by our Insights team here at FutureLearn – they’ve provided input and advice on which industries have skills shortages, and how we can help fill them. The subjects and themes are largely guided by this data, so our ExpertTracks have been specifically selected and curated to ensure that they will help your career either change or grow with the current market changes. That’s why we have ExpertTracks focused on areas like data science, analytics, cyber security, teaching, and digital marketing. 

They’ve also been developed with leading educational partners around the world. We’ve worked with our long-term partners to create ExpertTracks led by respected and tried-and-tested educators, and we’ve reached out to industry leaders to work with new educators and create up to the minute training within their respective industries. 

When can I start my ExpertTrack? 

In the fast-paced and constantly connected world we live in, instant access becomes increasingly important. If you’re hoping to help your career, you’ll likely want to start developing your skills as soon as you see an opportunity. That’s why our ExpertTracks are always available. 

When you sign up for an ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to access all of the courses on that ExpertTrack and their content right away. Each ExpertTrack contains multiple courses and a suggested order to complete them, but you can also take the courses in any order you like. The beauty of taking an online course is that you can fit it around your existing schedule. So, you can start learning today, no matter where in the world you are.  

Where can I find what ExpertTracks are available?

You’ll see our ExpertTracks starting to spring up around the FutureLearn website. As well as information about our online courses, microcredentials and degrees, you’ll be able to find details about these exciting opportunities. You can also head to the main ExpertTrack page to discover the ones we’ve added. 

Remember, the online courses in ExpertTracks come exclusively as part of your subscription, so you’ll be getting access to content from top universities and industry leaders for just £36 (€36, USD $39, AUD $39) per month. Sign up now and start your learning journey.