The Terms prohibit users under 13 from registering or using Coursera's services. Users between 13 and the age of majority in their jurisdiction may use the platform only with parental or guardian involvement, and that adult must agree to be bound by the Terms.
This analysis describes what Coursera's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes a minimum age threshold of 13 aligned with COPPA requirements and imposes parental involvement requirements for users under the age of majority, which varies by jurisdiction. The document places compliance responsibility on the parent or guardian who agrees to the Terms on behalf of a minor user.
Interpretive note: The age of majority varies by jurisdiction, and EU/EEA digital consent age thresholds may differ from the 13-year minimum stated in the Terms, creating variable compliance requirements across geographies.
The updated refund policy establishes a new condition under which Coursera may deny refund requests: when a significant portion of the course content has been accessed prior to submitting the refund request. This addition does not replace existing denial grounds such as policy violations, repeated refund requests, or chargeback activity, but adds an access-based threshold alongside them. The terms do not define what constitutes a significant portion of content, leaving that determination to Coursera's discretion. Learners who access substantial course materials before requesting a refund may find their request denied under this provision.
View change record →The updated terms establish new procedural requirements for refunds on Coursera subscription plans. According to the revised language, canceling a subscription will stop future billing but will not automatically issue a refund; refunds must be requested separately. The terms now explicitly state that refunds will not be provided for renewal charges on annual subscription plans. For Specializations purchased through subscriptions, users may request a full refund within the applicable 7-day refund period or before earning a certificate, whichever occurs first. You can request a refund separately through Coursera's Support Services, but the updated terms indicate this is a manual process rather than an automatic one upon cancellation.
View change record →The updated terms no longer specify refund eligibility for users in India who prepay for specializations or Coursera Plus plans. Previously, these customers could request full refunds within 7 days of payment or before earning a certificate for any course included in their purchase, whichever occurred first. The removal of this language means refund terms for Indian prepaid customers are no longer explicitly defined in the publicly stated agreement, leaving refund policies unclear for this user segment.
View change record →New provision establishes age restrictions and parental consent requirements, likely to comply with COPPA and other child protection regulations.
View full change record →Under this clause, users under 13 are prohibited from the platform, and users between 13 and the age of majority in their jurisdiction may access services only with a parent or guardian who accepts the Terms. The agreement holds the consenting adult responsible for compliance with the Terms for the minor's account activity.
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"Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, you may not register for or use our Services. If you are 13 years of age or older but under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you should review these Terms with your parent or guardian to make sure that you and your parent or guardian understand these Terms. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you may use our Services only with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to be bound by these Terms.Excerpt from Coursera's Terms of Use
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: COPPA applies to online services directed to or knowingly collecting personal information from children under 13, enforced by the FTC.
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This provision establishes a minimum age threshold of 13 aligned with COPPA requirements and imposes parental involvement requirements for users under the age of majority, which varies by jurisdiction. The document places compliance responsibility on the parent or guardian who agrees to the Terms on behalf of a minor user.
Under this clause, users under 13 are prohibited from the platform, and users between 13 and the age of majority in their jurisdiction may access services only with a parent or guardian who accepts the Terms. The agreement holds the consenting adult responsible for compliance with the Terms for the minor's account activity.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.
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