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Access to Coursera services is prohibited for users under age 13, and additionally requires users to be above the age of data processing consent in their country of residence. Certain regions and content offerings may impose higher or additional age requirements.
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 global minimum age of 13 and an additional requirement that users be at or above the age of data processing consent under their country's law, which is 16 in many EU member states under GDPR. The layered age requirement means that in jurisdictions where the data processing consent age exceeds 13, the higher threshold governs.
Interpretive note: The provision places compliance responsibility on users to self-attest age eligibility under their country's data processing consent laws; the adequacy of this mechanism under COPPA and GDPR Article 8 depends on what additional technical verification measures Coursera implements, which are not described in these Terms.
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 →Under this clause, users in EU member states where the GDPR data processing consent age is 16 must be at least 16 to use the services, even though the global floor is 13. Certain regional programs or content offerings may impose additional age eligibility requirements beyond these minimums.
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"Any use or access by anyone under the age of 13 is strictly prohibited. Additionally, you may use our Services only if you: can form a binding contract with Coursera; comply with these Terms, all applicable laws, and our policies (including the Acceptable Use Policy, Honor Code, course-specific eligibility requirements, and any other policies that may be applicable from time to time ("Policies")); and are over the age at which you can provide consent to data processing under the laws of your country. Certain regions and Content Offerings may have additional requirements and/or different age restrictions.Excerpt from Coursera's Terms of Use
1. REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The minimum age provision engages COPPA for US users under 13, and GDPR Article 8 for EU users, which permits member states to set the age of digital consent between 13 and 16. The provision's layered structure, which defers to country-specific data processing consent ages, aligns with GDPR Article 8's variable age framework but places compliance responsibility on users rather than on Coursera's verification mechanisms. The adequacy of Coursera's age verification mechanisms is not described in these Terms. 2. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. COPPA requires verifiable parental consent for collection of personal data from children under 13, and the terms' prohibition on under-13 access does not describe what age verification or parental consent mechanisms are in place. Regulators have enforced COPPA requirements against platforms that rely solely on user self-attestation of age without technical verification measures. 3. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU member states with a data processing consent age of 16 include Germany, France, and the Netherlands among others. US users under 13 are prohibited under COPPA. The UK has a digital age of consent of 13 under UK GDPR. Platforms operating in Illinois, California, and New York face heightened state-level requirements regarding minors' data. 4. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Educational institutions deploying Coursera for student populations that include minors should assess whether Coursera's age verification and parental consent mechanisms satisfy applicable COPPA and GDPR Article 8 obligations. The terms place eligibility determination on users, which may not be sufficient for institutional compliance. 5. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should review Coursera's Privacy Notice for descriptions of age verification and parental consent mechanisms, and assess whether those mechanisms satisfy applicable law in jurisdictions where the platform is deployed to populations that may include minors. Schools and universities using Coursera under institutional agreements should confirm the applicable data processing framework for enrolled minors.
This provision establishes a global minimum age of 13 and an additional requirement that users be at or above the age of data processing consent under their country's law, which is 16 in many EU member states under GDPR. The layered age requirement means that in jurisdictions where the data processing consent age exceeds 13, the higher threshold governs.
Under this clause, users in EU member states where the GDPR data processing consent age is 16 must be at least 16 to use the services, even though the global floor is 13. Certain regional programs or content offerings may impose additional age eligibility requirements beyond these minimums.
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