Learn Electrical Engineering Online for Free

A curated list of free electrical engineering courses from universities and institutes including MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, the IITs (via NPTEL), Georgia Tech, NYU, UMass, Beijing Jiaotong University, and Cisco etc.

All resources are free to access. No enrollment is required for most of them. Where a platform asks for a free account, this is noted in the Platforms section.

This document & repository is created and maintained by Muhammad Abdul Rehman — Electrical Engineer, UET Taxila engineer.marehman@gmail.com · LinkedIn · Portfolio · GitHub

⚠️Note: This repository is still a work in progress and will be updated frequently.

Contents

1. Calculus
2. Differential Equations
3. Probability & Statistics
4. Linear Algebra
5. Complex Variables & Transforms
6. Applied Thermodynamics
7. Physics
8. Circuit Analysis
9. Electro Magnetic Field Theory
10. Electronics (Analog/ Digital/ Optical/ Power)
11. Digital Logic Design
12. Microprocessors & Microcontrollers
13. Electrical Machines
14. Signals & Systems
15. Digital Communication Systems
16. Computer Communication Networks
17. Industrial Automation
18. Control Systems & Control Engineering
19. Power Systems
20. Measurements & Instrumentation
21. High Voltage Engineering
22. Computing - Programming & Algorithms
23. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Reference: Platforms · Prerequisites · Contributing · Acknowledgements · License

Calculus

Recommended Textbooks

1. Thomas Calculus by George B. Thomas
2. Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus by James Stewart
3. Calculus: Early Transcendentals by James Stewart
4. Calculus by Tom M. Apostol

Work through these in order: pre-calculus, Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Calculus 3. Prof. Leonard’s lectures are long but unusually clear. Use MIT 18.01 alongside them for formal problem sets and past exams.

Nothing else in this list needs mathematics beyond Calculus 1 to begin with. Later subjects state what they actually require in Prerequisites.

Differential Equations

Recommended Textbooks

1. Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems by William E. Boyce & Richard C. DiPrima
2. Fundamentals of Differential Equations by R. Kent Nagle, Edward B. Saff & Arthur D. Snider
3. Ordinary Differential Equations by Morris Tenenbaum & Harry Pollard
4. Differential Equations by Shepley L. Ross

Probability & Statistics

Recommended Textbooks

1. Introduction to Probability by Dimitri P. Bertsekas & John N. Tsitsiklis
2. A First Course in Probability by Sheldon M. Ross
3. Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes by Athanasios Papoulis & S. Unnikrishna Pillai
4. Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists by Ronald E. Walpole, Raymond H. Myers, Sharon L. Myers & Keying Ye

Linear Algebra

Recommended Textbooks

1. Introduction to Linear Algebra by Gilbert Strang
2. Linear Algebra and Its Applications by David C. Lay, Steven Lay & Judi McDonald
3. Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler
4. Elementary Linear Algebra by Howard Anton & Chris Rorres

Bazett’s course is stronger on geometric intuition; Strang’s is stronger on rigour and application.

Complex Variables & Transforms

Recommended Textbooks

1. Complex Variables and Applications by James Ward Brown & Ruel V. Churchill
2. Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig
3. Complex Analysis for Mathematics and Engineering by John H. Mathews & Russell W. Howell
4. Fourier Analysis and Its Applications by Gerald B. Folland

Complex numbers in polar form are enough to begin AC circuit analysis. The full theory of analytic functions and contour integration is only needed later, for communications and advanced field work.

Applied Thermodynamics

Recommended Textbooks

1. Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach by Yunus A. Cengel & Michael A. Boles
2. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics by Michael J. Moran, Howard N. Shapiro, Daisie D. Boettner & Margaret B. Bailey
3. Fundamentals of Thermodynamics by Richard E. Sonntag, Claus Borgnakke & Gordon J. Van Wylen
4. Engineering Thermodynamics by P.K. Nag

Physics

Recommended Textbooks

1. University Physics with Modern Physics by Hugh D. Young & Roger A. Freedman
2. Fundamentals of Physics by David Halliday, Robert Resnick & Jearl Walker
3. The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton & Matthew Sands
4. Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Raymond A. Serway & John W. Jewett

Shankar’s lectures build physical intuition; the MITx 8.02 series provides problem-solving practice. Vibrations and Waves is useful background for signals and communications.

Circuit Analysis

Recommended Textbooks

1. Electric Circuits by James W. Nilsson & Susan A. Riedel
2. Fundamentals of Electric Circuits by Charles K. Alexander & Matthew N. O. Sadiku
3. Engineering Circuit Analysis by William H. Hayt, Jack E. Kemmerly & Steven M. Durbin
4. Introduction to Electric Circuits by Richard C. Dorf & James A. Svoboda

Covers KCL, KVL, nodal and mesh analysis, Thevenin and Norton equivalents, first and second order circuits, AC steady state, phasors and three-phase power. Van Biezen’s channel contains several hundred short worked examples and is well suited to drilling technique.

Algebra and trigonometry are enough to start. The small amount of calculus and complex arithmetic used here is introduced within the courses themselves.

Electro Magnetic Field Theory

Recommended Textbooks

1. Introduction to Electrodynamics by David J. Griffiths
2. Elements of Electromagnetics by Matthew N. O. Sadiku
3. Engineering Electromagnetics by William H. Hayt & John A. Buck
4. Field and Wave Electromagnetics by David K. Cheng

These entries deliberately repeat the Physics section: the 8.02x sequence is the standard undergraduate treatment of field theory. Calculus 1 and 2 are sufficient. The 8.02x courses introduce divergence, gradient and curl as they are needed, so multivariable calculus is helpful but not required to begin.

Electronics (Analog/ Digital/ Optical/ Power)

Recommended Textbooks

1. Microelectronic Circuits by Adel S. Sedra & Kenneth C. Smith
2. Electronic Devices by Thomas L. Floyd
3. Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Robert L. Boylestad & Louis Nashelsky
4. Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits by Behzad Razavi
5. Power Electronics: Converters, Applications, and Design by Ned Mohan, Tore M. Undeland & William P. Robbins
6. Fundamentals of Photonics by Bahaa E. A. Saleh & Malvin Carl Teich

Digital Logic Design

Recommended Textbooks

1. Digital Design by M. Morris Mano & Michael D. Ciletti
2. Fundamentals of Digital Logic with Verilog Design by Stephen Brown & Zvonko Vranesic
3. Verilog HDL: A Guide to Digital Design and Synthesis by Samir Palnitkar
4. Digital Integrated Circuits: A Design Perspective by Jan M. Rabaey

No calculus is required for this subject. Boolean algebra is taught from first principles.

Microprocessors & Microcontrollers

Recommended Textbooks

1. The Intel Microprocessors by Barry B. Brey
2. The Definitive Guide to ARM Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 Processors by Joseph Yiu
3. Embedded Systems: Real-Time Interfacing to ARM Cortex-M Microcontrollers by Jonathan W. Valvano
4. Making Embedded Systems: Design Patterns for Great Systems by Elecia White

This subject requires hardware to be useful. An inexpensive STM32, ESP32 or Arduino board is enough to implement what the lectures describe. Programming can be learned alongside the course.

Electrical Machines

Recommended Textbooks

1. Electric Machinery by A. E. Fitzgerald, Charles Kingsley Jr. & Stephen D. Umans
2. Electric Machinery Fundamentals by Stephen J. Chapman
3. Electric Machines by D. P. Kothari & I. J. Nagrath
4. Electrical Machines, Drives, and Power Systems by Theodore Wildi

Transformers, DC machines, induction machines and synchronous machines. Requires circuit analysis, including AC and phasors.

Signals & Systems

Recommended Textbooks

1. Signals and Systems by Alan V. Oppenheim, Alan S. Willsky & S. Hamid Nawab
2. Discrete-Time Signal Processing by Alan V. Oppenheim & Ronald W. Schafer
3. Linear Systems and Signals by B. P. Lathi
4. Digital Signal Processing by John G. Proakis & Dimitris G. Manolakis

Continuous and discrete time signals, convolution, Fourier series and transforms, Laplace and z-transforms, and sampling. 6.003 is the more accessible entry point; RES.6-007 goes deeper; RES.6-008 covers DSP.

Calculus 2 and differential equations are the practical requirements. Complex variables helps but is not a barrier, since the complex exponential is introduced within the course.

Digital Communication Systems

Recommended Textbooks

1. Digital Communications by John G. Proakis & Masoud Salehi
2. Digital Communications: Fundamentals and Applications by Bernard Sklar
3. Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems by B. P. Lathi & Zhi Ding
4. Communication Systems by Simon S. Haykin

6.02 is written at second-year level and assumes little beyond basic probability. 6.450 and 6.451 are postgraduate and require signals and systems.

Computer Communication Networks

Recommended Textbooks

1. Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by James F. Kurose & Keith W. Ross
2. Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum & David J. Wetherall
3. Data Communications and Networking by Behrouz A. Forouzan
4. Computer Networks: A Systems Approach by Larry L. Peterson & Bruce S. Davie

Kurose’s lectures follow the standard textbook and cover theory. Jeremy’s IT Lab covers practical certification-level skills and includes Packet Tracer labs.

No mathematics prerequisite. This subject can be taken at any point.

Industrial Automation

Recommended Textbooks

1. Programmable Logic Controllers by Frank D. Petruzella
2. Automation, Production Systems, and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing by Mikell P. Groover
3. IEC 61131-3: Programming Industrial Automation Systems by Karl-Heinz John & Michael Tiegelkamp
4. Industrial Automation: Hands-On by Frank Lamb

PLCs, SCADA, sensors and actuators, drives, robotics and manufacturing systems. Basic circuit analysis and digital logic are useful background; control theory is not required to start.

Control Systems & Control Engineering

Recommended Textbooks

1. Modern Control Engineering by Katsuhiko Ogata
2. Control Systems Engineering by Norman S. Nise
3. Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems by Gene F. Franklin, J. David Powell & Abbas Emami-Naeini
4. Modern Control Systems by Richard C. Dorf & Robert H. Bishop

Transfer functions, block diagrams, time and frequency response, stability, root locus, Bode and Nyquist plots, PID and state-space design. Requires differential equations and the Laplace transform. Linear algebra is only needed for the state-space portion at the end.

Power Systems

Recommended Textbooks

1. Power System Analysis by John J. Grainger Jr. & William D. Stevenson Jr.
2. Modern Power System Analysis by D. P. Kothari & I. J. Nagrath
3. Power Systems Analysis by Arthur R. Bergen & Vijay Vittal
4. Electrical Power Systems by C. L. Wadhwa

Generation, transmission, distribution, load flow, fault analysis, stability and grid operation. The IIT Kharagpur course covers transmission lines, insulators, corona, sag and tension, distribution load flow, voltage stability, load frequency control and unit commitment.

Requires circuit analysis with AC and phasors. Electrical machines is useful background but can be studied at the same time.

Measurements & Instrumentation

Recommended Textbooks

1. Electronic Instrumentation and Measurement Techniques by William D. Cooper & Adolph D. Helfrick
2. A Course in Electrical and Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation by A. K. Sawhney & Puneet Sawhney
3. Principles of Measurement Systems by John P. Bentley
4. Instrumentation, Measurement and Analysis by B. C. Nakra & K. K. Chaudhry

Transducers, bridges, oscilloscopes, data acquisition, error analysis and digital instrumentation. Requires basic circuit analysis and electronics.

High Voltage Engineering

Recommended Textbooks

1. High-Voltage Engineering: Fundamentals by E. Kuffel, W. S. Zaengel & J. Kuffel
2. High Voltage Engineering by M. S. Naidu & V. Kamaraju
3. High Voltage and Electrical Insulation Engineering by Ravindra Arora & Wolfgang Mosch
4. High Voltage Engineering: Fundamentals, Technology, Applications by Andreas Kuchler

Insulation coordination, breakdown phenomena, surge protection, high voltage testing and equipment design. Requires electrostatics from the field theory material, plus circuit analysis for transient behaviour.

Computing - Programming & Algorithms

Recommended Textbooks

1. Introduction to Algorithms by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest & Clifford Stein
2. The C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan & Dennis M. Ritchie
3. MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications by Amos Gilat
4. Pro Git by Scott Chacon & Ben Straub

CS50x is the recommended starting point for anyone without a programming background. Git, Linux and algorithms together cover most of what is screened for in technical interviews.

No mathematics or engineering prerequisite. This can be started on day one, in parallel with anything else.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Recommended Textbooks

1. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach by Stuart Russell & Peter Norvig
2. Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio & Aaron Courville
3. Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning by Christopher M. Bishop
4. Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow by Aurelien Geron
5. Speech and Language Processing by Dan Jurafsky & James H. Martin

Suggested order: 6.S191 first for an overview, then CS229 for the mathematical foundations, then CS230, then CS224N. Linear algebra and Python are the real requirements; probability and calculus can be picked up alongside.

Platforms

Certificates are not necessary for learning. NPTEL and edX offer paid verified certificates if you want them for a CV, but engineering employers generally place more weight on projects.

Prerequisites

Only the minimum needed to follow the material is listed. Where a course teaches a topic itself, that topic is not listed as a prerequisite.

Contributing

Found a broken link? Open an issue to report it. You can also suggest resources through GitHub Issues and I will add it after review.

A resource should be:

1. Free to access. A paid certificate is acceptable; a paywall on the content is not.
2. From a recognized university or institute, or from an established educator.
3. Verified working, ideally checked in a private browsing window.
4. Substantive — a full course or lecture series rather than a single video.

Links are written as plain URLs so that the full address is visible. Do not shorten them or hide them behind link text.

Course names should be kept as the original provider or instructor states them. Do not rewrite or normalize them.

No pirated content, scraped paid material, or affiliate and tracking links. Strip tracking parameters such as ?spm= from URLs before adding them.

Acknowledgements

All course material linked here belongs to its original authors and institutions and is published by them for open access. This repository contains links only; it hosts no mirrored or copyrighted content.

Institutions: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT OpenCourseWare and MITx), the Indian Institutes of Technology via NPTEL/SWAYAM, Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Georgia Institute of Technology, New York University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Beijing Jiaotong University, Cisco Systems, LabEx and XuetangX etc. and many more.

Educators: Professor Leonard, Michel van Biezen, Dr. Trefor Bazett, Prof. Gilbert Strang, Prof. Ramamurti Shankar, Prof. Alan V. Oppenheim, Prof. Dennis Freeman, Prof. Anant Agarwal, Prof. Andrew Ng, Prof. David J. Malan, Prof. Jim Kurose, Mohammed Abdul Bari, Jeremy’s IT Lab and Brian McFee etc. and many more.

License

The curation, organization and original text in this repository are released under the MIT License.

Linked courses remain under the license terms set by their publishers. Much MIT OpenCourseWare material is distributed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Check the individual course page before reusing content.

This document & repository is created and maintained by Muhammad Abdul Rehman — Electrical Engineer, UET Taxila engineer.marehman@gmail.com · LinkedIn · Portfolio · GitHub