19 Best User Research Courses To Take In 2025
One wonderful thing about user research is that keeps you humble—the more you do it, the more you realize how much there is to learn—and regularly investing in user research courses is a great way to make good on that sentiment.
Here's a summary of each course to help you learn who it's for and why it's great.
Best User Research Courses Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best user research courses I think are helpful:
- User Research – Methods and Best Practices (The Interaction Design Foundation)
- User Research Methods (Nielsen Norman Group)
- UX Research Course (Uxcel)
- UX Research Methods: Interviewing (LinkedIn Learning)
- User Experience Research and Design Specialization (University of Michigan)
- UX Design Research Bootcamp (IQbusiness)
- Introduction to User Experience Principles and Processes (University of Michigan)
- UX Research: Journey Mapping (LinkedIn Learning)
- Practical UX Research & Strategy (Designership)
- Using AI for UX Design and Research (LinkedIn Learning)
- User Research and Design (University of Minnesota)
- Professional Certificate in User Research (UX Design Institute)
- UX Research for Agile Teams (LinkedIn Learning)
- UX Research Fundamentals: Unveiling User Insights (Udemy)
- User Experience Research (UCLA Extension)
- Agile User Experience Design and Research (LinkedIn Learning)
- User Research For Design (Udemy)
- Remote User Research (Nielsen Norman Group)
- UX Foundations: Research (LinkedIn Learning)
Find more details about each course below.
Overview Of The Best User Research Courses
1. User Research – Methods and Best Practices (The Interaction Design Foundation)
This online course provides in-depth training on user research methods, focusing on practical applications for product and UX design. The course material includes real-world case studies and qualitative research approaches to enhance the UX design process.
- Who It’s For: Product designers, project managers, and those interested in UX careers
- Topics Covered:
- Ethnographic research
- Usability testing
- Survey design
- Persona development
- Diary studies
- Basics of qualitative research
- Semi-structured interviews
- Apply qualitative analysis to the research
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 9 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 32 hours and 16 minutes (self-paced)
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price:
- Members: Free
- Professional: $22 per month (billed annually)
- Design League: $240 per month (billed annually)
- Take The Course: The Interaction Design Foundation
2. User Research Methods (Nielsen Norman Group)
This course explores advanced user research techniques beyond usability testing, providing a structured approach to selecting and applying methods throughout the UX design process. Participants engage in interactive sessions covering specialized techniques such as card sorting and usability benchmarking.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals who want to expand their research skillset
- Topics Covered:
- Ethnographic field studies
- Usability benchmarking
- Focus groups
- Card sorting
- Online surveys
- Participatory design
- Analytics and A/B testing
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 6 hours per day
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Request information for current pricing
- Take The Course: Nielsen Norman Group
3. UX Research Course (Uxcel)
This course teaches learners to develop research skills for making data-informed design decisions. It uses interactive assessments and practical applications to explore the UX research process.
- Who It’s For: UX designers, product managers, and other design professionals
- Topics Covered:
- Research skills and methodology
- Design decisions based on research findings
- UX research deliverables
- Applying research insights to projects
- User journeys creation
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 6 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price:
- Starter: Free
- Pro: $8 per month (billed annually)
- Teams: $25 per month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Pricing upon request
- Take The Course: Uxcel
4. UX Research Methods: Interviewing (LinkedIn Learning)
This course provides step-by-step guidance on conducting effective UX interviews, from preparation to analysis. Taught by an industry expert, it focuses on practical techniques to gather valuable insights from users.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals and anyone involved in user research
- Topics Covered:
- Preparing for interviews
- Conducting user interviews
- Question design
- Analyzing interview data
- UX interviewing overview
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 35 minutes and 21 seconds
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 35 minutes and 21 seconds
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
5. User Experience Research and Design Specialization (University of Michigan)
This course provides a comprehensive specialization in UX research and design, integrating user research with prototyping and evaluation techniques. It concludes with a capstone project where participants create an interactive product from concept to prototype.
- Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals interested in UX research and design
- Topics Covered:
- Empathy mapping
- Prototype development
- Usability testing
- Interaction design
- User-centered design principles
- User experience principles and processes
- Evaluating designs with users
- Ux research at scale
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 10 hours per week (self-paced)
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Enroll for free
- Take The Course: Coursera
6. UX Design Research Bootcamp (IQbusiness)
This course provides a practical and theoretical foundation for UX design research, emphasizing hands-on application in product development. It focuses on combining research principles with real-world methods to create user-centered solutions.
- Who It’s For: Professionals in UX design or those seeking to integrate UX research into their workflows
- Topics Covered:
- Generative and evaluative research
- Research synthesis
- Addressing research biases
- Qualitative and quantitative methods
- Online, In-Person, or Both? In-Person
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 8 hours per day
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: IQbusiness
7. Introduction to User Experience Principles and Processes (University of Michigan)
This course introduces the foundational principles and processes of user experience, combining research methods with design practices. It emphasizes creating user-centered designs through iterative testing and prototyping.
- Who It’s For: Beginners interested in UX research and design
- Topics Covered:
- UX research methods
- Design heuristics
- Human computer interaction (HCI) fundamentals
- Sketching and prototyping techniques
- Micro-usability testing
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 11 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free (with optional paid certificate)
- Take The Course: Coursera
8. UX Research: Journey Mapping (LinkedIn Learning)
This course focuses on creating UX journey maps to document and analyze the customer experience from start to finish. It provides practical methods for gathering data, identifying pain points, and aligning business goals with customer needs.
- Who It’s For: UX researchers and professionals working on customer experience
- Topics Covered:
- Elements of a journey map
- Conducting customer research
- Synthesizing research results
- Identifying opportunities for improvement
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 30 minutes and 39 seconds
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 30 minutes and 39 seconds
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
9. Practical UX Research & Strategy (Designership)
This course focuses on practical UX research and strategy, emphasizing data-driven design solutions and effective stakeholder communication. It combines industry expert-led lessons with real-world case studies to develop both research and UI design skills.
- Who It’s For: UX designers, product managers, and freelance professionals
- Topics Covered:
- Research synthesis and affinity mapping
- Customer journey mapping
- Competitor and data analysis
- User interview execution
- Business acumen and strategy
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 8+ hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Computer with internet
- Basic UX knowledge (optional)
- Figma and FigJam skills
- Interest in research and data analysis
- Willingness to improve communication
- Price: $300
- Take The Course: Designership
10. Using AI for UX Design and Research (LinkedIn Learning)
This course explores how to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into UX design and research workflows. It covers practical tools, ethical considerations, and strategies to create inclusive and effective AI-driven designs.
- Who It’s For: UX designers and researchers interested in AI applications
- Topics Covered:
- AI tools for UX research and design
- Prompting basics for AI workflows
- Ethical risks and inclusive practices
- Developing a UX-specific AI code of conduct
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour and 36 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour and 36 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
11. User Research and Design (University of Minnesota)
This course teaches user research techniques and the fundamentals of early UI design exploration. It emphasizes translating research into actionable design elements like personas, scenarios, and tasks.
- Who It’s For: Designers and researchers interested in enhancing user-centered design practices
- Topics Covered:
- Data-driven design decisions
- Prototype development
- Usability testing
- User research methods
- Analyzing and delivering user research
- Ideation and idea selection
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 7 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 2 hours per week (self-paced)
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free (with optional paid certificate)
- Take The Course: Coursera
12. Professional Certificate in User Research (UX Design Institute)
This certificate program provides an in-depth curriculum on user research, guiding participants through planning, executing, and analyzing research projects. With the support of mentors, it focuses on building a research plan, mastering methods, and presenting insights effectively.
- Who It’s For: UX designers, researchers, and professionals seeking formal user research training
- Topics Covered:
- Building a research plan
- Fundamental and advanced research methods
- Quantitative research techniques
- Data analysis and reporting
- Creating a professional research portfolio
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 16 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 hours per week (self-paced)
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price:
- Pay upfront: $2,100
- Pay monthly: $350 x 6 payments (0% interest)
- Take The Course: UX Design Institute
13. UX Research for Agile Teams (LinkedIn Learning)
This course focuses on lean UX research techniques tailored for agile environments, integrating iterative research processes into fast-paced development cycles. It provides actionable strategies for recruiting participants, synthesizing insights, and collaborating within agile teams.
- Who It’s For: UX researchers and agile project management teams
- Topics Covered:
- Agile and Scrum principles for UX
- Recruiting participants quickly
- Lean research techniques
- Synthesizing and sharing insights
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 41 minutes and 52 seconds
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 41 minutes and 52 seconds
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
14. UX Research Fundamentals: Unveiling User Insights (Udemy)
This course provides a practical introduction to uncovering user insights through UX research, focusing on gathering and analyzing data to inform design decisions. It emphasizes building foundational skills in research techniques and creating actionable reports for stakeholders.
- Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals transitioning to UX research and design
- Topics Covered:
- Fundamentals of UX design
- Generative and evaluative research methods
- Conducting UX interviews
- Data synthesis and empathy mapping
- Creating personas and research reports
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Basic computer skills required
- Computer with internet access
- Price: $19.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
15. User Experience Research (UCLA Extension)
This course focuses on UX evaluation methods, teaching students how to design, conduct, and analyze user research. It emphasizes practical techniques to inform design decisions and improve user experiences.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals looking to deepen their research skills
- Topics Covered:
- Contextual observation and heuristic analysis
- Surveys and interviews
- Persona development and usability testing
- Focus groups and design iteration evaluation
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Completed “X 481.99AF User Experience I” course
- Price: Not Specified
- Take The Course: UCLA Extension
16. Agile User Experience Design and Research (LinkedIn Learning)
This course explores how UX design and research integrate into agile workflows, focusing on strategies for seamless collaboration within iterative frameworks. It highlights practical approaches to align UX processes with agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals and designers working in agile environments
- Topics Covered:
- Agile principles and benefits
- UX design and research in agile frameworks
- Using Scrum and Kanban for UX
- Strategies for iterative collaboration
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 59 minutes and 8 seconds
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
17. User Research For Design (Udemy)
This course provides practical techniques for conducting user research to create audience-focused product designs. It covers methods like card sorts, journey mapping, and task analysis to uncover user needs and behaviors.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals, product managers, and web designers
- Topics Covered:
- Creating personas and scenarios
- Conducting field studies and interviews
- Card sorts and tree testing
- Task and journey mapping
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours and 9 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Experience in designing websites, software, or apps
- Price: $84.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
18. Remote User Research (Nielsen Norman Group)
This course teaches how to plan, execute, and analyze remote user research using synchronous and asynchronous methods. It focuses on selecting the right tools, recruiting participants, and avoiding common pitfalls in remote studies.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals refining remote research skills
- Topics Covered:
- Synchronous vs. asynchronous research methods
- Planning and facilitating remote studies
- Recruiting participants and avoiding common pitfalls
- Privacy and security in remote research
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Background in research methods recommended
- Familiarity with usability testing and interviews preferred
- Price: Request information for current pricing
- Take The Course: Nielsen Norman Group
19. UX Foundations: Research (LinkedIn Learning)
This course provides practical techniques for conducting UX research to inform design decisions and improve customer experiences. It covers research methodologies, usability testing, and approaches to analyze and present findings effectively.
- Who It’s For: UX professionals and designers at beginner to intermediate levels
- Topics Covered:
- Research methodologies and usability testing
- Conducting interviews and diary studies
- Personas, card sorts, and eye tracking
- Planning and executing research projects
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour and 37 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour and 37 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
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