Damien Wilde / Android Authority
In brief
- YouTube has introduced a new “Courses” feature that allows creators to organize and monetize educational content as structured programs.
- Developers can offer these courses for free or for a one-time fee, increasing their revenue opportunities.
- The rollout will be gradual and creators can verify their eligibility through YouTube Studio on desktop.
YouTube is introducing a new feature called Courses that will allow creators to share structured educational content directly through their channels. Originally announced in 2022 and tested with a select group of creators, this feature is now rolling out more broadly, giving creators a new way to engage their audience and generate revenue.
Courses are available through YouTube Studio on desktop and allow creators to put together multi-lesson courses, complete with quizzes and dedicated discussion sections. These courses can be offered for free or for a one-time fee, providing creators with an additional way to monetize their content and expertise.
YouTube is keen to promote these courses and promises prominent placement. Courses are marked with a special badge across the platform, including in search results, on channel pages, and in “Watch Next” recommendations. They also appear in a dedicated tab on channel pages and may even be featured on a central course page on YouTube.
YouTube has also introduced a system for tracking viewer progress. An information box on the course playlist page provides details about the course length and tracks viewers’ progress, giving you a clear overview of how much of the course they’ve already completed. When viewers complete all of the videos in a course, they receive a badge that appears on their You tab.
The process for creating a course is simple: Creators can access YouTube Studio on desktop, click “Create,” then “New Course,” and fill in the course details, similar to how you would for a new YouTube video. While course creation is currently limited to desktop, creators have the flexibility to upload individual videos via mobile and add them to courses later on desktop.
YouTube is rolling this out gradually, so don’t panic if you don’t see it right away. If you can’t wait, check YouTube Studio on desktop to see if the New Course option is available in the Create menu.
