Python Data Structures
Offered by University of Michigan. This course will introduce the core data structures of the Python programming language.
Python Data Structures is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Python. It is structured in 7 modules with 4 stated learning outcomes, over 19h 50m. Learners rate it 4.9/5 from 97.4K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Python courses collection, where we compare it against 60 other courses. See all Python courses on Coursera.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 19h 50m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.9★ (97.4K reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
Python Data Structures is a beginner-level course offered by the University of Michigan on Coursera. The course runs for 19 hours and 50 minutes and is taught in English. It introduces the core data structures of the Python programming language, moving past basic syntax to focus on practical data handling.
In this course you will learn to explain the principles of data structures and how they are used. You will create programs that can read and write data from files. You will store data as key-value pairs using Python dictionaries. You will also accomplish multi-step tasks like sorting or looping using tuples.
The syllabus covers Chapter Six: Strings, Installing and Using Python, Chapter Seven: Files, Chapter Eight: Lists, Chapter Nine: Dictionaries, and Chapter Ten: Tuples. By the end of the course you will be able to manage file input and output, organise data using lists and dictionaries, and perform basic data processing tasks such as sorting and looping.
The course is self-paced and includes a certificate upon completion. It is designed for beginners and assumes no prior experience with Python or data structures. The official course page is on Coursera, where you can enrol for free.
Free options include the Introduction To Python Programming course on Udemy and Python with AI on Udemy, both of which are free to audit and offer a certificate. If you are looking for a more comprehensive programme, the Python for Everybody Specialization on Coursera runs for two months and has 200K+ ratings.
What you’ll learn
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
7 modulesThe 7-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 19h 50m.
Module 1 · Chapter Six: Strings
Module 2 · Installing and Using Python
Module 3 · Chapter Seven: Files
Module 4 · Chapter Eight: Lists
Module 5 · Chapter Nine: Dictionaries
Module 6 · Chapter Ten: Tuples
Module 7 · Graduation
What learners rate it
Rated 4.9/5 by 97.4K learners on Coursera (checked 8 Nov 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 8 November 2026.
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Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python Data Structures This |
 Coursera
|
4.9★ | Check price | 19h 50m | Highest rated (4.9★ from 97.4K reviews) | |
| Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in Python |
 Udemy
|
4.9★ | ₹469 | 13 hours | Cheapest paid option (₹469) | View ↗ |
| Python for Everybody Specialization |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 2 months | Most popular — 2M learners | View ↗ |
| AI Python for Beginners |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 17h 30m | Beginner-friendly · 17h 30m | View ↗ |
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Browse every course we track for one of these — courses for data scientists.
Common questions
How much does Python Data Structures cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does Python Data Structures come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Python Data Structures take?
Coursera lists it at 19h 50m. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Python Data Structures suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Python Data Structures cover?
It is organised into 7 modules, starting with Chapter Six: Strings and going on to Installing and Using Python, Chapter Seven: Files, Chapter Eight: Lists, Chapter Nine: Dictionaries, among others. The full outline is on this page.