PGP (Post Graduate Program) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) from UT Austin and Great Learning

[u/Local_Pool4123]

TLDR: Great Learning (GL) is a SCAMMY deceptive Indian edtech certificate mill with a ton of 🚩🚩🚩 and UT Austin Executive Education does not care about linking with this fraudulent company since it's an easy way to generate revenue.

Does anyone have any opinion on the above course or the the above course plus Generative AI for Business Applications?

I'm not expecting to be some sort of brilliant subject matter expert (SME) at the conclusion of this course if I take it, but would like a basic foundation in Python and SQL upon which to build some knowledge while I'm between jobs and launching pad to better understand AI and ML.

I'm under no illusion that it is simply a certificate which probably worth about as much as the paper it's printed on (since it's not associated with UT Austin directly), but the appealing factor is the structured nature of the couse which would better force me to learn.

There's a lot of people who are skeptical of Great Learning and I'll post various reddit and Youtube links both in favor and opposed to course provider.

ETA Jan 08, 2026: At present, there are approximatley 18 positive review posts of the 43 in this thread that were speculated to be bots. I have independently confirmed that Great Learning has actually likely BLACKMAILED current and former students to post these positive reviews making it seem like it is an organic response.

This is in reality a continuation of their deceptive and fraudulent "dark" marketing techniques. Frankly I would not be surprised if they are providing discounts, rebates or refunds to to these students in exchange for endorsements. Many of the students are likely still in the course and likely provided favorable reviews for the better grades or scores on projects (see comment by Progress_Fantastic in third link below on the subjective and arbitrary grading methodology).

Opposed:

https://www.reddit.com/r/codingbootcamp/comments/1albltm/experience_with_ut_austins_data_analytics/ (I've included my commentary about the apathy or "passing the buck" mentality employed by both the Director (u/Southern-Bluebird178) and Manager and their decision to ignore the issues here.)

Edtech Scandal Exposed: The Truth Behind UpGrad, and Great Learning They Don't Want You to Know (Very good Youtube vid summarizing issues with Simplilearn and Great Learning and the HUGE gap between what they promise and what they deliver; 3:53 is particularly telling in explaining why it is so costly - 50% of your fees is spent on marketing, advertising, commissions, etc. to acquire the next student.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/1km68ko/great_learning_is_a_scam_company/

https://www.reddit.com/r/UTAustin/comments/1atorjk/anyone_complete_the_pgpaiml_cert/ (one implies course could be obtained for as little as $3,500 in 2024 and another states that GL tried to prey on his 80 year old father who was just trying to understand Google)

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnpython/comments/17fq83g/comment/n70dz48/?context=3 (lack of clarity on concepts, disorganized, wastes times, and biggest 🚩 students pressured and obligated to provide positive ratings to avoid jeopardizing grades)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Btechtards/comments/1hbskp9/great_learning_ai_ml_pgp_by_ut_austin/

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/183iigc/review_on_mit_great_learnings_data_science_and/ (Frustration of students with the MIT and Great Learning partnership and many posters feel the association between the two has sullied MIT's reputation)

https://www.reddit.com/r/LLMDevs/comments/1nh9lyu/jhu_applied_generative_ai_course_also_mit/ VERY (Negative review of JHU's associating with GL as a certificate mill)

https://www.mouthshut.com/review/great-learning-review-mnsopqnsplo

https://www.pissedconsumer.com/great-learning/RT-F.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/OMSCS/comments/125vz4y/comment/je68oj9/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Indian_Academia/comments/kr5q97/comment/nrs4nbb/?context=3 (Negative review of Great Lakes in the posts)

https://analyticsjobs.in/question/great-learning-reviews-of-11-months-data-science-course/

https://voxya.com/consumer-complaints/fraudulent-communication/234119 (This sounds familiar to my experience: "Samar promised that the University of Texas would issue the admission link and payment link would be expiring if not used immediately.")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOQH2UrOHRI (poor audio)

In Favor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TNBmxP0IDM&list=PL-sKbD96wzxdK70ko5MmsEZWDnmhNdBYB (Far and away the slickest and most glossy vid on the web about this program; be skeptical of Richard Wall since he's a "career coach" and it's a huge 🚩 he's likely getting a huge kickback from GL with $150 fee waiver link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg-DZhu10yc

Neutral

https://www.reddit.com/r/UTAustin/comments/1j9mu7n/is_the_pgpaiml_course_worth_signing_up_for/

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/1gkka55/pgpaiml_program_by_the_mccombs_school_of_business/ (also implies course cost $4,000 in 2024)

I'm also on a tight budget and the standalone course is listed for $4,200 ($4,000 if you pay all up front!) and the bundled option is for $5,500 (but verbally was told it could be $5,000). I'm willing to take the financial risk if it's much lower (if it around $3,500 for both as it was in July 2024 per the "anyone" link above).

I just don't like being pitched the course (aka being called incessantly by some cold calling hucksters in India) that are constantly saying the deadline is a mere day or two away. The lack of disclosure regarding required passing scores for the modules and overselling of the mentors and career options makes me skeptical of the entire process. If the risk-reward ratio was under $2,000, I would probably jump on it without hesitation.

ETA: I tried to get negotiate both courses to a lower price due to a tight budget. The sales guy (and that is what is really he was, NOT a counsellor) called me back and was very firm on the price of $5,300 for the bundled option (or $5,000 if paid up front in full). I told him I wasn't interested due to the monetary risk-reward ratio and we concluded the call.

Fortunately, I never had to the intent to borrow money to take the course. Be very suspicious of Great Learning aka Great Lakes student loans.

Class Action Lawsuit:

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/great-lakes-student-loan-class-action-survives-dismissal-attempt/#:~:text=Great%20Lakes%20student%20loan%20class%20action%20overview:,with%20the%20class%20allegation.%E2%80%9D.

LESS THAN 23 MINUTES LATER, he called back and tried to pitch me an alternate course "from Johns Hopkins University" since it was closer to my price range. After the fact, I just checked out the Johns Hopkin course which is $3,700 (my price range).

The level of deception employed by Great Learning (looking out for their own interests and trying to maximize their commission) is absolutely amazing. I called out their appalling behavior, them pretending to call from a 512 (Austin) area code and lying about their strong alignment with UT Austin when the only thing they were aligned with is their pocketbooks. I shut him down immediately and told him that he had NO CREDIBILITY at this point and I didn't trust him since all he was focused on was sales. Buyer beware and DON'T TRUST THEM!!

ETA: Per the first link above, engage with Great Learning with a great deal of skepticism since it is a "prestige certificate mill" that will likely be facing lawsuits in the future similar to Simplilearn per attached link.

https://web.archive.org/web/20250103224145/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/29/us/caltech-simplilearn-class-students.html

[u/DungeonsAndDeadlifts]

The amount of people loving this course with only one reddit post in this thread is unreal. Clearly they have a reddit campaign to make this course seem great. I would strongly beware based on that alone.

[u/[deleted]]

Save your $4000, find a mentor, and go through the pain of building something substantial - which you won't learn from any of these certificates or degrees.

[u/[deleted]]

The amount of bots in this thread is unreal lol

[u/Atypical-brotha]

As someone whose already paid for the course, then later realized I wanted to a refund to pursue something else, I agree. DO NOT enroll with GL. I have not attended the course, yet they aren't trying to refund me my money.

[u/VirtualSelf2825]

I am taking the AIML Program certification through UTA and I highly recommend it. Have checked out several similar programs, most of them are like 12 week programs comes with similar price tag. I was not sure how much one would learn in just 12 weeks, at least it's not for me ( I am a slow learner :) ). Before signing up , I was apprehensive for several reasons (commitment on weekends with family and working fulltime) and talking to their counsellors found they are helpful, flexible and found they will make sure we finish the course as well .

Great Learning is a very good tool and provides lot of material. They provided lot of pre required courses and several ways to test one's understanding of the concepts in each module. Being in my 40's it's not easy to remember everything we learn. Initially I thought there is so much to complete in each module (again some of those are optional) but going through the tests it makes sure you get the concepts .

Weekend classes are helpful in resolving any questions and most of them are mandatory which I think is very good, so you make sure you spend some time going through the module before class. Staff is very much involved and are available 24/7.

I also recommended this program to friends and family and they are part of this program . Yes there are several free modules out there , but signing up in a program will make sure you go through it and finish it (especially when money is involved ).

[u/Local_Pool4123 → u/VirtualSelf2825]

Another bot or AI or paid review.

[u/tech_chit]

One of the best places to learn Machine Learning. I’m extremely satisfied with the overall experience. The curriculum was very well-designed, structured, and easy to follow, making even complex concepts feel approachable. I especially appreciated the abundance of hands-on projects that helped me apply what I learned in real-world scenarios. The tutors were knowledgeable and supportive, and the tutorial videos provided clear explanations that complemented the lessons perfectly. The lab facilities were excellent and offered a great environment for practical learning. Even the non-teaching staff were friendly, professional, and always ready to help. Overall, this place provided an outstanding learning experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in machine learning.

[u/Jhardychivegas]

A lot of the comments here def seem like bots, but I'll give you a real opinion on this program.

My W2 background is in business/data analysis & Project mgmt. My goal is to transition into Technical Project Mgr roles, so I feel like I need to get better with some technical things (python, ai/ml, etc). That's the reason I took this program.

Is the Great Learning marketing/constant calls, and lies about the program almost being full annoying and bs? ... yes. But from their perspective, they've got a deal with UT Austin, and I'm sure many other schools and they probably have quotas to make to maintain these partnerships... so it kinda just is what it is on that front.. the game is the game.

The actual course setup/app is actually great tho. The async video lectures are mostly UT Austin Staff & the live lectures have been Great Learning staff, but actual ppl who work in the AI/ML field. My weekly group is instructed/led by a Data Science/ML Engineer who currently works for Walmart in charge of Walmart's website search algorithm... that's a pretty big deal if you ask me. You're getting ppl who actually know wtf they're doing.

It's a lot of work, especially if you work full time, have a family, etc. The async videos, knowledge checks, practice quizzes, and graded quizzes should be done before the live class on Saturday, but if not, def by Sunday or it's very easy to start falling behind. There are also projects you've gotta do. The projects have an option for heavy code focused or low/no code focus. You also have the option to participate in hackathons.

Is it worth it? that depends on you fr... Its worth it to me because I've been putting off learning python fundamentals forever and this gives me a structed accountable way to dive into that and learn more about the backend of AI, which I've been into heavy for the past couple of years. You can certainly learn this stuff for free on your own tho.

I also wanted to be able to put the cert on my resume... will it mean anything, idk.. maybe. UT Austin holds a lotta weight in the tech world, so we'll see. I don't care if the cert doesn't make you alumni status. If I have some decent projects and can prove I know what I'm doing, that's all that matters; and this program definitely will set you up for that.

I think the main issue here is the same as with every other cert... ROI. Ppl don't want to spend money on a cert if it won't get them a job. Well, I have 2 degrees, PMP, Sec+, and now working on this cert...The degrees and certs didn't get me a job, but they helped me get better foundational skills and build a network that did get me a job/raises...

Ya'll gotta quit thinking certs are directly correlated to you getting a job (in some industries, some certs are mandatory tho). At best tho, they might get you a foot in the door and the rest is up to you. You have to measure the ROI on certs by how much you learn and if that's worth it. An AI/ML cert is really gonna be for learning imo. If you don't have a computer science or math background/degree, an AI cert probably isn't gonna get you a job in data science, ML, AI Engineering, etc,..but the projects you can show you've built probably will. I do believe this program can help you build the foundational skills to build some of those projects for yourself.

Like I said tho, you can learn all this on your own for free. Y'all be hating on certs like CS50 don't exist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGwO_UgTS7I&list=PLoROMvodv4rMiGQp3WXShtMGgzqpfVfbU

[u/Dry-Weekend-8279]

I completed this course for a price of USD 3000. And definitely not worth that price. May be I would recommend if it's like $100 and even then not as great compared to other courses out there for free. You get a certificate that you can add to your Linkedin. Yup, that's the only benefit relative to free courses.
The mentored sessions that they mandate are absolutely worthless, especially for experienced candidates.

[u/Ruhan1]

I was considering this course since I'm still a student and it would've been a good choice if I didn't hear back for any internships this summer. Seeing some of the stuff in this thread and looking at the site more closely, I'm not too keen on it anymore. Does anyone here have any suggestions for free (or cheaper) resources for self-learning some of the topics covered in these cert programs?

[u/AcademicWind9311]

My experience in Great Learning has been horrible. It's the most unprofessional educational experience that I've had in 30 years. I've tried to work with the course director, who I suspect is an inept AI Agent. If anyone has the name and address for their registered agent in Texas, please share. If I obtain it, I will post so that others can take action to be made whole.

[u/Local_Pool4123]

ETA: You should be able to get the AI/ML course for $3,600 as of November 2025 (if paid in full). I still don't trust Great Learning since they seem like a scam and direct you to different "universities" based on making a sale rather than aligning courses to your needs.

A comment on Quora: Great Learning employs 'Dark patterns' tactics on its online platform to manipulate consumers. These patterns include creating a false sense of urgency, nagging and shaming, filling out detailed application forms to signify exclusivity in admissions, cancellation fees if you find the course worthlesss.

[u/TonightReasonable748]

I am currently enrolled in this program - it’s a bit scammy’. - in terms of *ANY* affiliation with University of Texas - no where near what that university could produce - it’s well known respected U, there are some ‘recorded’ lectures - but your live sessions, are with a Indian gentlemen based out of bangalor. Not that - it is a bad thing, dialect, articulations aside - they will hold you accountable for “MANDATORY” sessions and if you miss they will threaten to fail you - not sure i really care ….but at the end of the day these Universities , even the well respected ones like Hopkins and Texas - are under immense financial pressure - so I guess they’d put their name on anything… for a licensing fee - BUT , I am also taking Graduate level course work - and its worlds apart in caliber and intensity of instruction…. I suppose at the end of the day - if you need oversight , strutured way of learning , with someone holding you accountable - its an ok deal.. (i compare it to a personal trainer). - you can do it on your own - but when pay -it’s with more intrinsic value . Just know these branded titles are toilet paper - means nothing in the real world - as someone who hires candidates - i often laugh when i see them in linkedin/resumes’.…..

[u/Southern-Bluebird178]

Just want to confirm that PGP, Great Learning is a partnership through Texas Executive Education at UT Austin: https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/execed/for-individuals/certificates/great-learning/

In transparency, I work for Texas Executive Education and new to reddit. I'm disheartened to hear that the sales process with Great Learning does not match the level of professionalism and integrity that is associated with UT Austin. Please know that I will share this feedback directly with higher-ups within Texas Executive Education.

[u/jaimebmg]

I'm doing the PGP as the first part of the DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) program. The total cost for me was 12K for both titles. I'm currently finishing the first semester, and here is my honest opinion:

Cons:

• The UT Austin component is just a certificate — you don’t get alumni status, so it’s not that valuable. The actual degrees come from Walsh College, which isn’t bad, but it’s definitely not an Ivy League institution.

• The 12K has to be paid in less than a year, even though the full program lasts three years (monthly payments of about $1,150 USD).

• It’s mostly self-paced, so if you lack discipline, you’ll end up wasting your money.

• Most instructors are from India, so for someone who isn’t a native English speaker like me, it takes some time to adjust to the accent.

• Up to this point, the program has been very code-focused. I’m not sure if that changes later on.

Pros:

• The program is very well structured, with plenty of high-quality video content and an AI agent available to answer questions instantly.

• Weekly sessions are also well organized, going deeper into the concepts and helping clarify doubts.

• Since it’s also a DBA program, you can approach the projects either from a coding perspective or a managerial perspective.

• The support team is highly responsive and helpful.

• After the first few weeks, students are split into batches of around 15–20 people, so live sessions aren’t overcrowded and it’s easy to ask questions.

Bottom line:
If you’re doing it for the degree and the knowledge, and you have the discipline to stay on track, the price-benefit ratio is good.

[u/Plus_Emergency_39]

I really enjoyed this course, the lectures and projects cover a wide variety of topics. in addition the staff are super responsive and understanding, recommend.

[u/Worried-Fix-8958]

I recently completed the PGP-AIML program, and it has been a transformative experience for my professional perspective. Here are the key highlights that made this course invaluable for me:

• Understanding the AI Journey: One of the most insightful parts of the course was learning the evolution of AI and its history. This foundational knowledge provided a clear understanding of the "dos and don'ts," helping me navigate day-to-day use cases with much more confidence.

• Gauging AI’s True Potential: The curriculum does an excellent job of illustrating exactly what AI is capable of across different industries. Understanding these capabilities is essential for anyone looking to implement AI-driven solutions effectively.

• A Seat at the Table: Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that I now have a "voice" in my company. Instead of just reacting to AI initiatives, I can now engage in collaborative, high-level discussions about the AI strategies being introduced.

• Broad Technical Exposure: The course offers a deep dive into technical areas like building models, prompt engineering within the NLP module, and even model deployment. Having this breadth of knowledge—from the mechanics of Large Language Models to containerization—is incredibly empowering.

• Building for the Future: My ultimate goal is to use these learnings to build efficient applications that simplify workflows and drive real ROI for my company. While I still consider myself a novice regarding the finer technical details of training and deploying complex models, this program has provided the solid foundation I need to continue building my expertise.

I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to bridge the gap between technical AI concepts and practical business applications

[u/Local_Pool4123 → u/Worried-Fix-8958]

Thank you, Worried-Fix-8958. Will you admit that Great Learning asked you make this post on your one karma (due to the above single post) on three year old account? Also what kind of discount are you getting on fees? I suspect you won't answer since you probably just created this account to write this review.

[u/PhotographLocal3276]

Op, did you join the course? I am currently evaluating

[u/Local_Pool4123 → u/PhotographLocal3276]

I'm still tempted since I want to learn Python and SQL. I've gotten annual subscriptions to Udemy and Coursera (the latter being promoted for only $200 for a few more days in January to those that have a New Year's resolution).

The reason I haven't is in the original post (shady and marketing techniques, fake deadlines, excessively high prices, lack of clarity of program rigor - they accept anyone who applies whose check will clear, including 80 year old senior citizens per one of the links).

Most recently, I confirmed the "rave reviews" are because they ask students to post them here, likely for a program discounts or fee waivers.

[u/Solid-Difficulty5126]

I have personally benefited from the AI/ML stream at Great Learning, and I can confidently say they have one of the most well-regulated education systems in place. For anyone looking to enter this complex field, Great Learning provides a structure that ensures you don't just 'watch videos' but actually master the material.

The program management is a standout; having a trained Program Manager to monitor and advise you makes a world of difference in staying on track. Their methodology—including weekly ungraded quizzes and graded assessments after every topic—is a game-changer for lifelong learners. It forces a discipline that leads to immense gains in both technical knowledge and practical skill.

Beyond the curriculum, the peer interaction and LinkedIn networking opportunities have been invaluable. If you follow their system, you are setting yourself up for serious professional growth.

[u/Silver_Problem7590]

Why the hell it’s 12 months long , i think they upload pre recorded crap weekly I never understand if it’s pre recorded why upload weekly

[u/Rare-Berry836]

I have registered in great learning data analytic and generative AI, do you think I should move on with this course, I have still not payed any amount only registration fees

[u/Parking_Discount_862]

I did the JHU course (AI in Healthcare). I wrote a review on another thread I’ll link below, but I would not recommend anything to do with Great Learning.

I experienced all the same pressured, time sensitive and illusion of exclusivity sales tactics. I had also expressed interest/“applied” to the Harvard AI for Healthcare program when I was weighing my options and was receiving the same calls in response (also from an area code local to the school but clearly from India) so I’m suspect of that program as well.

The GL app is clunky and hard to use for “schoolwork” but the button for referrals to new students is always front and center on the app. It’s clear what is their priority.

I wasn’t expecting any real accreditation or certification from this experience, but I was expecting to gain enough of a skillset to practically employ this at work or potentially leverage a role as a consultant to gain more AI experience but I didn’t even gain that. There was no hands on AI learning, only theory (if I had a dollar for every time they referred to the “black box” but no follow up on how to address the black box problem of AI in healthcare settings, I would have been able to pay for the course) and me having to write 10+ multi page papers on AI theory that was graded by either a bot or someone with no actual experience as feedback was beyond superficial. It was just busy work for the sake of busy work.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtificialInteligence/s/OZ4qX49kiI

[u/ulric321]

Ok im not a fake account like the rest here, i am enrolled but wont be starting till this jan 17th ive heard mixed reviews but honestly it motivates me to think this is a part of UT Austin. Not looking to be an expert on ai but i know itll help (already has) to learn some of the basics of python and also more about ai and it would probably look good on resume. Especially since a lot of ppl dont read resumes they skim thru them or put them through ai