We're happy you're interested in becoming a Udemy instructor. At Udemy you can teach what you know, or teach what you love, on a platform that millions of students use to learn.
Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding the teaching experience on Udemy, and becoming a Udemy instructor.
- Can I teach a course on any topic?
- Can you tell me more about the existing demand for my course topic on Udemy?
- Do I have to pay any fees in order to become an instructor?
- What approval do I need to get started as an instructor?
- Are there any requirements that my course must meet?
- How will I get paid?
- What’s the general structure of a Udemy course? What is the primary teaching method?
- How do I create a Udemy course?
- How do I get my course materials on your site?
- Does Udemy retain exclusive rights to my course if I sell it on your platform?
- Will Udemy promote my course?
- What languages can courses be taught in?
How do I register as a Udemy instructor?
Learn how to set up your instructor account.
Can I teach a course on any topic?
You are free to choose the topic you wish to teach on Udemy and by using our Marketplace Insights tool, you can learn more about demand for that topic (see below).
Please refer to our restricted topics list, however, for details on the topics that we do not accept.
Can you tell me more about the existing demand for my course topic on Udemy?
With our Marketplace Insights tool, we offer robust reporting on student demand, search volume, and revenue for a particular topic to help you decide what course to teach. If no data exists for a topic you’re searching, it likely means that there’s an opportunity to fill this gap in the Udemy marketplace and you should get started right away.
While success as an instructor on Udemy is not guaranteed, this tool offers some powerful data to help you make your decision.
Note: currently the Marketplace Insights tool can only search for course topics that are entered in English. Please enter English words in the search box.
Do I have to pay any fees in order to become an instructor?
There is no fee to be an instructor on Udemy. Instructors are paid according to a revenue share model.
Learn more about Udemy’s instructor revenue share.
What approval do I need to get started as an instructor?
No approval is needed to get started. Before an instructor can publish a course on the Udemy marketplace, however, they need to complete the instructor identity verification process.
In order to create paid courses, instructors will need to set up a payment method for their account (see "How will I get Paid" below).
Are there any requirements that my course must meet?
Yes. Courses must have at least 30 minutes of video content and at least 5 lectures or learning modules.
In order to ensure that students have great learning experiences, we also have a Quality Review Process that every course goes through.
Learn more about our course quality checklist and our quality review process.
How will I get paid?
Instructors can use PayPal, Payoneer or direct deposit (U.S. only) to receive their payments. You are paid on a monthly basis (more details on our payment schedule for instructors can be read here).
What’s the general structure of a Udemy course? What is the primary teaching method?
A standard Udemy course is video-based. Additional teaching tools (like assignments, quizzes, and coding exercises, etc) can be added to create a rich learning experience for students.
For courses regarding certification preparation, we also offer instructors the ability to create a Practice Test course.
How do I create a Udemy course?
This section includes extensive resources on how you can create a Udemy course and get started. In addition, our free, How to Create an Online Course: The Official Udemy Course outlines best practices to plan, produce, and publish a well-designed, high quality course.
How do I get my course materials on your site?
Since we function primarily as an on-demand, video-based platform, you’ll need to upload your video files directly to Udemy. In other words, students must be able to view your course lectures on the Udemy platform.
In addition to our standard lecture uploader, we offer the ability to upload materials in bulk. Learn more about our bulk file uploader.
Does Udemy retain exclusive rights to my course if I sell it on your platform?
No. Our marketplace model means that when you publish a course on our platform, you retain all the rights to your content. You simply grant us a license to host the course and make it available to our users, and to advertise your course on our platform and on third party services.
These license terms are outlined in detail in Udemy’s instructor terms. You can also offer your course on other services, but we ask that your course is never offered for a lower price than on Udemy. Note that if your course is included in the Udemy Business content collection, per the Promotions Policy, there may be additional distribution restrictions.
Will Udemy promote my course?
As an instructor, you have the option to enroll in the Udemy Deals Program. Every year, millions of students enroll in courses that are selected for promotion and discounted through the Udemy Deals Program.
Learn more about the Udemy Deals Program.
In addition, we provide instructors with extensive articles, resources and features at Udemy to help you effectively market your course(s). Review resources on how to market your course.
What languages can courses be taught in?
Most world languages are selectable as the home language for a Udemy course you teach, and you are welcome to create a course in any available one you wish. Learn how to select a language for your course.