Introduction
Millions enroll on Udemy, yet few ever finish. Why? The courses may be flexible, but learners often face the journey alone. Without real-time connection, motivation fades quickly.
Let me ask you this:
How many times have you enrolled in and paid for a course, and never completed it?
Problem
Navigating the Journey of Learning Alone
Learners need help and encouragement along the way. But on Udemy, when students hit roadblocks, they often face delays and silence—less than 10% even ask questions, and many drop out early due to lack of support.
The strategy
A structured journey designed to bring human connection back to online learning.
Reimagining Udemy courses around community and real-time engagement unlocks higher motivation and deeper learning. What if students never had to navigate their courses alone again?
Introducing
Udemy Cohort
A cohort-based learning experience that brings structure, community, and live check-ins to Udemy courses.
Designed to help students stay on track, connect with peers, and complete what they start.
Research
Investing the E-learning Dropout Problem
Desk research
Why do learners drop off in self-paced courses?
White paper research
How can cohort-based learning improve completion and engagement?
Survey
Are instructors open to the extra work cohort models require?
Most Learners Drop Out Before They Even Begin
Roughly 70% of Udemy students never start the courses they enroll in. Despite enrollment numbers, internal data reveals that most students don’t even make it past the first few lessons. In fact, the average learner only consumes about 30% of a course, and only ~10% finish it end-to-end.
“Online classes without accountability suffer about a 97% drop-off rate.”
Main Reasons Why Learners Quit
“200 students with 0% completion rates. They just signed up using a free link and never showed up.”
A instructor on Reddit
Cohort-Based Learning Is a Game-Changer
Cohort-based courses dramatically boost completion rates, achieving 5–10x higher compared to self-paced formats. For instance, programs like Harvard Business School Online see over 85% completion, with some reaching 98–100%. The secret? Group momentum! Cohort learners feel more connected and motivated, with 90% reporting engagement versus 60% in self-paced courses. Plus, motivation spikes from 70% to 85%. Joining a cohort truly makes a difference!
“Cohorts don’t just boost engagement — they build belonging.”
Instructors Are On Board, If the Value’s Clear
Interestingly, some instructors are already doing cohort-style teaching on their own—running sessions over Zoom, chatting with students on Discord, and charging directly. So while they’re not against the idea, they’re unsure what Udemy brings to the table. For this to work, instructors need to see real value in what Udemy offers that they don’t already have elsewhere.
“I already run cohort-style sessions outside of Udemy and charge significantly for them. I'm not sure what Udemy's contribution would be.”
A instructor on Udemy Instructor Community
To summarize, Udemy Cohort might just be the missing piece, helping learners not just access knowledge but actually finish what they start.
How Might We…
Build accountability and structure without killing flexibility?
How might we share value with instructors in a way that feels fair and motivating?
Design motivation into the learning journey itself?
Business Goals
For cohort-based learning to scale, Udemy must make it worth instructors’ time. Sharing revenue fairly and offering tools that save them time could position Udemy as a more attractive place to run these experiences—rather than losing them to external platforms.
Conclusion
Notes on moving forward
Primary Research
I would interview instructors running cohort-style sessions outside Udemy to understand their workflows and needs. I’d also test the cohort design with learners to check if it feels intuitive and motivating.
Scalability
Thank you :)
