Learning about Stoicism often begins with a book, a quotation, or a podcast. A course can help you take the next step by giving you a sequence of ideas to explore and exercises to try in daily life.

This guide brings together free and paid Stoicism courses, from short introductions to more detailed study. You’ll find options for understanding the ancient philosophy, developing a regular practice, and exploring particular Stoic thinkers.

The best choice is one you can make time for. Start with a course that suits your experience and the way you like to learn, then give yourself room to put the lessons into practice.

Your First 7 Days of Stoic Practice

Instructor: Allan John (What Is Stoicism?)
Who is this course for? My free, self-paced introduction to Stoicism.It’s a simple way to begin that doesn’t require you to read everything at once, “catch up,” or even complete it perfectly.
Price: Free

Stoic Mindfulness & Resilience Training (SMRT)

Instructor: Donald Robertson
Who is this course for? Beginners seeking a four-week long, introductory course to learn basic Stoic practices for use in daily life.
Price: Free

Stoic Week

Instructor: Modern Stoicism
Who is this course for? This seven-day online programme (which runs annually) with daily readings and exercises is a strong starting point for beginners who want to experience practising Stoicism.
Price: Free

Introducing How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

Instructor: Donald Robertson
Who is this course for? This eLearning course contains lots of free resources based on the book How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. It’s designed for people who haven’t read the book yet but are interested in finding out more.
Price: Free

The 7-Day Guide

Instructor: Daily Stoic
Who is this course for? Beginners – “this highly curated 7-Day Guide will expand your knowledge and provide actionable tools and ideas to make you stronger, more resilient and happier.”
Price: Free

Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World

Instructor: Massimo Pigliucci
Who is this course for? Beginners requiring an introduction to the fundamental ideas of ancient Stoicism, with a focus on its practical applications to modern everyday living.
Price: £29.99

Introduction to Stoicism Diploma Course

Instructor: Centre of Excellence
Who is this course for? Those wishing to dive deep into the foundation that underpins the entire Stoic system of philosophy. From the description: You’ll gain a Stoic understanding of physics, logic and ethics, and the core disciplines that are derived from them, and how to use this knowledge to improve your everyday life..
Price: £127

Stoic Essential Studies (SES)

Instructor: The College of Stoic Philosophers
Who is this course for? This is a 4-month mentored theory and practice course. It’s designed for working adults, both those coming to Stoicism for the first time and those wishing to deepen their knowledge of Stoic philosophy.
Price: $100

Marcus Aurelius: Life and Stoicism

Instructor: Donald Robertson
Who is this course for? Anyone who’s interested in Stoicism or Marcus Aurelius. If you’re a complete newcomer this course will provide the perfect introduction to Stoicism. Even if you’ve read a lot of books on Stoicism, though, you’ll still benefit from these new resources and by exploring a fresh perspective on the subject.
Price: ~£170

7-Day Anxiety-Melting Stoic Meditation Course

Instructor: Jon Brooks
Who is this course for? Those interested in applying Stoic techniques as a way of dealing with anxiety. From the description: “Spend a week uprooting the source of your worry and doubt with 7 potent audio recordings that will shower your soul in tranquility and clarity. Each lesson features a core Stoicism technique that can be used specifically to ease anxiety.”
Price: ~£15

Stoicism 101

Instructor: Ryan Holiday/Daily Stoic
Who is this course for? Stoicism beginners who are keen to learn about the origins of the philosophy and the key principles that make it so practical. The course features 14 custom emails delivered daily and 2 hours of live Q&A with bestselling author Ryan Holiday.
Price: ~£30

The Meditations Email Course

Instructor: Donald Robertson
Who is this course for? Anyone interested in learning more about the Stoic philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. Each week you’ll receive an email containing a passage from the classic George Long translation with additional commentary underneath to help you obtain greater enjoyment and understanding from the text.
Price: Free

Epictetus’ Enchiridion – Ancient Philosophy & Peace of Mind

Instructor: Gregory B. Sadler
Who is this course for? This course, produced by Gregory B. Sadler, is designed to assist learners in studying a classic text of Stoic philosophy, Epictetus’ Enchiridion (or handbook). You’ll come away with a solid understanding of key concepts of this practical approach to the problems and challenges of life.
Price: Free

A Guide to Stoic Exercises

Instructor: Donald Robertson
Who is this course for? Those seeking to learn how to practice a variety of Stoic psychological techniques in daily life, for the purpose of building emotional resilience. The course consists of six lessons, each of which explain how to use a different psychological exercise from ancient Stoic philosophy.
Price: Free