Life doesn’t always go as planned. Whether it’s unexpected career shifts, personal setbacks, or global changes beyond our control, the ability to adapt and bounce back is what keeps us moving forward.
Resilience and adaptability aren’t just buzzwords—they’re essential life skills that help you handle stress, embrace change, and thrive in uncertainty.
The good news? You can strengthen these skills for free with online courses designed to help you build mental toughness and flexibility. Here are five great courses to get you started.
University of California, Davis & Coursera | Self-paced
Learn how to assess challenges, shift perspectives, and respond effectively in an ever-changing world. This course teaches practical tools to build resilience in both your personal and professional life.
🎯 Key skills: Adaptability assessment, perspective shifting, strategic response
The Open University | 8 weeks, approximately 3 hours per week
Future-proof your career by building resilience against setbacks, stress, and uncertainty. This course will help you manage change, stay motivated, and navigate career challenges with confidence.
🎯 Key skills: Stress management, personal development, career navigation
Harvard University & EdX | 6 weeks, 1–2 hours per week
Resilience starts with mental strength. This Harvard course walks you through five science-driven skills to reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and build long-term mental resilience.
🎯 Key skills: Stress management, applied psychology, emotional regulation
Barclays LifeSkills | Self-paced
Workplace challenges are inevitable, but resilient professionals navigate them with confidence. This course teaches practical techniques to handle stress, recover from setbacks, and maintain a positive mindset in the workplace.
🎯 Key skills: Workplace resilience, stress management, adaptability
Deakin University & FutureLearn | 2 weeks, 3 hours per week
Learn how to develop resilience in high-pressure work environments and thrive in challenging situations. This course provides practical strategies to manage stress, stay motivated, and build a resilient mindset for long-term career success.
🎯 Key skills: Workplace resilience, stress management, motivation techniques
Final thoughts
Resilience and adaptability aren’t about avoiding challenges—they’re about learning how to face them with confidence. These free courses can help you build emotional strength, manage stress, and develop the flexibility needed to succeed in today’s fast-changing world.
Negotiation and persuasion are essential skills for career success, whether you’re securing a convincing colleagues of your ideas, collaborating with partners, or securing a pay rise. The ability to communicate persuasively and negotiate effectively can boost your confidence, improve workplace relationships, and help you achieve better outcomes.
Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or navigating a complex work environment, emotional intelligence is a game-changer. It helps you build stronger relationships, manage stress, and communicate more effectively. As a Chevening alumnus, you’ve already proven your ability to succeed in challenging environments—now it's time to take your emotional intelligence to the next level.
The ability to successfully communicate across cultures is a key skill for any Chevening Alumnus in today's globalised world. The Chevening Alumni team have curated 5 free courses to help boost your skills in intercultural communication.