If you have your eye on a career in the robotics industry, consider upping your skills via a convenient online or in-person learning platform.
The robotics sector is fast emerging as one of Ireland’s most creative, dynamic and quickly changing spaces. We have innovators such as Clionadh Martin, Clara Mulliagan, Niamh Donnelly and Adam Dalton transforming robotics and inspiring others to follow suit.
But to match their careers, you have to start at the beginning. Although it can be beneficial to get an early start, many people’s route would be through exposure to post-secondary school education, be it online courses, higher education, further education and training or other skill development opportunities.
Alison
Online learning platform Alison is running a free Understanding Robotics Architecture course. The website states that participation will improve a student’s understanding of robotics architecture, starting by addressing the degrees of freedom a robot may have. Students will look at robot anatomy, with an emphasis on the joints and links of a manipulator, be taught configurations for industrial robots and the characteristics of the Scara robot, and will also study the DH algorithm and direct forward kinematics.
The course is available entirely online, can be completed in roughly three to four hours and comes with a certificate of achievement upon completion.
ATU
For those looking for a longer educational experience, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – which has multiple locations in Galway, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo – has a four-year Robotics and Automation course, as part of the Bachelor of Engineering programme. This on-site level 8 course is full-time, available in Sligo and offers work placement.
During this programme, students will learn how to analyse and design, build prototypes, and control the machines and processes that are found in the biomedical, automotive, food processing and high volume manufacturing sectors, among other skills.
ATU’s website states that the course will enable graduates to apply for jobs in a range of areas, such as the biomedical, pharmaceutical, electronics, food processing and manufacturing sectors.
Great Learning
Edtech platform Great Learning has a free Robotics and AI course open to prospective students. The beginner level course takes roughly an hour and a half and will teach students the fundamentals of robotics and AI, including control systems, programming and neural networks.
Students can join the course to build essential skills and stay up to date with the latest trends in robotics and AI. Those who finish the course and pass will receive a certificate of completion.
Hugging Face
The adorably named Hugging Face, which is an AI community for enthusiasts and professionals alike, has a free programme titled Robotics Course. The website states that the course will take the student on a “journey, from classical robotics to modern learning-based approaches, in understanding, implementing, and applying machine learning techniques to real robotic systems”. Based on the site’s Robot Learning Tutorial, which is a comprehensive guide to robot learning for researchers and practitioners, the course is designed to make learning in this space more widely accessible.
By the end of the course, students will know how robots learn from data, why learning-based approaches are transforming robotics and how to implement these techniques using modern tools like LeRobot. The course is self-paced and will include interactive quizzes, hands-on coding, progressive difficulty and real-world applications connecting theory to practical robotics problems.
No formal certification is required, although the website recommends that students be comfortable with basic Python. Additionally, elementary linear algebra and calculus could help for a full understanding but aren’t required for participation.
MTU
Munster Technological University (MTU) has an Automation and Robotics course open to potential students. The level 7 course is a year long, can be engaged with online, part-time and in a blended format, and is based at the MTU Bishoptown Campus in Cork. Applications are set to open in June 2026, for classes in September.
It is worth noting, however, that some elements will demand in-person attendance, so this particular course may require more commitment. Students who successfully complete the modules will be entitled to a Certificate in Automation and Control Systems, awarded by MTU.
Nvidia
Chipmaker Nvidia has multiple free online courses aimed at students or professionals looking to advance their robotics and automation skills.
Courses themed around or encompassing robotics knowledge include A Beginner’s Guide to Autonomous Robots, An Introduction to Nvidia Cosmos for Physical AI, and OpenUSD Learning Path.
Courses are self-paced and can provide students with a solid foundation in the subject.
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