Learn by Source
JetBrains · on Coursera

Kotlin for Java Developers

4.8(12,000) on Coursera·180K enrolled
Intermediate 40 hours English Course Certificate
SkillsKotlinJavaJVMCoroutinesAndroidFunctional programming

Is this course right for you?

Our take
JetBrains built this Kotlin course themselves, which makes it about as authoritative a route into the language as exists, provided you already know Java.

Good for: Java developers who want to learn Kotlin.

Skip if: You are new to programming, or you do not know Java.

It moves through Kotlin's type system, null safety and the touches that cut Java's boilerplate, then coroutines, the feature that really sets it apart for Android and backend work. Because it targets Java developers rather than newcomers, it assumes you can already program.

If you're new to coding or don't know Java, start elsewhere first. Kotlin is free; you can audit the course free on Coursera, with the certificate about $49 a month and financial aid available. The language keeps evolving, but the fundamentals here stay current (as of 2026).

Comparison · LBS

Compare alternatives for Kotlin for Java Developers

Same topic, different options. We surface the trade-offs others hide so you can pick the course that actually fits your time, budget, and goals.
Coursera4.8(12,000)
Kotlin for Java Developers
Price
Paid
Subscription-based, free to audit
Duration
40 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
Course Certificate
Udemy4.6(110,000)
Java Programming Masterclass — Updated to Java 17
Price
Paid
One-time purchase, frequent discounts
Duration
80 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Udemy4.7(12,000)
GitHub Actions — The Complete Guide
Price
Paid
Paid, frequently discounted
Duration
12 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Udemy4.7(45,000)
The Complete Flutter Development Bootcamp with Dart
Price
Paid
One-time purchase, frequent discounts
Duration
28 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
Bootcamp
View course →
Prices & availability can change — confirm on the provider's site. We're not affiliated with any single provider.

About this course

This JetBrains-authored course teaches Kotlin to Java developers: Kotlin's type system, null safety, data classes, extension functions, lambdas, and the Kotlin standard library. Students convert Java code to idiomatic Kotlin throughout, learning how Kotlin's features reduce boilerplate while maintaining JVM compatibility.

Browse all Programming courses Browse all Coursera courses

Instructor

SI
Svetlana Isakova
Coursera instructor
180K+ learners3 courses4.8 instructor rating

Svetlana Isakova is a Kotlin Developer Advocate at JetBrains and co-author of Kotlin in Action — one of the principal educators of Kotlin's design philosophy.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, and it is essential — the clue is in the title. The course deliberately does not teach programming fundamentals; it assumes you already write Java comfortably and shows you how Kotlin does the same things more concisely and safely. If you are new to programming entirely, this is the wrong starting point; but for a working Java developer, that shared foundation is exactly what makes it move quickly.

No, that is a common misconception. Kotlin runs essentially anywhere Java does — server-side and backend development, desktop, and multiplatform projects — not just Android, though it is indeed Google's preferred language for Android. Its seamless interoperability with Java means you can adopt it gradually inside existing Java codebases, which is a big part of why teams beyond mobile have taken it up.

The move from Java thinking to idiomatic Kotlin: core syntax and differences, null safety (one of Kotlin's headline features), functional programming with lambdas and the standard library, object-oriented features, and crucially Java interoperability — how Kotlin and Java coexist in one project. Taught by JetBrains, the language's own creators, it focuses on writing Kotlin well rather than just translating Java line by line.

It is a fairly compact, intermediate course — a handful of weeks at a few hours each for most people. The difficulty is moderate precisely because it builds on Java you already know; you are learning a new syntax and some new idioms, not new programming concepts from scratch, so experienced Java developers tend to move through it comfortably.

Yes, you can audit it on Coursera and watch the lectures at no cost. The graded assignments and the certificate require a subscription, with financial aid available if you apply. Since it is concept-and-example led for people who already program, auditing gives you most of the value if you just want to learn Kotlin rather than earn the credential.
Paid
Subscription-based, free to audit
Enroll now