MATLAB Programming
Learn numerical computing, data analysis, and simulation with MATLAB — from your first script to real engineering projects.
Course overview
MATLAB is the standard tool engineers, scientists, and analysts reach for when a problem involves numbers at scale — matrices, signals, simulations, data sets too large to eyeball in a spreadsheet.
This course starts from a blank script and builds up: the MATLAB environment, core syntax, vectors and matrices, plotting, and control flow, then moves into the numerical methods, curve fitting, and basic Simulink work that show up in real coursework and engineering jobs.
By the end, you'll be comfortable writing your own MATLAB scripts and functions, visualising data properly, and knowing which built-in tool to reach for instead of writing one from scratch.
Learning objectives
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Navigate the MATLAB desktop, workspace, and script editor confidently
- Work with vectors, matrices, and array/matrix arithmetic correctly
- Produce clear 2D and 3D plots of data and functions
- Write scripts and functions using loops, conditionals, and proper structure
- Import, clean, and export real data files (CSV, Excel)
- Apply basic numerical methods and curve fitting to a data set
- Build a simple Simulink model and explain what it simulates
- Complete a practical project combining several of the above
Complete syllabus
0 / 10 modules complete
Tick off each module as you finish it — your progress is saved on this device.
1. Introduction to MATLAB and the Development Environment
The MATLAB desktop, workspace, command window, and script editor — and how they fit together.
2. Variables, Data Types, and Basic Operations
Numbers, strings, and logicals; naming variables; arithmetic and the operator precedence rules that catch beginners out.
3. Vectors, Matrices, and Array Operations
Creating and indexing vectors and matrices, and the crucial difference between matrix and element-wise operators.
4. Plotting and Data Visualization
2D and 3D plots, labelling axes properly, subplots, and exporting a figure that belongs in a report.
5. Control Flow: Loops and Conditionals
for, while, if/elseif/else, and when a vectorised operation should replace a loop entirely.
6. Writing Functions and Scripts
Turning repeated code into reusable functions, input/output arguments, and organising a project into files.
7. Working with Data Files (Import/Export)
Reading and writing CSV and Excel files, and cleaning messy real-world data before you analyse it.
8. Numerical Methods and Curve Fitting
Root-finding, numerical integration, and fitting a curve to noisy data with polyfit and the Curve Fitting tools.
9. Simulink Basics (Intro to Simulation)
Building a simple block-diagram model in Simulink and reading its simulation output.
10. Practical Projects and Final Assessment
Apply everything in a data-analysis project, then take the final quiz to unlock your certificate.
Required skills & prerequisites
- No prior programming experience required
- High-school level algebra (functions, graphs, basic equations)
- Access to MATLAB (a student or trial license works fine)
- Comfortable using a computer and file system
Tools & technologies
Practical projects
Data cleaning and plotting script
Import a messy CSV data set, clean it, and produce a properly labelled multi-panel plot.
Custom function library
Write and test a small set of reusable MATLAB functions for a repeated calculation.
Curve-fitting analysis
Fit a model to a noisy data set, evaluate the fit, and explain what the parameters mean.
Capstone: mini simulation project
Combine scripting, plotting, and a basic Simulink model into one small end-to-end project.
Instructor
The AI Tutor Team
Course design & AI tutoring
This course was built by the same team behind AI Tutor's step-by-step tutoring approach. Every module is paired with an AI tutor you can question directly — paste your code and ask why it isn't working, at your own level.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you'll need access to MATLAB — a student, trial, or institutional license all work. MATLAB Online is a free way to follow along without installing anything.
No. The course assumes no programming background and builds up from variables and basic syntax in module 2.
Work through the modules, then pass the short final quiz on this page (70% or higher). Your certificate becomes available to download immediately.
Yes — every module links to the AI Tutor chat, pre-set to the MATLAB subject, so you can paste code and ask follow-up questions any time.
Simulink is only used in module 9 as an introduction. The rest of the course is pure MATLAB scripting.
Final quiz & certificate
Score 70% or higher to unlock your certificate. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like.
1. What does a semicolon at the end of a MATLAB line do?
2. Which operator performs element-wise (not matrix) multiplication in MATLAB?
3. MATLAB arrays are indexed starting from:
4. Which MATLAB function is commonly used to fit a polynomial to data?
5. In Simulink, a model is primarily built using:
6. When should you prefer a vectorised operation over a for loop in MATLAB?
Ready to start MATLAB Programming?
Free to start. Enroll, then jump straight into module one.