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Desktop Publishing Online Courses with Certificate & Career Options

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Durgesh Kashyap • 8 Mins read • 2 Sep 25
Desktop Publishing Online CoursesDesktop Publishing Online Courses

Desktop Publishing Online Courses teach students how to develop professional documents, brochures, posters, and other digital content with software like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, CorelDRAW, and Microsoft Publisher. Courses are available on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare. Short courses can take anywhere from 2–6 weeks; more advanced courses can take several months. Many of these courses are free to audit; students can pay a small fee of ₹1,000–₹2,50,000 to earn a certificate.

Beginner courses require basic computer skills and an interest in design, advanced courses usually assume knowledge of design, be they basic or not and formal education in design is not a requirement. Also, students, professionals, and freelancers can all benefit from Desktop Publishing Online Courses.

Career options include graphic designer, layout designer and DTP specialist occupations; entry-level salaries for DTP specialists in India range from ₹2–₹5 LPA, while experienced professionals can earn between ₹8–₹15+ LPA. With media, publishing and digital marketing increasing demand, demand for expertise in desktop publishing continues to grow.


Desktop Publishing Online Courses: Quick Highlights

The following table provides quick highlights of Desktop Publishing Online Courses, outlining the key information to assist you with the selection process.

Particulars 

Details

Course Name

Desktop Publishing (DTP) Online Course

Common Tools Taught

  • Adobe InDesign
  • Photoshop
  • CorelDRAW
  • PageMaker
  • Illustrator

Course Duration

3 – 6 months (some institutes offer a 1-year advanced diploma)

Learning Mode

Online / Offline / Self-paced

Popular Providers

  • IISDT
  • VedantSri
  • Bapu Graphics 
  • NIELIT
  • Arena Animation

Career Options

  • Desktop Publishing Operator
  • Layout Artist
  • Graphic Designer
  • Print Assistant

Job Sectors

  • Media
  • Publishing
  • Advertising
  • Printing
  • Freelancing


Best Desktop Publishing Online Courses

Desktop Publishing Online Courses teach learners how to create professional documents and digital publications using tools like Adobe InDesign, CorelDRAW and Microsoft Publisher. These courses cover design, layout, typography and digital publishing, suitable for beginners and professionals. Available on platforms such as Coursera, Udemy and edX, they offer flexible learning platforms, practical skills and certification options to enhance careers in graphic design, publishing and content creation.


Desktop Publishing Online Courses: Coursera

The table below lists key Coursera Desktop Publishing online courses with their duration, fees and ratings.

Course Name

Trainer Name

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Graphic Design Specialization

California Institute of the Arts

2 months

₹3,369/month

4.7

Adobe InDesign for Beginners: Workshop Flyer Design

Coursera Project Network

1.5 hour

₹1,600–₹2,400

4.5

Use Canva to Create Desktop and Mobile-friendly Web Pages

Coursera Project Network

2 hours

₹1,600–₹2,400

4.5

Get Started with Canva (Short Course)

Coursera Project Network

1.5 hours

₹1,600–₹2,400

4.4

Create and Design Digital Products using Canva

Coursera Project Network

2 hours

₹1,600–₹2,400

4.4


Desktop Publishing online courses: Udemy

The table below lists key Udemy Desktop Publishing online courses with their duration, fees and ratings.

Course Name

Trainer Name

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing with Scribus

Gareth Graham

2 hours

₹799-₹4,899

4.5

Desktop Publishing for You (CorelDRAW)

MKCL India

2hr 14min

Free

4.4

Adobe InDesign Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide

Infinite Skills

11 hours

Free

4.3

Desktop Publishing with Adobe InDesign

Greg Pretty

3h 11m

₹799-₹3,839

4.2

Adobe InDesign CC for Beginner to Advanced Masterclass

Sayman Creative Institute

4h 15m

₹799-₹3,089

4.0


Desktop Publishing online courses: edX

The table below lists key edX Desktop Publishing online courses with their duration, fees and ratings.

Course Name

Trainer Name

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Graphic Design - University of Cape Town

University of Cape Town

10 weeks

$1,132

4.7

Introduction to Graphic Design Professional Certificate

LaSalle College Vancouver

2 months

$178.20

4.6

How to Become a Graphic Designer Without a Degree

edX Platform

Self-paced

Free

4.6

Graphic Design Essentials

LaSalle College Vancouver

4 weeks

$99

4.3

Learn Adobe InDesign

edX Platform

Self-paced

Free

NA


Top Indian Colleges Providing Desktop Publishing online courses

The table below provides information on the Top Indian colleges and institutions offering Desktop Publishing online courses. The table includes information about storytelling duration and fees.

Course Name

Institute Name

Duration

Fee (Approx.)

Diploma / Certificate in Desktop Publishing

IGNOU – School of Computer & Information Sciences

6 months – 1 year

₹3,000 – ₹5,000

Certificate in Computer Applications – Desktop Publishing Module

University of Mumbai – Institute of Distance & Open Learning (IDOL)

3–6 months

₹2,500 – ₹4,000

Desktop Publishing Skill Course

Centurion University – Skill for Success Program

4 months

₹4,000 – ₹6,000

Certified Desktop Publishing Professional

Vskills – Govt. Certification Provider

1–2 months

₹3,499

Diploma in Desktop Publishing

IISDT – Indian Institute of Skill Development Training

6 months

₹3,000


Free Desktop Publishing online courses

Here is a list of free Desktop Publishing online courses from reputable platforms, with content, duration and access information.

Course Name

Provider

Duration

Description

Desktop Publishing for You

Udemy (via Class Central)

2 hours 14 minutes

Discover brochures, flyers, book covers and advertisements using CorelDRAW. A great introduction for beginners.

Free Diploma in Desktop Publishing

Rita Charitable Trust

1 year

Discusses publishing tools such as Flash, Acrobat and HTML along with version control and formatting.

Desktop Publishing for You

Coursesity (via Udemy)

2 hours 14 minutes

Learn the basics of CorelDRAW and using it to develop marketing material such as visiting cards and product packaging.

Introduction to Desktop Publishing

Alison

2–3 hours

Discusses layout design, using typography, and includes basic publishing principles. The course includes a certificate option.

Canva Design School

Canva

Self-paced

Learn to create professional layouts for print and digital media. Use Canva's intuitive tools.


Desktop Publishing online courses Free with Certificate

The table below lists Desktop Publishing online courses that are completely free and will provide a free certificate when completed.

Course Name

Provider

Duration

Description

Desktop Publishing for You

Udemy via Class Central

2 hours 14 minutes

Learn DTP basics using CorelDRAW for flyers, cards and brochures.

Adobe InDesign CS6: Desktop Publishing

Alison

4-5 Average Hours

Create professional publications using Adobe InDesign.

Microsoft Publisher 2013 for Beginners

Alison

3-4 Average Hours

Design flyers, newsletters, and posters with MS Publisher.

Free Diploma in Desktop Publishing (DTP)

Rita Charitable Trust

1 year

Covers DTP tools like Word, CorelDraw, PageMaker and Photoshop.

Desktop Publishing (DTP) for Language Services

Translators without Borders

3 hours

Learn DTP for document formatting using MS Office & Adobe Suite.


Eligibility Criteria for Desktop Publishing online courses

Most of the Desktop Publishing online courses are accessible for beginners and experienced professionals. No prerequisite formal training is necessary, but having basic computer skills is recommended. You do not have to have experience with software such as Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, CorelDRAW, or Photoshop, but it certainly can help. 

Once you have completed all of the modules and any required competencies and assessments, you will earn a free online certificate. Advanced courses, or paid courses, may ask for prior design experience or experience with certain software.


Why is it Important to Learn Desktop Publishing online courses in 2025?

Studying Desktop Publishing online courses in 2025 is very important to make formal, visually pleasing documents and digital content. As we live in an increasingly digital age, thoughtfully designed brochures, flyers, newsletters, and social media graphics can help ideas jump off the page and effectively engage the audience. Online courses offer everyone the opportunity to learn this skill, in the comfort of their own home, through self-paced or instructor-led courses, building on some of the professional principles presented here and other relevant real benefits and examples.

  • Career Growth – opens paths to jobs in graphic design, marketing, publishing and content creation.
  • Creativity Boost – improves your design skills and ability to create well-designed, meaningful material.
  • Global Opportunity – learn from specialists and gain access to information from around the world.
  • Future Skill – desktop publishing is growing in value in digital marketing, remote and content-oriented work.


What Job Opportunities are available after completing the Desktop Publishing online courses?

Once learners are done with Desktop Publishing online courses, learners can explore different career paths and the table below shows these different options.

Job Profiles

Description

Desktop Publisher

Produces and formats documents, including brochures, magazines and newsletters.

Graphic Designer

Develops visuals for print and digital media with established design principles in mind.

Prepress Technician

Prepares digital files for print when remediating print files to ensure formatting and high quality.

Publishing Operations Assistant

Provides support for publishing workflows and schedules, and establishes good mechanics with the teams involved.

Content Editor

Proofreads and edits all content for clear communication while adhering to level and style guides.

Web Designer

Designs website layouts with usability and aesthetics in mind.

Instructional Designer

Creates educational materials and e-learning experiences that are engaging.

Marketing Materials Specialist

Design promotional materials such as flyers, posters and digital advertisements.


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Desktop Publishing online courses: FAQs


Ques: What are Desktop Publishing online courses?

Ans: Desktop Publishing online courses are the procedure of preparing and designing documents, brochures, books, posters, and digital documents using software such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, CorelDRAW, and PageMaker.


Ques: Who can take Desktop Publishing online courses?

Ans: These online Desktop Publishing courses can be taken by beginner-level learners, students completing Class 10th or Class 12th, and professionals. No prior design experience is needed, but it is helpful if you have basic computer skills.


Ques: Are there free Desktop Publishing online courses available?

Ans: Yes, some platforms, such as Udemy, Alison, Rita Charitable Trust and Translators without Borders, offer free courses and provide a certificate of completion.


Ques: What software tools will you learn in the Desktop Publishing online courses?

Ans: There are many software tools that may or may not be included in Desktop Publishing online courses, some common ones include: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, CorelDRAW, PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher, Illustrator, Canva and many others.


Ques: What jobs can you get after you complete the Desktop Publishing online courses?

Ans: Job titles include Desktop Publisher, Graphic Designer, Prepress Technician, Content Editor, Web Designer, Instructional Designer, Marketing Materials Specialist and so much more.