Courses / 42Courses / The Happy Course

42Courses

The Happy Course

Enroll Now

Three things you can rely on.

A CPD-accredited Mini MBA.

Credit where it counts, for learning that's actually yours. Signed, dated, and easy to track.

Marked by humans, not bots.

You won't be guessing. A real person reviews your work and sends feedback back, usually within 24 hours.

Personalised to your role.

Every lesson is reshaped around your day-to-day job, so you can put it into practice straight away.

About this course

What actually makes people happy, and what can you do to feel happier in your own life?

If that's the kind of question you like thinking about, you'll probably enjoy this online course on happiness, led by Meik Wiking, the New York Times best-selling author and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute.

The institute is based in Denmark, a country that's regularly ranked among the happiest in the world. It's an independent research organisation that looks closely at why some societies seem to thrive more than others.

In this course, which draws on the science behind happiness (often called positive psychology), Meik walks you through six key factors that can influence how we feel day to day.

You'll explore what the studies say for each factor, and you'll also get practical suggestions you can try right away to support your happiness.

This is the kind of guide that covers a lot of real life, from building healthier relationship habits and managing money, to family, kids, social media, trust, fitness, and even what happens when you buy coffee for strangers.

When you finish, you'll get a certificate from the Happiness Research Institute along with a stack of easy, usable ideas and quick wins. The aim is to help you, your loved ones, and yes, even the wider world feel a little brighter.

What level of learning is this?

Every 42courses course is built to help you get the essentials. In other words, you'll leave knowing the topic properly and you'll understand the main methods, models, and best practice.
You'll be supported by real tutors throughout the course. If you hit a wall, they'll help point you in the right direction.

How long does it take to complete a course?

You're looking at around 7-9 hours in total. There's no deadline, and lessons are kept short, clear, and easy to digest.
Since it's on-demand, you can begin whenever you want and finish whenever life lets you. No more waiting for someone to review coursework.

42 For Good

If you're dealing with depression and this course is out of reach financially, you're welcome to email us at helpme@42courses.com

What you'll learn:

Support your Mental Wellbeing
Build a happier you
Make sense of relationships and happiness
Do your bit to create a happier world
Learn what needs to be in place for happiness

Who's it for

Designed around you.

If you're:

Someone who wants to grow into a happier version of themselves
Curious about what happiness really means
Looking for straightforward, practical ways to feel better day to day

A quick look behind the scenes.

💡

Inside a lesson

Short, engaging, and told like a story. Not dull either. Most lessons take about 15 minutes. You'll get a video, written content that actually sticks, and a question to make sure the main idea lands properly.

💡

AI personalisation

Built around your role and what you're trying to achieve. Tell us what you do and what you want to change. Each lesson is reshaped so you get practical takeaways you can use in your actual work. The core frameworks and research stay the same, but the examples are made for your world.

💡

Real feedback

A real person, on your side. Some questions are reviewed manually by our team. If you need guidance, you'll get it. And if you're properly stuck, we'll be glad to jump on a call.

💡

The certificate

A Mini MBA certificate you can keep and show. CPD-accredited, signed, dated, and trackable. And here's the interesting bit: completion rates are above 80%, compared to an industry average that's usually closer to 10%.

42courses vs typical online courses.

Feature	42courses	Typical platform
Marking & feedback by real people	Within 24 hours	Auto-quiz only
Personalised by role & sector	Lessons are adapted to you	Same content for everyone
Taught by working practitioners	The people who wrote the book	Often academics or actors
Average completion rate	Over 80%	5 to 15% (industry average)
CPD-accredited Mini MBA certificate	Included in every course	Not always
30-day money back, no questions	If you're not happy, we'll make it right	Usually a 7-day refund window

Questions you might be wondering about.

Roughly eight hours of learning, broken into small lessons of around 15 minutes each. Most people wrap it up in about two weeks. The best part though, there's no set time limit, so you can pause and pick it back up when work or life gets busy.

No, not at all. We begin with the basics and build from there. You'll also get a fresh way to think about the subject, thanks to insights from leading voices in the field, whether you're completely new or you've been around it for a while and just want sharper understanding.

Each lesson ends with a short question to check you've really got it. In every course, selected questions are reviewed by a real person. If you need a steer, someone on our team will respond with helpful notes to guide you to the right answer. And if you want to talk it through because you're stuck, we're happy to jump on a call.

You've got 30 days after enrolling to request a full refund. No awkward process, no exit interview, no back-and-forth email chat. We respond to refund requests within 24 hours, and often quicker. If you're not happy, we're not happy either.

The books give you the science. This course is where you learn how to actually apply it, with the content shaped around your role and goals. That way, you come away with practical takeaways from every lesson, not just general ideas.

Yes. People have used it across all sorts of areas, including tech, healthcare, retail, banking, public sector, charities, and education. Each lesson is tailored to your role and goals, so the examples and activities fit your situation.

Yes. Most learning and development budgets can cover it without any hassle. If you need a VAT-friendly invoice, just get in touch at groundcontrol@42courses.com . And if you're purchasing for 10 or more learners, check out Team plans.

It's a CPD-accredited certificate that's recognised across the UK and internationally for continuing professional development. Your certificate is personalised with your name, signed, dated, and trackable. Pop it on LinkedIn, add it to your CV, include it in a performance review, or keep it somewhere you'll actually see it.

Tools You'll Explore

Meik Wiking

Meik Wiking is Danish and genuinely one of the happiest people in his own right. He leads the Happiness Research Institute and is the author of The Little Book of Lykke and the New York Times bestseller The Little Book of Hygge. He's supported more than 2 million people in building happier, more hyggelige lives. LinkedIn: Meik Wiking

Michael Birkj'r

Michael Birkj'r is a very upbeat researcher at the Happiness Research Institute. He focuses on data from studies where people rate their own happiness and wellbeing, and on how those insights can help shape public policy.

Happiness Research Institute

The Happiness Research Institute is an independent think tank investigating why some societies experience more happiness than others. Their goal is to share evidence with governments about what drives happiness and what the outcomes are, so policy can improve quality of life for people around the world.

What we'll cover, in order.

Happiness

By understanding what happiness is and how it works, you'll be in a better position to have more of it in your life.

What is happiness?

How to measure happiness

Happiness and Governments

One of the happiest countries in the world

What makes people happy?

Happiness is a choice

Relationships

The impact of friends, family and love on happiness, and what you can do to have better relationships.

What makes a good life?

Love thy neighbour

Marriage

How to find a life partner

Health

Find out how your health and fitness impact happiness, why Danes are so cheerful and what you can do to live a healthy, happy life.

The Danish health plan

Health and happiness

Everything in moderation

The antidepressant paradox

What if it's hard to be happy?

Age and happiness

Money

How money really affects well-being, and how to buy your way to happiness.

Money and happiness

How to buy happiness

Keeping up with the Joneses

Salary vs Commute

Turning wealth into wellbeing

Freedom

What freedom means, how it affects happiness, and how to get more of it in your life.

Freedom and Happiness

Flexibility at work

Social media and happiness

The Parent Trap

Trust and kindness

Learn how to increase trust, empathy, and kindness and why doing these thing will make your life, and the lives of those around you, happier.

Trust, kindness and happiness

Empathy

Social Blenders

Kindness

Certification Process

Complete all the classes

Attend classes, ask questions, and finish your homework. We check your activity and support your learning journey every step of the way.

Get the Summary Notes

Receive high-quality supporting documents, summary notes, and recommended readings. Ensure you have access to all tools and resources.

Complete 100% Impact

Complete the final assessment to validate your learning. Earn your certificate and share your achievement with your professional network!

Free

Enroll for Free

This Course Includes:

Level Access

9h of Content

Certificate of Completion

English

Get Certified

Add value to your profile

Official Certificate

Keep the momentum going

Discover more courses to boost your career.

Browse all courses →

Alpha Academy