Self-paced courses do not follow a set schedule and are open for 3 to 12 months. Course materials do not become available according to a schedule, but are completely available as soon as the course begins. Assignments and exams do not have start or due dates other than the official end date of the course. The course shows indicators for graded assignments, but not due dates.
Self-paced courses have a "Self-Paced" indicator in the edX course catalog, along with a start date if the course has not yet begun.
In most self-paced courses, you can request a certificate as soon as you have a passing grade in the course, even if you have not completed all course materials. For other self-paced courses, certificates are generated automatically at specific times (typically every one to three months).
For more information about taking a self-paced course, see Taking a Self-Paced Course in the EdX Learner's Guide.
For more information about certificates for self-paced courses, see Receive a Certificate for a Self-Paced Course in the EdX Learner's Guide.