---
title: "Getting started with courses"
description: "Using the courses functionality inside the manager"
url: https://help.matchable.io/en/articles/41-getting-started-with-courses
collection: "Courses"
updated: 2026-03-24
language: en
---

# Getting started with courses

Using the courses functionality inside the manager

Courses let you run multi-week programs like an 8-week tennis academy, a beginner padel series, or a 12-week fitness transformation. Clients enroll once, pay upfront, and get access to all sessions in the program.  

Use courses when you're running a structured program with a fixed number of sessions over a set period. For one-off group sessions, use Classes instead.

  
**What you can do with Courses:**

-   Set up a full program with multiple sessions across weeks
    
-   Manage enrollment and participant limits
    
-   Collect payments upfront for the whole program
    
-   Enable Smart Courses so new clients can join after the course has started (they pay per remaining session)
    
-   Set cancellation and refund policies
    

  
**How courses work for your clients:**

-   They find your course on your profile or through a shared link
    
-   They see the full schedule, pricing, and details
    
-   They enroll and pay in one go
    
-   They get access to all upcoming sessions
    

Ready to set one up? Start with creating a page template.