Updated October 1, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Centre of Excellence vs Upgrad knowledgehut
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Centre of Excellence |  Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £0 | €305 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Platform type | Subscription | Bootcamp |
| Number of courses | from 1,000 | 250 |
| Price per month | £16 | Not confirmed |
| Price per year | £192 | Not confirmed |
| Certificate fee | £25 | Not confirmed |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Markets | GB, IM, JE, GG, IE, AT, BE, BG, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IT, LV, LT, LU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, NO, CH, IS, GI, CA, US, HK, AU, AL, JP, NZ, AE | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), Graded assessments (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Centre of Excellence scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Money-back period is higher at Centre of Excellence: 14 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Centre of Excellence offers Community.
- Support channels: only Upgrad knowledgehut offers Phone.
- Subjects: only Centre of Excellence offers Creative, Humanities, Languages.
- Subjects: only Upgrad knowledgehut offers Coding, Data, It.
- Certificate types: only Upgrad knowledgehut offers Professional.
Our verdict on each
Centre of Excellence
Centre of Excellence suits readers who want a broad catalogue of CPD accredited courses at a modest monthly figure. Grow Access All costs £16 a month on annual billing, so the year works out at £192 and the printed certificate is a separate extra.
Upgrad knowledgehut
Upgrad Knowledgehut suits people who want an IT certificate with tutor support, a practicum and the exam fee folded into one payment rather than added later. IT certification fees start at €305, and the 7 days refund window gives a short way out if the training is not the right fit.
Score breakdown
| Area | Centre of Excellence | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherEntry sits at £16 a month, with £192 taken at the start of the year. | 8.8The entry price of €305 is listed once, the exam fee is included, and the 7 days refund window limits the downside. |
| Offer | 9.1More than at least 1,000 courses, a team plan and downloadable audio give breadth and flexibility. | 9.1Tutor support, a practicum, job support and delivery across online and in person formats, with free courses alongside paid programmes. |
| Trust | 8.9Founded 2012, sold by CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ONLINE LIMITED in the United Kingdom, with refunds allowed within 14 days. | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Centre of Excellence | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
What we checked
Centre of Excellence
- centreofexcellence.com: 19 facts, checked October 1, 2026
Upgrad knowledgehut
- knowledgehut.com: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Centre of Excellence | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 82 of 269 | 15 of 269 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 11 of 48 | 3 of 48 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Business, Creative, Humanities, Languages, Science | Coding, Data, It, Business |
| Certificate types | Completion | Completion, ProfessionalCovers more |
| Credit recognition | Cpd | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ONLINE LIMITED | upGrad Education Private Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Community | Email, Chat, Phone |
Certifications
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Coaching | It |
| Course hours | 150 hoursHigher | 16 hours |
| Teaching practicum | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Exam fee included | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tutor support | Yes | Yes |
| Job support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Delivery | Online | Online, In personCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Upgrad knowledgehut | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | £16at the median | Not confirmed | £16 |
| Price per year | £192highest quarter | Not confirmed | £59.99 |
| Certificate fee | £25highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysat the median | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | from 1,000above the median | 250above the median | 240 |
Median across 169 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Centre of Excellence
Pros
- Grow Access All membership costs £16 a month, billed as £192 for the year.
- Tutor support runs in real time, and audio courses can be downloaded for listening away from a connection.
- A free course comes with sign-up, and a team plan is available for organisations buying for staff.
Cons
- Grow Access All is billed as £192 for the year, so joining means committing to the full year rather than a rolling month.
- A professionally printed certificate costs £25 plus postage, which is extra on top of the membership.
- Refunds on digital and audio courses are limited to 14 days, so browse before you buy.
Upgrad knowledgehut
Pros
- The exam fee is included in the programme price, so the certificate does not add a second charge on the day of the test.
- Tutor support, a practicum and job support sit inside the same package, which covers more ground than a practice-test bundle such as CrackCerts at $9.99.
- Delivery spans online and in person formats, so the same IT programme works for a remote candidate and for an employer booking a room.
Cons
- The money-back period of 7 days is short, so a change of mind after the first week of a 16 hour course costs the fee.
- The listed certification type is it and the subjects are coding, data and it, so coaching, language and first aid certificates fall outside what this provider sells.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone channels, which leaves learners who prefer a written help centre or a community forum without one.
Who each suits
Centre of Excellence
Who it suits
- Readers who want flexible study across a desktop, tablet or mobile.
- Learners who want a membership covering many subjects in one payment.
- Organisations that want a team plan for staff learning.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to pay month to month and stop whenever, since Grow Access All bills £192 for the year.
- Buyers who expect a printed certificate in the course price, since printing one costs £25 plus postage.
- People who want long essay writing, since assessment uses short answers, long answers and multiple choice.
Upgrad knowledgehut
Who it suits
- IT candidates who want the exam fee, a practicum and tutor support settled in one payment.
- Learners who need job support alongside the certificate, since job support is part of the training.
- Employers sending several staff through the same certification, since a team plan is offered and delivery includes in-person training.
Who should look elsewhere
- Testprep Training at $12.99 fits candidates who only need exam practice and no tutor support.
- CrackCerts at $9.99 is the cheaper pick for self-study learners who want practice tests alone.
- Marisa Peer, whose listed certification type is coaching, serves coaching candidates rather than the IT track.
Current offers
Centre of Excellence
Current offer
Bonus
27 free Random Act of Kindness courses: 27 courses listed at £0.00
Pay it forward: share a Random Act of Kindness course with three or more people and wait until three of them sign up to unlock the course for yourself
Source, checked October 1, 2026
Questions about each
Centre of Excellence
How much does a Centre of Excellence course cost?+
The paid route in is the Grow Access All membership, shown at £16 a month with £192 for the year. That monthly figure is a way of presenting the annual sum, so the charge is the full £192 when you join rather than a smaller sum at the start.
Is there a free option before paying?+
Yes. Signing up brings a free diploma course, which is a quick way to see how the material is written before you commit to the £192 annual membership. The paid membership adds the wider course list and the audio library.
Upgrad knowledgehut
What does an Upgrad Knowledgehut IT certification cost to start?+
The listed starting price is €305 for an IT certification programme, and the exam fee is included in that figure rather than charged later. Tutor support and a practicum come in the same package, which is where the money goes compared with a bare practice-test product.
Is tutor support included, or is it self-study?+
Tutor support is part of the training rather than an upsell, so a learner has someone to ask during the 16 hours of study. The programme also carries assessments and a practicum, which means the work is marked and practised rather than only watched. Job support is offered as well.
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