Excel for Beginners: Fundamentals and Functions

Improve your work skills by learning to use Microsoft Excel with our online Microsoft Office training courses!

If you’re new to Excel or want to strengthen your foundational Microsoft Office skills, this online Excel for beginners course is the perfect starting point. You’ll learn how to navigate spreadsheets, create formulas, apply formatting, and build charts to make data clear and professional. Whether you use Excel at work or for personal projects, these essential Excel skills will help you organise information, save time, and improve accuracy in your daily tasks.

This online entry-level Microsoft Excel course in Sydney will increase your value in the job market and help you gain valuable insights into whatever data you choose to work with. Using Microsoft Excel, the user can identify trends by assembling data from various sources and can streamline tiresome tasks. Upon completion of the Excel for Beginners, students can progress to our Excel Intermediate: Functions and Data Analysis

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Build accurate formulas using BODMAS (order of operations).
• Use core functions (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, SUMIF, COUNTIF) to analyse data.
• Apply absolute, relative, and mixed references (e.g., $A$1) correctly.
• Transform and manage data with Paste Special (values, formats, transpose, etc.).
• Format worksheets professionally (cell formatting, merging, number formats).
• Organise data using basic sorting and filters.
• Prepare workbooks for printing (page setup, scaling, repeat titles) and use freeze panes.
• Create clear visualisations with Charts and Sparklines.

Course content

What will be covered in this online Microsoft Excel course?

• Basic formulas using BODMAS
• Basic functions (sum, average, count, sumif, countif)
• Absolute formulas ($A$1)
• Copy and Paste special
• Formatting | merging cells |number formats
• Basic sorting and filters
• Print Setup [big spreadsheets | freeze panes]
• Charts and Sparklines

Intended audience

Who is this online Microsoft Excel course for?

This course is designed for students looking to up-skill and is suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge of Microsoft Excel. However, a basic understanding of computers is assumed to ensure a smooth learning experience.

Online Course

This course is now delivered online via Zoom, offering the same high-quality instruction and interactive learning experience as our in-person classes. A Zoom link and instructions will be provided before the course begins.

Course Materials

What You’ll Need for Your Online Class:

• Software required: Microsoft Office 365 or Office 2016 and later
• Your own laptop or computer capable of running Microsoft Excel.
• HDMI cable and an additional screen for a dual monitor setup (recommended).
• Please note: The tutor teaches using Windows, however Mac users are welcome to join. Some shortcuts and functions may differ slightly between operating systems.

Additional Information

This online class is suitable for both Windows and macOS users, as Microsoft Excel functions similarly on both platforms. Make sure your computer meets the system requirements for Microsoft Excel to ensure a smooth experience.