FREE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS • NO CS BACKGROUND NEEDED

Earn your first IBM AI badge in 10 minutes

Build real AI skills through the IBM Bob Accelerator, earn an IBM-recognized credential, and put it on your resume and LinkedIn today.

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Earn your first badge today and showcase on Linkedin.

Stack all 6 to unlock the full Accelerator credential, a Tech Talk seat, and cash rewards* (T&Cs apply).

A cartoon robot wearing a construction helmet with an IBM Bob Lab label, surrounded by computer screens, code snippets, and graphs on a teal background.
A yellow tennis ball with white seams on a teal background with the text 'AI & Tennis' below it.
A collection of pink skincare bottles and jars with gold accents on a teal background. The text reads "AI & L'Oréal" in bold black letters.
A graphic with a thumbs up icon, a heart icon, and speech bubbles, labeled 'Content Creation' on a teal background.
A red race car with black and gray accents, and the words 'AI & Formula 1' below it.
Illustration of an American football field with a football game strategy diagram and the text 'AI & Football' at the bottom.

Why Students Join the AI Accelerator

A teal infographic stating that employers want AI skills, with over 120,000 job postings requiring AI skills in July 2025. It mentions earning badges to showcase on LinkedIn and demonstrate real-world AI capabilities, and includes an icon of a briefcase and bar graph.
A teal-colored promotional graphic with a trophy icon, encouraging users to stay motivated and earn rewards through tracking progress, unlocking badges, and celebrating milestones. The message also highlights an AI learning platform that is simple, engaging, and rewarding.
Teal-colored digital graphic with an icon of five people at the top and text promoting a community learning platform, highlighting live sessions, office hours, support, and feedback for skill-building.

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Ready to build your future with AI?

Start your first credential in 10 minutes.
It’s free. It’s real. It’s your next step.

Why are students across the U.S. are getting ahead with skills in AI

How it works

A promotional graphic offering a free pass to create an IBM SkillsBuild account. It features a turquoise circle with the number '1', a rectangular turquoise banner with the text 'FREE PASS', and black and turquoise text explaining the offer of creating an account with one email and no card.
A step-by-step guide on earning a badge for learning about AI across industries, with instructions to complete the first one in 10 minutes on a phone.
Reward card for completing six badges and attending a live Tech Talk to unlock full credentials and cash rewards.

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FAQs

  • Your Big Year® is partnered with IBM SkillsBuild to bring students resources and rewards to help you achieve industry-recognized credentials. Sign up for free IBM SkillsBuild account here. Registration Code: 2tct3-1sr3f

  • It is a free learning platform supported by IBM SkillsBuild that has hundreds of courses in technology. Sign up for an IBM SkillsBuild account here. Registration Code: 2tct3-1sr3f

  • Yes! Through the partnership between Your Big Year® and IBM SkillsBuild, this program is 100% free for students. There are no hidden fees for the courses or your digital badges.

  • The AI Accelerator Program is a fast, hands-on learning experience designed to help you build practical AI skills in just minutes. Through industry-focused micro-credentials, you'll explore how AI is transforming fields such as sports, media, beauty, and more. Participants can earn industry-recognized digital badges, attend exclusive IBM TechTalks, and gain in-demand skills that strengthen their resume and LinkedIn profile. Plus, you'll have opportunities to compete for cash rewards while accelerating your AI knowledge and career readiness.

  • Most students report that it takes approximately 10-15 minutes per badge in the AI Accelerator. It’s designed to fit into a busy student’s schedule. You can continue learning more technical and more complex badges.

  • Not at all. In fact, this program is specifically designed for students in Business, Arts, Healthcare, and Social Sciences. AI is a tool for every industry, and this course focuses on "AI Literacy" for everyone.

  • Absolutely! Share your credentials on LinkedIn to get noticed and to show you have taken the extra step to be prepared for the future of work. Be sure to tag @Student Ambassador Program with IBM SkillsBuild, @Your Big Year, and @IBM.

    #IBMSkillsBuild #AI

  • If you have trouble registering or accessing your courses, you can reach out to our support team at ibmskillsbuild@yourbigyear.com, use the contact form below.

  • The easiest and quickest answer is so that you can be part of the conversation! While AI is becoming harder and harder to ignore, being able to navigate it effectively ties into having foundational knowledge on what AI is and how to use it.