Data Engineering for Beginners: Learn SQL, Python & Spark (Udemy.com)
Master SQL, Python, and Apache Spark (PySpark) with Hands-On Projects using Databricks on Google Cloud
Created by: Durga Viswanatha Raju Gadiraju
Last updated March 2026
What you will learn
- Setup Environment to learn SQL and Python essentials for Data Engineering
- Database Essentials for Data Engineering using Postgres such as creating tables, indexes, running SQL Queries, using important pre-defined functions, etc.
- Data Engineering Programming Essentials using Python such as basic programming constructs, collections, Pandas, Database Programming, etc.
- Data Engineering using Spark Dataframe APIs (PySpark) using Databricks. Learn all important Spark Data Frame APIs such as select, filter, groupBy, orderBy, etc.
- Data Engineering using Spark SQL (PySpark and Spark SQL). Learn how to write high quality Spark SQL queries using SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, ORDER BY, ETC.
- Relevance of Spark Metastore and integration of Dataframes and Spark SQL
- Ability to build Data Engineering Pipelines using Spark leveraging Python as Programming Language
How it compares
Against the other 461 rated Udemy courses in Data Science on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.3 out of 5higher than 17% of them
- Reviews8,867#28 of 462 by number of reviews
- Length56 hourslonger than 96% of them
- Last updatedMarch 2026more recently than 68% of them
Course Description
Why Learn Data Engineering?
Data Engineering is one of the fastest-growing fields in the tech industry. Organizations of all sizes rely on Data Engineers to build and maintain the infrastructure that powers big data analytics, reporting, and machine learning. Data Engineers design, implement, and optimize data pipelines to efficiently process and manage data for business intelligence, real-time analytics, and AI applications.
With SQL, Python, and Apache Spark, Data Engineers can handle large-scale data processing efficiently. These skills are highly sought after in finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and every data-driven industry.
If you are looking for an industry-relevant and practical course that teaches you how to work with SQL, Python, Apache Spark (PySpark), and Databricks on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), this course is the perfect place to start.
What You Will Learn in This Course
This course is designed to take you from a beginner to an intermediate level in Data Engineering. You will gain hands-on experience working with SQL, Python, Apache Spark (PySpark), and Databricks by building real-world batch and streaming data pipelines.
SQL for Data Engineering (PostgreSQL)
Install and configure PostgreSQL to practice SQL queries
Learn fundamental SQL concepts such as SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, HAVING, and ORDER BY
Perform advanced SQL operations including window functions, ranking, cumulative aggregations, and complex joins
Learn how to optimize SQL queries for performance and debugging
Python for Data Engineering
Understand Python fundamentals for data processing
Work with Python Collections to efficiently process structured data
Use Pandas to manipulate, clean, and analyze data
Build real-world Python projects, including a File Format Converter and a Database Loader
Learn how to troubleshoot and debug Python applications
Understand performance tuning strategies for Python-based data pipelines
Apache Spark (PySpark) for Big Data Processing
Learn Spark SQL to process structured data at scale
Work with PySpark DataFrame APIs to manipulate big data
Create and manage Delta Tables and perform CRUD operations (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, MERGE)
Perform advanced SQL transformations using window functions, ranking, and aggregations
Learn how to optimize PySpark jobs using Spark Catalyst Optimizer and Explain Plans
Debug, monitor, and optimize Spark jobs using Spark UI
Deploying Data Pipelines on Databricks (Google Cloud Platform - GCP)
Set up and configure Databricks on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Learn how to provision and manage Databricks clusters
Develop PySpark applications on Databricks and execute jobs on multi-node clusters
Understand the cost, scalability, and benefits of using Databricks for Data Engineering
Performance Tuning and Optimization in Data Engineering
Learn query performance optimization techniques in SQL and PySpark
Implement partitioning and columnar storage formats to improve efficiency
Explore debugging techniques for troubleshooting SQL and PySpark applications
Analyze Spark execution plans to improve job execution performance
Common Challenges in Learning Data Engineering and How This Course Helps
Many learners struggle with setting up a proper Data Engineering environment, finding structured learning material, and gaining hands-on experience with real-world projects.
This course eliminates these challenges by providing:
A step-by-step guide to setting up PostgreSQL, Python, and Apache Spark
Hands-on exercises that simulate real-world Data Engineering problems
Practical projects that reinforce learning and build confidence
Cloud-based Data Engineering with Databricks on Google Cloud, making it easier to work with large-scale data
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed for:
Beginners who want to start a career in Data Engineering
Aspiring Data Engineers who want to learn SQL, Python, Apache Spark (PySpark), and Databricks
Software Developers and Data Analysts who want to transition into Data Engineering
Data Science and Machine Learning Practitioners who need a deeper understanding of data pipelines
Anyone interested in Big Data, ETL processes, and cloud-based Data Engineering
Why Take This Course?
Beginner-Friendly Approach
This course starts with the fundamentals and gradually builds up to advanced topics, making it accessible for beginners.
Hands-On Learning with Real-World Projects
You will work on real-world projects to reinforce your skills and gain practical experience in building Data Pipelines.
Cloud-Based Training on Databricks (GCP)
This course teaches cloud-based Data Engineering using Databricks on Google Cloud, a platform widely used by companies for Big Data processing and machine learning.
Comprehensive Curriculum Covering All Key Data Engineering Skills
Instructor Details
- 4.3 Rating
8,867 Reviews
Durga Viswanatha Raju Gadiraju
20+ years of experience in executing complex projects using a vast array of technologies including Big Data and the Cloud.
ITVersity, Inc. - is a US-based organization that provides quality training for IT professionals and we have a track record of training hundreds of thousands of professionals globally.
Building an IT career for people with required tools such as high-quality material, labs, live support, etc to upskill and cross-skill is paramount for our organization.
At this time our training offerings are focused on the following areas:
* Application Development using Python and SQL
* Big Data and Business Intelligence
* Cloud
* Datawarehousing, Databases
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Reviews
By Udemy User on 8/30/2026
the course is very good and teaching method is also very good ,but I'm having problem in understanding the English because i am from maharashtra ..........
By Nwachukwu Ikechukwu on 6/26/2026
I am new to data engineering but with the course outline I've seen and the way he explains it, it should be an amazing journey.
By Vijay Vel Palanivelu on 5/12/2026
Very Nice and good for beginners to understand basics.
By Tijana Ilić on 4/23/2026
I don’t doubt the professor’s knowledge, but I’m finding the course very difficult to follow. I have a basic background in SQL, PostgreSQL, and Python, yet the explanations often feel unnecessarily complicated and leave me confused. One of the main issues is in the SQL section. The professor starts solving problems without clearly explaining the task or goal first, so it’s hard to understand what we’re actually trying to achieve. Additionally, the lectures are challenging to follow due to the professor’s accent, especially for non-native English speakers. Overall, I’m quite disappointed with the course. It had a lot of potential, but the way it’s presented makes it hard to learn effectively.
By Hamza Elnggar on 4/19/2026
the course has much to offer and very helpful for the beginners and the lecutrer is a great teacher and he teached me a lot and the assisants are very helpful also.
By Akshay Shetty on 4/13/2026
Clear, well-structured, and value-packed course that explains concepts practically and gives great confidence to apply them in real projects.
By Tigran Mirijanyan on 4/12/2026
Pros: Excellent, detailed technical integration of Python, Spark, Databricks, and Hadoop. Cons: Not beginner-friendly. The speaker talks too fast, and much of the content is old/outdated. Only recommended if you are an intermediate learner who doesn't mind updating some of the code yourself.
By Vikram Yadav on 12/10/2025
i am feeling a good experience with vscode notebook how we can take help and syntax of python
By Jhonatan Felipe Muñoz Moreno on 11/11/2025
Bastante informativo y el inglés está super entendible para las personas no nativas
By Bikram roy on 11/6/2025
Guys don't give the beta version of screen, it is totally irritating and not good experience. Sometimes it faced this. Keep the screen as it is. I dont know who motherfucker sometime changed it. Keep the screen same as it is right now showing like. I can see the resources/notebook/can see all the necessary things. Dont need beta screen. Otherwise stop using udemy
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 86 / 100












