Courses & Learning · Course review · Updated 17 October 2026
Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard reviewPower BI from install to published dashboards: Power Query, modeling, DAX, RLS and Service
Very good
Brent score, out of 5
A practical, end-to-end Power BI course that covers the whole workflow, from connecting data and modeling a star schema to publishing in Power BI Service with gateways and row-level security. It is broad rather than deep: DAX gets only a few lectures, so analysts who need advanced DAX will want a specialist resource too. Students rate it 4.4 out of 5.
Level
All levels · 5 hours
Instructor
Amjid Ali on Udemy
Best for
Excel users moving into Power BI
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Best for
- Excel users moving into Power BI
- Analysts who need to publish and share dashboards in Power BI Service
- IT staff who will manage gateways, refresh and security
- Beginners who want one course covering the whole workflow
Skip it if
- Experienced developers who want advanced DAX and performance tuning
- Learners preparing specifically for the PL-300 exam
- Learners who want a long, exercise-heavy bootcamp
Your manager wants a dashboard by Friday. The data lives in three Excel files and a database, the numbers never match, and every tutorial either stops at a pretty chart or jumps straight into DAX formulas you cannot follow.
This Udemy course walks through the whole Power BI journey: installing Power BI Desktop, cleaning data in Power Query, building a proper data model, creating visuals, then publishing, sharing and securing reports in Power BI Service. It is taught by Amjid Ali, the founder of this site, so read our assessment knowing we have an interest in it.
Here is what the 58 lectures cover, where the course is strongest, and where you will want extra material.
What is Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard?
A self-paced Udemy video course with 58 lectures and about 5 hours of content, marked All Levels. Sections cover an introduction to BI and Power BI, data preparation and modeling, visualization and reports, advanced modeling and analysis (star schema, snowflake dimensions, dataflows, real-time data), Power BI Service publishing and sharing, data gateways and collaboration, a real-world project, administration and performance, implementation best practices and bonus lectures. You need basic Excel skills and Power BI Desktop installed.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Covers the full workflow: Power Query, modeling, visuals, Service, gateways and RLS
- Star and snowflake schema lessons explain modeling clearly
- Real-world project using a sample MySQL database with a live connection
- Includes dataflows, real-time data and the on-premises data gateway
- Rated 4.4/5 by 83 students, with 6,241 enrolled
What could be better
- DAX gets only a handful of lectures despite the course's 'advanced DAX' positioning
- About 5 hours, so each topic is covered at an overview level
- Last updated in July 2025, so recent Power BI and Fabric changes may be missing
- The real-world project first has you set up a sample MySQL database, an extra step for non-technical learners
Overall
Very good
- Content depth4.0
- Practicality4.4
- Value4.3
- Up to date4.0
What the course covers
What you’ll learn
- Install and navigate Power BI Desktop
- Connect to Excel, CSV and SQL data sources
- Clean and transform data with Power Query
- Build star and snowflake data models with proper relationships
- Write basic DAX measures and create date tables
- Design interactive visuals and reports
- Publish and share reports and dashboards in Power BI Service
- Set up gateways, scheduled refresh and row-level security
Power Query and ETL
Connect to Excel, CSV and SQL sources, then transform, clean and shape the data with Power Query before it reaches your model.
Data modeling
Lessons on star schemas, snowflake dimensions, relationships and date dimensions build the foundation that makes reports accurate.
DAX basics
Introductory lectures explain DAX and how to use it for analysis, including static tables and date tables.
Power BI Service
Publish reports, build dashboards, design mobile layouts and share content with colleagues in Power BI Service.
Gateways and real-time data
Set up the on-premises data gateway, work with dataflows and stream real-time data into reports.
Row-level security and administration
Configure RLS so each user sees only their data, and review administration, performance and deployment best practices.
Udemy prices change often and courses are frequently on sale, so check today's price on the course page; Udemy says eligible courses can be refunded within 30 days of purchase, subject to its refund policy.
Who gets the most from it
From spreadsheets to a sales dashboard
A sales analyst combines monthly Excel exports in Power Query, builds a star schema and publishes a dashboard the sales team checks each morning.
Securing regional reports
A BI developer uses row-level security so each regional manager sees only their own numbers in a single shared report.
Refreshing on-premises data
An IT admin installs the on-premises data gateway so reports built on a local SQL database refresh automatically in Power BI Service.
How to get the most from it
- 1
Download and install Power BI Desktop from Microsoft
- 2
Enroll on Udemy and watch the introduction section
- 3
Follow the data preparation and modeling sections with your own sample data
- 4
Complete the real-world project using the sample MySQL database
- 5
Publish your first report to Power BI Service and set up RLS
Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard alternatives
| Product | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard 4.2 | Excel users moving into Power BI |
| Microsoft Learn Power BI training | Choose Microsoft's free learning paths if you are preparing for the PL-300 certification. |
| The Definitive Guide to DAX | Add this book if you need deep DAX knowledge beyond what an all-round course covers. |
| Digital Transformation 101 (book)4.1 | Choose it if you lead data initiatives and need the strategy view rather than hands-on Power BI skills. |
Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard: frequently asked questions
How long is the Power BI Developer Masterclass?+
It has 58 lectures and about 5 hours of video, and you can work through it at your own pace.
Is this course good for beginners?+
Yes. It is marked All Levels and starts with installing Power BI Desktop. You should be comfortable with Excel and basic data concepts.
Does it cover DAX in depth?+
It introduces DAX and uses it for analysis, but only a few lectures focus on it. For advanced DAX, pair it with a dedicated DAX resource.
Does it cover Power BI Service and gateways?+
Yes. There are sections on publishing and sharing in Power BI Service, the on-premises data gateway, dataflows and row-level security.
Who teaches the course?+
Amjid Ali, the founder of this site. He has a 4.4 instructor rating on Udemy across his courses.
Can I get a refund?+
Udemy says eligible courses can be refunded within 30 days of purchase, subject to its refund policy.
Final verdict
Is Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard worth it?
If you need to turn messy data into a dashboard your team can trust, this course gives you the full path from Power Query to a secured, published report. Watch the free preview and enroll at today's Udemy price, then add a dedicated DAX resource if you need to go deeper.
Enroll on UdemyAffiliate link · we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Reviewed by
Amjid Ali, Founder and editor
Amjid Ali is a Melbourne-based AI and automation lead, author of five books on infrastructure, automation and digital transformation, and a corporate trainer whose courses on n8n, Proxmox, firewalls and ERP have taught thousands of IT professionals.
Last updated 17 October 2026 · How we review
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Power BI Developer Masterclass: Data Modeling and Dashboard 4.2
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