How to Use the edX MCP in Claude

Q: Can Claude Desktop show me the structure of an edX MicroMasters program?

Yes. Claude Desktop uses searchprograms to locate the program and getprogram to pull the exact list of required courses and credentials.

Q: How does Claude Desktop verify if an edX course run is currently open?

Claude Desktop calls getcourseruns to check the status of all scheduled offerings. It filters out archived runs to show you only current or upcoming start dates.

Q: Do I need an external API key to browse subjects?

No. The getsubjects tool pulls the complete taxonomy directly through this pre-configured MCP connection.

Find and inspect university courses from Harvard and MIT directly inside your Claude Desktop chat window.

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Connect edX MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect edX to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup edX with Claude Desktop

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Search the entire edX catalog inside Claude Desktop

To look up courses, use the `search_courses` tool to query the entire edX academic catalog inside Claude Desktop. Your agent parses this live data to match your training goals with actual university offerings. You get real course options back without switching to a browser. This MCP connection pulls titles, levels, and direct enrollment links directly into your active chat session.

Inspect specific course runs and schedules

Using the `get_course_run` tool retrieves exact start dates, pacing, and current status for any scheduled course run. This prevents your agent from recommending expired or archived classes when you plan your study schedule. By using this MCP Server, Claude Desktop displays only active runs that fit your availability. You can filter by upcoming or current runs to ensure you enroll in active cohorts.

Browse programs and institutional partners

The `search_programs` tool exposes professional certificate paths, MicroMasters, and XSeries tracks directly to Claude Desktop. Your agent compares multi-course tracks from Berkeley or MIT to build custom learning roadmaps. Use `get_organizations` alongside this to verify which top-tier institutions back the program. Checking the partner descriptions ensures the credential aligns with your career targets.

Setup guide

Set up edX MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The edX MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the edX MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under edx-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "edx-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by edX. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about edX MCP in Claude Desktop

Ask Claude Desktop to find Harvard courses in your chat. The agent runs `search_courses` with Harvard filtered as the organization and displays the active catalog listings.

Yes. Claude Desktop uses `search_programs` to locate the program and `get_program` to pull the exact list of required courses and credentials.

Claude Desktop calls `get_course_runs` to check the status of all scheduled offerings. It filters out archived runs to show you only current or upcoming start dates.

No. The `get_subjects` tool pulls the complete taxonomy directly through this pre-configured MCP connection.

The server only transmits your search queries and course filters to the edX catalog endpoint. This MCP Server operates inside your local Claude Desktop environment, keeping your personal chat history and local file paths completely private within your machine's sandbox.

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