Need Advice: Best Way to Learn Data Engineering in 2026? Course vs Self-Study + DataVidhya Reviews

Hey everyone,

I recently completed my IT degree and I want to start learning Data Engineering seriously to build a career in it. I’m currently confused between taking a structured course or doing self-study through books/resources.

I wanted to ask:

* Should I learn Data Engineering through self-study (books + projects + YouTube/docs), or is taking a course better for beginners?

* If self-study is enough, what books/resources/roadmaps would you recommend?

* Which Data Engineering courses do you genuinely think are worth it in 2026?

* Has anyone here taken the Data Engineering course from DataVidhya.com? If yes, how was your experience regarding:

* Teaching quality

* Real-world projects

* Placement assistance

* Industry relevance

* Whether it was worth the money

A little background:

* I know basic Python, SQL, and some web development.

* I enjoy coding and building systems more than pure ML model training.

* My goal is to become job-ready as efficiently as possible.

Would really appreciate honest advice from people already working in Data Engineering or currently learning it.

Thanks!