Are you looking for Open Education? if yes here are the list of Top Distance Universities in India. A University which provides your degree through Distance Learning Mode or correspondence mode? Well on this page you will have very useful information about India’s Top Open Universities.
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Open University Means? You can complete an Undergraduate Degree Post Graduate degree without attending regular classes instead you can choose weekly classes or study sitting at home and clear your exams. Don’t need to visit the university daily.
Degree from distance learning is acceptable all over the world but you must choose a properly-recognized University with UGC-University Grant Commission and DEB-Distance Education Bureau (formally distance education council DEC). Here you will come to know about Top Distance Universities in India which are well recognized.
Now, let us know about India’s Top Open Universities 2020 Ranking. The below-given list is in the priority order, first in the list means its top one likewise thereafter.
1: IGNOU: Indira Gandhi National Open University:
it is a National Open University, set in 1985 offers 400+ programs through Distance learning mode. IGNOU is the Biggest Open University of India and this is the first University which has Study Centre and Exam Centre in many other countries in the world. If we talk about the strength of the University it enrols more than 10 lacs students every year for UG and PG courses. This is the only Open University which operates throughout the Nation as well as overseas.
Official website of the University is www.ignou.ac.in .
2: SOL-DU: School of Open Learning, Delhi University (State University):
School of Open Learning is a division or part of Campus of Open Learning under the University of Delhi, this campus was started in 1962 and in the first year it has enrolled about 900 students under distance learning mode. Today University does more than 3 lacs admissions per year. This has a presence within Delhi and NCR and most students are enrolled from Delhi and exams also conducted at Delhi/NCR centre.
Official website of the University is https://sol.du.ac.in/
#3 BRAOU: Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad:
BRAOU is a state open university, the University, initially known as Andhra Pradesh Open University, was set up on 26th August 1982 through an Act of the A.P. State Legislature (APOU Act 1982). Subsequently, the University changes its name to B.R. Ambedkar Open University on 26 October 1991 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. BRAOU offers about 50+ UG, PG and Diploma courses under Distance learning mode. This University has a presence in South India mainly AP, Telangana and Tamilnadu region. Official Website: https://www.braouonline.in/Home.aspx https://braou.ac.in/
#4 KSOU: Karnataka State Open University, Mysore:
Karnataka State Open University was very popular all over India before 2 years but after UGC puts restriction to operate within the state it got reduced to Karnataka state only. Thereafter strength of the University was reduced. Ranked 4th among the top Open Universities in India. This is also a state-sponsored University of Karnataka state established in 1996. KSOU offers more than 150 UG & PG programs under distance learning mode.
Official website: https://www.ksoumysuru.ac.in/
5: YCMOU: Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik:
It is the Fifth Open University in the country in terms of establishment year.
Type: State Open University, Maharashtra Govt.
Year of Establishment: 1989, Student Strength: 4,21,000
Campus Area: 29,767 sq meter
Location: Dnyangangotri, Near Gangapur Dam, Nasik
Official website: https://www.ycmou.ac.in/
6: BAOU: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad:
BAOU is a state open university establishment on 27th July 1994, this is seventh open university in the country in terms of establishment and 5th in term of popularity. University offers 60+ diploma, UG and PG program under distance learning method. This University particularly operates in Gujrat only.
Official Website: http://www.baou.edu.in
7: VMOU- Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University, Kota:
VMOU was formerly known as Kota Open University which was later renamed by Rajasthan Govt. notification on 21st Sep 2002. This open university was established in 1987 offers distance learning programs in Rajasthan state. This is a state open university.
Student Strength: about 1,50,000
Official website: https://www.vmou.ac.in/
8: NOU: Nalanda Open University, Patna:
Nalanda Open University comes at 8th place in terms of top open Universities of India. This is a state open university of Bihar government. The University was established in March 1987 by an ordinance, promulgated by the Government of Bihar.
Later, Nalanda Open University Act, 1995 was passed by the Bihar Legislature, replacing the Ordinance, and the University came under the authority and jurisdiction of the new Act automatically. Approx. 1.5 lakh students enrol per year as per statistics of 2018.
Official website: http://www.nalandaopenuniversity.com/
9: MPBOU: Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Bhopal:
This is a State-sponsored open university of Madhya Pradesh. Operates within the state of MP having regional centres across the state.
Year of Establishment: 1991
Strength: about 2 lacs
Location: Kolar Rd, Near Swarn Jayanti Park, Yashoda Vihar Colony, Chuna Bhatti, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462016
Official website: http://www.bhojvirtualuniversity.com/
10: UOU- Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani (Nainital):
This is at 10th number in the top open university ranking. Operates within Uttrakhand state with approx. 90+ study centres.
Type: State open University
Established Year: 2005
Strength: 70,000 Students
Location: Behind Transport Nagar, Teenpani Bye Pass Road, Haldwani, Uttarakhand 263139
Official website: http://www.uou.ac.in/
11: UPRTOU- UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad:
One of the pioneer Universities, The U.P.Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Prayagraj, get establishement under Act No. 10/1999 passed by U.P.Legislature and assented to by the Governer of U.P. on March 24,1999. It is named after Bharat Ratna Rajarshi Purusottam Das Tandon ji, an illustrious son of Mother India. University is having more than 900 study centres within the state Uttar Pradesh
Type: State Open University
Strength: 60,000 to 80,000
Courses: 100+ UG, PG & Diploma courses.
Location: Shantipuram Awas Yojna, Sector-F, Shantipuram Rd, Phaphamau, Near Rapid Action Force Campus, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Official Website: http://www.uprtou.ac.in/
12: NSOU- Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata:
1997 was the birth centenary year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, following that west Bengal government established this open university. University operates in west Bengal with 4 regional centres within the state. Between 50 to 60 UG and PG programs are available in Medium English and Bengali.
Type: State Open University
Year of Establishment: 1997
Strength: 50000+ students enrol in a year at this University.
Location: DD-26, Sector-I, Salt Lake City, Kolkata – 700 064
Official Website: http://www.wbnsou.ac.in/
13: TNOU: Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai:
University offers 218 Programmes of study across various disciplines and skills at different levels from Certificate to Post- Graduate that is imparted through 13 Academic Schools, 5 Support Divisions, 1 Media Centre and a robust network of 515 Learner Support and Service Centres across the State. The Tamil Nadu Open University is the first University in the state to have introduced the credit-based self-learning materials in print as early as 2003. While the round-the-year admission policy with examination schedules conveniently arranged on weekends and the effective continuous assessment provision have sufficiently addressed the issue of quantity in the form of increasing higher education access, the University has been harnessing the advancements in ICT to continuously improve quality
Established year: 2002
Type: State Open University
Strength: about 40,000 students enrolls per year
Location: No 577, Anna Salai, Todd Hunter Nagar, Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600015
Official website: http://www.tnou.ac.in/
14: KKHSOU: Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati:
Since the establishment of the university, it has grown a lot, currently, the university is having about 300 study centre all over the Assam states. This one of the best open universities in the northeast.
Type: State Open University, Assam
Established: 2005
Strength: About 40,000 Enrolments per Year
Location: Patgaon, Rani. Guwahati- 781017. Assam
Official website: http://kkhsou.in/
15: PSSOU: Pt. Sundarlal Sharma Open University, Bilaspur:
PSSOU starts in the year 2005 by Chhattisgarh government.
Established Year: 2005
Type: State Open University
Strength: Not available
Location: Bilaspur Koni-Birkona Marg, Gram Post-Birkona, Dist. Bilaspur (C.G.), Pincode-495009
Official Website: http://pssou.ac.in/
16: SHUATS: Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Allahabad:
The old name of this University was Allahabad Agriculture University, this is now 108 years old institution. Further, it gets re-establishment under U.P. Act No. 35 of 2016. Offers 40+ programs under Distance learning mode. The university has more than 100 study centres across U.P. state.
Type: Private University with UGC & DEB approval.
Established: 1910 by Dr. Sam Higginbottom
Strength: 20,000
Campus: 900 Acre.
Location: Rewa Road Old Bridge, near to Yamuna, Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211007
Official Website: http://shuats.edu.in/
17. SVSU: Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (Meerut) Uttar Pradesh:
The university started operating in September 2008 and has 14 faculties. This university offers about 50 courses UG and PG.
Type: Private University Approved for Distance education with UP State.
Established: 2008
Strength: About 8,000/ students are enrolled per year
Location: Subhartipuram, NH-58, Delhi-Haridwar Bypass Road, Meerut-250005
Official website: https://subharti.org
These were top 17 open universities in India offering courses in distance mode, for details about fee and courses, you can visit the official websites of that particular university given above.
Apart from this, some other private and state universities also get authorization by the directorate of distance education (DDE) and distance education bureau (DEB) to offer courses under distance learning mode. Download list below.