How to buy NOU prospectus offline?

Students who are looking for admission at NOU can purchase the prospectus by two medium. First by post, the same can obtained by post by sending a demand draft of INR 500. The amount to be paid in favor of Nalanda Open University, Patna. This is note that, no cash medium would be accepted to paid the amount. Second from Study Centre, all counselling cum-study centre have also been permitted to sale the prospectus on payment of INR 500.

How to fill the Nalanda Open University application form?

Students can go to the official site of Nalanda Open University to start the application. The form can be submitted by logging into the NOU Bihar admission portal. Follow the steps below to apply: Register and using the registered details, login to your dashboard. Fill the form with personal and academic info. Upload documents. Then select the course. Pay fees and submit the form.

Can I get direct admission to Nalanda Open University?

For all the undergraduate programmes offered by Nalanda Open University, the admissions are merit-based. For some of the postgraduate programmes the NOU admissions are entrance-based. Moreover, the mode of application is online. Candidates need to visit the official website for applying online. Also, candidates can visit the campus and apply offline.

Is CUET required for Nalanda Open University admission?

No, CUET is not required for Nalanda Open University admissions. The university is an Open University and offers courses through online and distance learning mode. Hence, no selection rounds are conducted. Students can apply simply by completing the Class 12/ Graduation as per the course.

Is Nalanda Open University better than IGNOU?

The table below compares the NOU Patna placements with IGNOU in terms of the highest and average packages: University Name Average Package the highest Package Nalanda Open University INR 5 LPA INR 10 LPA IGNOU INR 2.50 LPA* INR 6 LPA *The salary mentioned is the lowest package. NOTE: The above placement details are fetched from Shiksha students' reviews.

How many subjects are there in NOU BSc (Hons) Maths?

Nalanda Open University BSc (Hons) course has eight subjects. The subjects are divided into Part 1 and Part 2. The written exam and assignment scores is 640 and 40, respectively for both the course part.

Which MA specialisations does NOU Patna offer?

NOU Patna offers a two-year PG course of MA across 15 specialisations, which are taught through five different schools at the university. These specialisations are Economics, Education, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Maithili, Public Administration, Urdu, etc. Apart from this, the university also offers MA in Bhojpuri and English, but these specialisations are currently suspended by the university till any further update.

What are the specialisations offered for the M.A. (Hons) course at NOU?

Nalanda Open University offers BA (Hons) in Bhojpuri, Economics, Education, Environmental Studies, Geography, Hindi History, Magahi, Maithili, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Rural Development, Sanskrit, Urdu, and English. The duration of the course is for two years.

What is the fee for M.Sc in Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University MSc fee is INR 11,200. The fee needs to be paid all at once during admission. According to the official website of the university, the payment must be made through demand draft in favour of Nalanda Open University, payable at Patna. On the back side of the demand draft students need to write their admission number and name of the course he has applied for. NOU provides a discount of 25% on the fee for female students. For further queries, students can contact the admission help desk of the university.

How is Nalanda Open University for BSc?

Nalanda Open University (NOU) offers placement assistance to students seeking challenging jobs in the industry. Along with that, the University also provides training and career guidance services to shape the careers of students by developing their personalities. As per the Shiksha students' reviews, the the highest package and average package offered in recent Nalanda Open University placements were INR 10 LPA and INR 5 LPA, respectively. Note: The stats mentioned above is the overall placement data. Hence, it is not course-specific.

How to join Nalanda Open University?

Candidates who want to join NOU required to meet the last educational qualification as per course requirement. The table below showcases common eligibility and selection criteria of Nalanda Open University: Course Common Eligibility Selection Criteria MSc Graduate with a Science background Merit-Based BEd Graduate with 50% aggregate. The candidate should have teaching experience Merit-Based MA Graduate in any stream/Mathematics Merit-Based BSc Intermediate Science Merit-Based BA Intermediate Merit-Based

What is the selection criteria for Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University selection criteria is merit-based only. The university offers seats to all the students who submit a completed application before the last date. There is no entrance test or interview for selection. For B.Ed however, students may have to sit for the Bihar B.Ed CET.

Can I get direct admission to Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University UG admission is merit-based. For some PG courses admission, such as B.Ed, the admission process is entrance-based. Students can check the minimum eligibility criteria and qualify for the selection process as per the university norms.

What is the selection criteria for MA at NOU?

Nalanda Open University MA is offered in different specialisations. The admission is merit-based. Students are to appear for their previous qualifying examination with valid scoring. The admission process can be started by visiting the official website of the university.

What are the essential qualifications for admission to B.Ed course at NOU Patna?

Nalanda Open University (NOU) offers a two-year BEd course under the Teacher Education Programme. This course is only for in-service teachers. The BEd at Nalanda Open University is a two-year course and the medium of instruction is Hindi. To get admission for BEd course, the candidate have to be graduate with 55% aggregate and required teaching expirence.

What are the documents required for Nalanda Open University admissions?

Students have to submit some documents for verification during Nalanda Open University admissions and applications. The list of documents is as below: Class 10 marksheet & Certificate Class 12 marksheet & Certificate UG degree marksheet & Certificate - for PG admissions Leaving certificate Transfer Certificate Migration Certificate Aadhaar card/ Valid Identity Proof Passport-size photo Scanned Signature

How to get admission in Nalanda Open University?

To get admission in Nalanda Open University courses, students have to simply apply online. The applications will be live once the admission cycle begins. Students can pay the course fees to get admission in the university. No money order/ Demand Draft/ Postal Order is accepted by NOU.

Is Nalanda Open University hard to get admission in?

No, Nalanda Open University is not hard to get as the admission process is based on merit scores. Additionally, open universities are easier to get in comparison to regular colleges/universities. This is one of the reasons that makes open universities accessible to all the students around India. However, for specific programmes such as BEd or PhD, students would be required to appear for the entrance exams. The fee for all the courses is affordable. Interested students must visit the official website of NOU and apply for the desired course.

Which colleges can I get admission to other than NOU?

NOU Patna provides multiple UG & PG courses in Open & Distance Learning Mode. These courses allows people to access education widely and remotely. ODL courses can be pursued in either online or offline mode. Candidates can choose an institute that provides their desired course in their preferred mode. Other institutes that offer such courses are listed below: IGNOU, Delhi TimesPro, Mumbai IIMTS SOL, Univeristy of Delhi Imarticus Learning Parul University Amity University Online Online Manipal Veranda HigherED Hike Education.

Which are the top companies that take part in the placement drive at Nalanda Open University?

Check below the list of top companies who participated in Nalanda Open University placements in recent years: Nalanda Open University Placements: Top Recruiters Axis Bank ICICI Bank HDFC Bank State Bank of India HCL Technologies Genpact Bandhan Bank Dainik Jagran

How do I register for NOU?

In order to get admission to B.Ed at Nalanda Open University, candidates need to get a UG degree with 50% aggregate for General and 45% aggregate for reserved category candidates in any discipline from a recognised board as per the minimum eligibility criteria. Apart from that, students also need to have a proven teaching experience of two years. Admission to BEd is done through a valid score of the BEd CET entrance exam, which is a state-level entrance exam conducted for the candidates of Bihar.

How are the placements for BBA at Nalanda Open University?

The placement data for BBA is not out officially. However, the students have revealed the overall placement details on the Shiksha students' review page. The overall statistics for Nalanda Open University placements are mentioned below: Particulars Placement Statistics Average package INR 5 LPA Highest package INR 10 LPA Popular recruiters HCL Technologies, Axis Bank ICICI Bank NOTE: The above placement data is fetched from the Shiksha students' reviews.

What is the highest package offered at Nalanda Open University?

As per the Shiksha students' reviews, the Nalanda Open University highest package for recent recruitment processes stood at INR 10 LPA. As soon as the official salary statistics are out it will be updated here. Meanwhile, refer to the NOU Patna highest package from the table below: Particulars Placement Statistics Highest package INR 10 LPA

What are the specialisations offered for the B.A. (Hons) course at NOU?

The specialisations offered for the B.A. (Hons) course at the Nalanda Open University include Economics, Geography, Education, Hindi History, Journalism & Mass Communication, political. Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Social Work, Tourism, Home Science, and Statistics. Moreover, candidates who want admission to BA (Hons) course need to clear Class 12 from a recognized board. The admissions are merit-based.

What is the process of admission in Nalanda open University for B.Com?

NOU admission will be finalized based on an eligibility test. NOU will release the application form soon on the official website. Applicants can fill out the application form online and offline. The application can be submitted for all courses provided by Nalanda Open University. Document required with the admission form includes attested Photocopy of the mark sheet of the qualifying examination, attested Certificate of matriculation for proof of age, attested Caste Certificate issued by DM/DC/SDO or any other person. The annual fee for NOU B.Com is approximately INR 2,400.

What is the average package offered at Nalanda Open University?

The University has not disclosed the placement data on its official website. However, the students have mentioned the salary details on the Shiksha students' reviews. As per the reviews, the Nalanada Open University average package offered over the past few placements was INR 5 LPA. The following table mentions the NOU Patna average package for reference: Praticulars Placement Statistics Average package INR 5 LPA

How are the placements at Nalanda Open University?

The University has not released any placement-related data. However, students have mentioned the details on the Shiksha students' review page. Take a look at the below table to know the NOU Patna placement statistics: Particulars Placement Statistics Average package INR 5 LPA the highest package INR 10 LPA NOTE: The above placement details are collated from the Shiksha students' reviews.

Who were the top recruiters at NOU Patna placements?

The University hosted a wide-range of recruiters from various sectors. Some of the popular companies where the alumi are placed are listed below: Nalanda Open University Placements: Top Recruiters Axis Bank ICICI Bank HDFC Bank State Bank of India HCL Technologies Genpact Bandhan Bank Dainik Jagran

Where do NOU Patna alumni work?

According to unofficial online sources, a large share of Nalanda Open University alumni is placed in the Education sector with a 23% share. The other top sectors that involve the majority of alumni are Sales and Business Development. The detailed sector-wise distribution of alumni is depicted below: Sector Percentage of Alumni Education 23% Sales 17% Business Development 15% Operations 14% Media and Communication 13% Others 18% NOTE: The sectors involved in the 'Others' category are Administrative, Finance, and Engineering.

How can I take admission in BEd in Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University course admission for BEd programme is live now. Interested students can visit the offcial website to apply for the mentioned course. The programme is tailored for in service teacher and duration is two years. Apart from this, to take admission for BEd course, the candidate must meet the latest educational qualifications.

Can I join Nalanda Open University directly after Class 12?

Yes, you can join Nalanda Open University UG-level courses directly after Class 12 resuts are announced. Students are selected based on academic merit only. For admission to courses, such as BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, BCom, and more, you may apply after Class 12 is completed.

Are admissions open at Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University admissions are expected to open soon. Students can go to the official site of NOU Bihar to get the latest admission updates. The process can be completed online mainly.

Can I get direct admission to Nalanda Open University for MA?

For all the postgraduate programmes offered by Nalanda Open University, the admissions are merit-based. For some of the postgraduate programmes the NOU admissions are entrance-based. Moreover, the mode of application is online. Candidates need to visit the official website for applying online. Also, candidates can visit the campus and apply offline.

What scholarships are available for students at Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University provides scholarships to the deserving candidates or lower section of the society. The institute offers Other Backward Classes Post-Graduation Scholarship Scheme and the SC and ST Post-Matric Scholarship, among others.

What is the fee for B.Ed at Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University offers several courses at the UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate and PhD levels. BEd is the flagship programme at NOU Bihar. The total tuition fees for the same is around INR 50 K. However, in the total fee charged by NOU Patna for BEd, it can include multiple components, such as tuition fees, security deposit, application fee, hostel fees, mess fees, and more. To apply for the BEd course at NOU, candidates must appear for Bihar Bachelor of Education Combined Entrance Test ( Bihar BEd CET ).

What is the fee structure at Nalanda Open University?

The university offers more than 35 courses. The mode of study is distance/correspondance and full-time. The tuition fee for Nalanda Open University ranges between 2.2 K to INR 50 K. However, students can check the the table below to know the list of a top courses fee: Course Name Total Tuition Fee MSc INR 11,200 BEd INR 50,000 MA INR 11,200 BSc INR 9,600 BA INR 9,600 to INR 10,800

Can students from other states take admission in Nalanda Open University?

Yes, candidates who want to take admission at NOU, state doesn't matter, if you have good marks you apply for the course. Apart from this, the minimum eligibility should be match as per course requirement. However, for PhD admission, the candidate need to have PG degree in concerned subjects with 55% aggregate + eligibility test. For more details, students can check the official website.

Do I need CUET score for BSc at Nalanda Open University?

No, the university does not required CUET score for BSc admission. The candidate can enroll for the course as per the latest course requirement. To know the detail common eligibility, students can check the table presented below: Course Name Eligibility Selection Criteria BSc Honors Intermediate Science Merit-Based

Which courses are offered at NOU?

The university offers degree, diploma, and certificate courses in distance mode under the streams of Humanities & Social Sciences, IT & Software, Accounting & Commerce, Science, Mass Communication & Media, Business & Management Studies, Nursing, Medicine & Health Sciences, and Teaching & Education. The university also offers courses like Disaster Management, Yogic Studies, Child & Women's Rights, and Abolition of Child Labour.

What all BSc courses can I pursue at Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University offers several BSc (Hons) courses across multiple specialisations. The eligibility is same across all of the offered specialisations. Students seeking to apply for the course need to pass Class 12 or equivalent with relevant subjects. Find below the list of NOU BSc courses: Botany Zoology Mathematics Physics Chemistry Home Science Geography

What specialisations for M.A course do Nalanda Open University offer?

At Nalanda Open University, students are offered over fifteen specialisations in part-time and full-time modes. The eligibility and selection criteria is same across all of the specialisations. Students can refer to the following list to know about NOU MA specialisations: MA in Education (Part-time) MA in Maithili MA in Geography MA in Rural Development MA in Magahi MA in Psychology MA in History MA7 in Hindi MA1 in Political Science MA in Economics

How many schools does NOU comprise to offer its courses?

The NOU schools are as follows: School of Computer Education and Information Technology School of Economics, Commerce, and Management School of Health and Environmental Science School of Indian and Foreign Languages School of Indology School of Journalism and Mass Communication School of Library and Information Science School of Pure and Agricultural Sciences School of Social Sciences School of Teacher’s Education

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Nalanda Open University (NOU): Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026, Placements

Bihar - Other

3.6 /5

(33 Reviews)

100 Student Q&A

Public/Government University
Estd. 1987

Last updated on 7 Nov '25

Nalanda Open University
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Admission is open to PG Diploma and Certificate courses for the academic session 2025 at Nalanda Open University. Candidates can check and apply through the official website.

Nalanda Open University Highlights (NOU) 2026

Established in 1987, Nalanda Open University (NOU) is a government-open university, and located in Bihar. NOU Bihar is named after the famous Nalanda University of Ancient India. The University is recognised by the Distance Education Council (DEC), IGNOU, UGC, and the Ministry of HRD, Government of India for imparting education through distance mode.

Nalanda Open University Patna Bihar provides courses at the UG, PG, Certificate and PhD levels via 10 schools. NOU University Patna provides a wide range of courses across arts, science, commerce, technology, pharmacy and business administration. These programmes are offered through distance and online modes. Admission to these courses is offered on the basis of the merit scores. The mode of application is conducted both online and offline. The fees for various courses may vary on the basis of the type and level of the program. Nalanda University Patna has a well-equipped campus with state-of-the-art facilities to enhance the learning experience of the students.

Tabulated below are the Nalanda Open University Bihar highlights:

Particulars	NOU Highlights 2026
Establishment Year	1987
Ownership type	Government
Location	Bihar
Also known as	NOU or NOU Patna
Schools	10
Regional study centres	200+
Recognised by	DEC, UGC, Ministry of HRD, Government of India
Mode of education	Distance and Online
Official website	www.nou.ac.in

Check out more on NOU Patna Highlights in the video below:

Commonly asked questions
On Highlights

Q: What is the last date for Nalanda Open University admission 2026?

Nalanda Open University has not released the last date of admissions and applications yet. Students still have time to apply for the courses. Once the admission cycle starts, students can simply login at the admission portal.

Q: Does Nalanda Open University provide a valid university degree?

Nalanda Open University is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Ministry of HRD, the Government of India and the Distance Education Bureau (DEB). NOU is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), the International Council of Open and Distance Education (ICDE) and the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). Additionally, Nalanda Open University was established in 1987 under the ACT of Bihar Government, Nalanda Open University (NOU).

Q: Can I join B.Ed at NOU without Bihar B.Ed CET?

No, a student can not join the B.Ed programme offered by Nalanda Open University without appearing for the Bihar B.Ed CET programme. Admission to the course is entrance-based and requires students to appear for the entrance test conducted by the concerned authoritiy. Hence, students must appear and clear the exam to secure their seat at the university for the B.Ed programme. Aside from the entrance exam, fulfilling the basic eligibility i.e., graduation from a recognised university and a minimum teaching experience of two years is also important. For further admission related queries, students are advised to visit the official website of the university.

Q: What are the good and bad sides of studying in Nalanda Open University?

Nalanda Open University has several pros and cons of studying for various students. The good and bad sides are given below:

Good side of studying at NOU:

In comparison to other regular universities, NOU is affordable in terms of everything. The tuition fee, along with other fee components is lower.
The system of distance learning is flexible for students living in different parts of the nation.
NOU offers UG, PG, Diploma and Certificate courses across various specialisations. All these courses are recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Council (DEC).

Bad sides of studying at NOU:

Due to the distance learning mode, students lack interaction with the faculty. This can impact the learning experience of students.
Open universities such as NOU Bihar and Patna IGNOU often lack placement opportunities, practical training and exposure.
Students miss out on extra-curricular activities, vibrant college life, fests, events, internships and seminars.

Nalanda Open University (NOU) Popular Programmes 2025

Nalanda Open University in Bihar offers more than 100 courses through 10 schools in distance learning mode. The flagship courses are BEd and MSc. NOU Bihar offers a two-year BEd course under the Teacher Education Programme. Admission to the same is absed on Bihar BEd CET. On the other hand, MSc is offered in a wide range of specialisations including Environmental Sciences, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, and Mathematics among others. Admission to the MSc course is based on the merit scores in the last qualifying exam. Candidates can take a look below at the NOU University Patna popular programmes:

M.Sc.

7 Courses

4.2(5)2 years

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹8.8 K

Get Fee Details

Placement Rating

2.4

B.Ed

1 Course2 years

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹50 K

Get Fee Details

Median Salary

– / –

View All 17 Courses

Nalanda Open University (NOU) Admission Process and Dates 2025

Nalanda University Patna Bihar admission is based on the merit scores such as Nalanda University BA admission which are based on previous qualifying examination scores. However, Nalanda BEd admission are done through a state-level entrance exam, Bihar BEd CET. All of the courses at the university are offered through the distance learning mode. The admission and application process for the courses is conducted both offline and online. Interested students must visit the admission portal of NOU University Patna to apply fr the desired course. Additionally, students can also visit their nearest regional centre to apply for the the course and have a detailed look about it. The minimum eligibility requires the candidates to pass Class 12 from a recognised board.

For more details about NOU Patna admission, check out below video:

Admission Details for all courses