What is an Open University?: Advantages, List of Popular Universities, How to Choose
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Find out what an open university is and how its distance learning programmes aid higher education.
What is an Open University?
What is an Open University? - With the rising demand for skill-based education in India, the number of open universities with alternative regular courses is on the rise. Open Universities have lots of pros. Open universities in India offer distance learning and online programmes. They have made education accessible to even those residing in remote areas where higher education opportunities and facilities are quite limited. The public open universities in India can be categorised into two - central and state. For example, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a central open university and Nalanda Open University is state-run. Numerous private institutes in the country offer distance learning.
According to the Department of Higher Studies under the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), Open and Distance Learning is a system where teachers and learners don’t always have to be in the same place or even at the same time. It is flexible with timing, teaching methods, and even admission rules, but still keeps the needed quality. Open universities become a great choice for you if you live far away or if you can’t attend regular classes because of work or family needs. In the article below, you can learn more about open universities and how they help students in many different situations.
Also Read: Open Universities offering BBA course
- Advantages of Studying at an Open University
- Who Should Opt for an Open University?
- List of Popular Open Universities
- IGNOU
- How to Choose an Open University?
- Open Learning Institutes in Major States and Cities
Advantages of Studying at an Open University
Open universities can benefit different people from different walks of life in the following ways.
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Open Universities follow an open-door study policy, meaning you get admission mostly based on basic education and past records, and you don’t really need extra experience or references.
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These universities don’t use normal classroom teaching, so the fees stay quite low and easier for people from many income levels.
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Open Universities give good education and skill training to learners in remote places and also to students who can’t attend regular classes because of health issues.
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Another nice thing is there’s no fixed age limit, so anyone at any age can go for higher education if they want.
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They work under the UGC, so the degrees and certificates you get from Open Universities are UGC approved and fully valid.
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You get more time freedom too; like a 3-year programme can be stretched to 4 or even 6 years if you need it.
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Their main goal is to give everyone equal chance to learn and grow so they can improve their life.
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Open Universities can take in a huge number of students. IGNOU, for example, is the world’s biggest open university with around 4 million learners across many places.
Also Read: List of PhD Specialization
Yes, BEd is valid from U P Rajarshi Tandon Open University. UPRTOU offers a two-year full-time BEd programmes in General Education and Special Education. There are two admission cycles every year, between January and July. An applicant becomes eligible only if he/she meets the minimum eligibility criteria. The basic eligibility criteria is that the candidate should have a graduation/ PG with a minimum of 50% aggregate in Sciences/ Social Sciences/ Humanities. Candidates with BTech/BSc/BSc Mathematics degree must have passed with 55% aggregate.
Established in 1997, the Netaji Subhas Open University is a UGC-approved University. The university offers courses in distance mode. It has been accredited by NAAC with an A grade and has also been recognised by DEC and the Gov. of West Bengal. It is also an active member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), the Association of Asian Open University (AAOU), and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
Who Should Opt for an Open University?
- Open University is ideal for people who haven’t had the fortune of pursuing regular schooling or did not score good grades in higher secondary, for any reason.
- For those residing in remote areas, not properly connected with the city by road or transport, Open University is the best solution as attendance is not a factor and the study material can be sent to them by post. There are regional centres set up by open universities where students can submit assignments and take exams.
- Opting for an Open University is most beneficial to the students from the weaker sections of society as they are not burdened with heavy fees and other expenditures plus they can take up a job alongside.
- Open University is best suited for candidates with gap year/years too. Some people have to give up education due to medical or financial reasons. For these people, gap years pose a big problem when they plan to resume education. Open Universities are open to such candidates as they offer equal opportunity to all.
- People with full-time jobs and families to take care of, also often choose open universities to pursue higher education.
List of Popular Open Universities
Here’s the list of Open Universities in India which offer numerous academic programmes at nominal charges. The following universities are government-funded and act under the purview of UGC:
| List of Open Universities | |
|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), Hyderabad |
| Vardhman Mahaveer Open University (VMOU), Kota | Nalanda Open University (NOU), Patna |
| Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nashik |
Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University (MPBOU), Bhopal |
| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), Ahmedabad |
Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysore |
| Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU), Kolkata | U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad |
| Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Chennai | Pt. Sunderlal Sharma Open University (PSSOU), Bilaspur |
| Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani |
Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University, Guwahati |
Yes, the Indira Gandhi National Open University offers a two-year MSc course at the postgraduate level. The PG-level course is offered across different specialisations, including Environmental Science, Food Nutrition, etc. IGNOU MSc admission is granted on a merit-basis. Hence, the aspirants performance in the bachelor's degree course is considered for selection. The minimum eligibility criteria for admission is a valid UG degree with required aggregate as per the chosen specialisation. Eligible candidates can apply through the IGNOU official website.
Yes, Karnataka State Open University does offer BDes prorgamme at the UG level. However, the university offers limited seats for the BDes programme. For more information, candidates can refer to the following table:
Particular | Highlights |
|---|---|
Duration | 3 years |
Course Level | UG Degree |
Mode of Course | Full Time |
Seat Breakup | 24 |
UPRTOU Allahabad is an open university that provides multiple courses in Open & Distance Learning Mode. These courses allows people to access education widely and remotely. ODL courses are more popular among the working professionals. These 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
- NSOU, href="https://www.shiksha.com/university/nsou-netaji-subhas-open-university-kolkata-27704">NSOU, target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link Amity University Online">Amity University Online
- NSOU, Kolkata
- Online Manipal
- Veranda HigherED
- Hike Education.
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IGNOU
IGNOU started in 1985 and it’s one of the biggest open universities in India. You can study from home and still choose from more than 200 distance learning programmes in 27 Schools of Study. The system is easy to use, with a simple online portal and many study centres everywhere. There are 67 regional centres and over 2500 learner support centres that help students. It even got 29 partner institutions in other Asian countries for learners outside India.
Many students pick IGNOU because it gives flexible distance learning options. You can do BA, MA, MBA or BEd courses here. The tuition fee is not too high, mostly between INR 10,000 to 50,000 depending on what course you take. IGNOU is a good choice if you want quality distance education without spending too much money or traveling far.
How to Choose an Open University?
Consider the following factors while choosing your ideal open university.
- Figure out what your educational goals are. Determine what course you want to enrol on and how much time you can dedicate to it.
- Check if open universities with regional study centres in your proximity offer your desired course.
- Check if the tuition fee for your programme at your chosen university fits your budget.
- Check details about the university, read reviews, check out what facilities they have to offer, and also check for accreditations by UGC, NAAC, AICTE and the likes.
- Also, look up information about student support, faculty and industry recognition.
Open Learning Institutes in Major States and Cities
In the table below, students who wish to enrol on a distance learning programme can check out some state-wise and city-wise lists of open and distance learning institutes.
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Top 5 Open Universities in India
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Porishmita Paul holds an MSc in Anthropology from Gauhati University and has over 2 years of experience in content writing. She has been handling content for Hospitality & Humanities at Shiksha for a long time. She
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Tamil Nadu Open University offers two-year B.Ed Special Education in distance education mode through the Department of Special Education. Besides, the university also offers two-year B.Ed programme. However, the student-teacher is
permitted to complete within a maximum period of 5 years, after the enrolment.
The duration for B.Ed Spl.Ed is two-years for candidates with RCI recognised D.Ed Specialisation Education, Candidates can complete the programme within a maximum period of four years, after enrolment. For aspirants who does not possess any RCI recignised D.Ed Special Education, the duration of the course is two and a half years.