

Nalanda Open University (NOU): Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026, Placements
- Public/Government University
- Estd. 1987
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:
Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
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:
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.
Nalanda Open University provides several MSc courses to its students. The eligibility across all of the offered courses is same. Students are selected on a merit basis. Aspirants can check out the following list to know about the Nalanda Open University MSc courses:
- Mathematics
- Zoology
- Physics
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Geography
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
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:
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
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.
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 |
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.
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.
Nalanda Open UniversityStudents Ratings & Reviews
Nalanda Open University (NOU) Placements 2025
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. The NOU Patna placement report has not been released officially. As per the Shiksha students' reviews, the highest package and average package offered in recent Nalanda Open University placements were INR 10 LPA and INR 5 LPA, respectively. Axis Bank, SBI, Genpact, and many other leading companies have visited the campus over the past few years. The key highlights of NOU Patna placements for MSc, MA, and other courses are tabulated 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 statistics are fetched from the Shiksha students' reviews.
Commonly asked questions On Placements
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.
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 |
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 |
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.
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Nalanda Open University (NOU) Infrastructure
NOU Bihar is currently operating from its main Nalanda Open University branch in Bihar at Biscomaun Bhawan, Patna. The office is well equipped and has a 60,000 sq. ft. of area as its examination center for 1,000 students. This campus also overs a library, computer lab, administrative office and a library.
How to Reach:
NOU University Patna has various means to travel. Patna Open University is well connected to the roadways. For candidates coming in from various parts of India, airways and railways is an affordable option. The university can be reached through public transports as well within the city. Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport (PAT) and Patna Junction Railway Station are the some of the options to ease out the candidates for airway and railway means.
Check out the below video for more information:
Library
Labs
Others
Nalanda Open University (NOU) Schools
Nalanda Open University Bihar comprises 10 schools to offer its courses. The name of these NOU Bihar schools are enlisted below:
|
NOU Schools |
||
|---|---|---|
|
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 |
||
Commonly asked questions On Affiliated Colleges and Departments
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 Results (NOU) 2025
Nalanda Open University Nalanda follows an odd and even semester pattern for all its distance learning courses. While the odd semester examinations are conducted in the months of December-January, the even semester exams are conducted in June-July. NOU Bihar results for both examination patterns are released on the official website within a few days after the end of the semester. Candidates can follow the steps below to check the UG or PG results at Nalanda Open University Bihar:
- Log in to the official college website (www.nou.ac.in).
- Navigate to the 'Exam Results' section.
- Choose desired course.
Note: Candidates who wish to apply for NOU revaluation and rechecking of papers can register through the official university website. Students will be notified of the results for the same within a week from the submission of applications.
Commonly asked questions On Results
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
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.
A total of 16 subjects is present and these are divided into two parts, i.e., part A and part B. For both of the course part the written examination and assingnment score is 640 & 160, resepectively. All the MSc Mathematics subjects offered at NOU is presented in the table below:
| NOU MSc Mathematics Subjects (Part A) | |
|---|---|
| Advance Abstract Algebra | Real Analysis |
| Measure Theory | Topology |
| Linear Algebra, Lattice Theory and Boolean Algebra | Complex Analysis |
| Theory Differential Equations | Set, Graph, Number Theory and Differential Geometry |
| NOU MSc Mathematics Subjects (Part B) | |
| Numerical Analysis | Functional Analysis |
| Partial Differential Equations | Analytical Dynamics |
| Fluid Mechanics | Operations Research |
| Tensor Algebra, Integral Transforms, Linera Integral equations, Operational Research Modelling | Programming in C |
Nalanda Open University (NOU) FAQs
Below are the NOU FAQs:
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).
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).
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.
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.
The University has not revealed the course-specific placement data. As per the overall placement data available on the Shikhs students' review page, the highest package and average package grabbed by NOU Patna students passed out in recent years was INR 10 LPA and INR 5 LPA, respectively. State Bank of India, Dainik Jagran, Bandhan Bank, Axis Bank, and many other renowned companies participated in the placement process over the years.
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Nalanda Open University
Student Forum
Answered a week ago
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 acade
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
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 Certi
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
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.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
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.
U
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
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.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Content authored by:
Updated on Nov 7, 2025
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