Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes: Fees, Eligibility, Admission
Online education has transformed the way we learn and earn a degree or credential. Online programmes have enabled not only students but working professionals to study without leaving their jobs or other commitments and at their own pace. Open Universities have long been providing education with flexibility to students in remote areas and professionals to complete their education.
This Story also Contains
- List of Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes
- Open Universities Admission 2025-26
- Open Universities Registration Fee
Several open universities in India offer online programmes alongside distance education. This particularly makes learning easier and accessible to students with different backgrounds and age. While open and distance learning programmes provide access to physical books and minimal classes, online programmes can be accessed through live lectures, ebooks, recorded videos, and doubt clearing sessions.
List of Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes
As per UGC’s latest update on higher educational institutions (HEIs), two state open universities are entitled to offer online programmes.
Name | Number of Programmes | Fee Range |
|---|---|---|
10 | UG: Rs 12,000 - Rs 45,000 PG: Rs 13,000 - Rs 50,000 | |
10 | UG: Rs 30,000 - Rs 36,000 PG: Rs 30,000 - Rs 80,000 |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University
Established by the Government of Gujarat, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) offers UGC-entitled online programmes in arts, commerce, and computer applications. BAOU Online programmes are delivered through the Centre for Online Education (COE) in accordance with the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020.
BAOU Online Bachelor’s Programmes
Programme Name | Fees | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
Bachelor of Arts (English) | Rs 12,000 | 10+2 or equivalent or successful in B.P.P. examination. |
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) | Rs 16,500 | 10+2 or equivalent or successful in B.P.P. examination. |
Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) | Rs 45,000 | First year/ first semester: 12th std or its equivalent, 10th std + ITI (2 or more years) + NCVT/GCVT + GSHEB/GOSE 12th english exam, 10th + 3 years diploma (polytechnic) Second year/ third semester: Students who completed a 10 + 3 years diploma in CE/IT/CS or 10 + 2 with one year DCA from a statutory examination body or recognised university are eligible for the direct admission in the third semester. Third year/ fifth semester: Students who have completed advance diploma in computer application from a recognised university are eligible for direct admission in the third year. |
BAOU Online Master’s Programmes
| Programme Name | Fees | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
Master of Arts (English) | Rs 13,000 | Bachelor’s degree of any recognised university or professional degree |
Master of Arts (Gujarati) | Rs 13,000 | 10+2 or equivalent or successful in B.P.P. examination. |
Master of Arts (Sociology) | Rs 13,000 | Bachelor;s degree of any recognised university or professional degree. |
Master of Computer Applications (MCA) | Rs 50,000 | B.C.A./ B.Sc. (Computer Science/IT), B.E./B.Tech. (CSE/IT) or an equivalent degree, or any graduation (B.E., B.Tech., B.Sc., B.Com., B.A., B.Voc.) preferably with Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation level, with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved category). Students without a Mathematics background need to complete compulsory bridge courses in mathematics and computer-related subjects as per university norms. |
Master of Commerce (M.Com) | Rs 22,000 | Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) | Rs 20,000 | Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication (MAJMC) | Rs 40,000 | Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Karnataka State Open University (KSOU)
Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) is one of the open universities offering online programmes at the bachelor’s and master’s level. KSOU Online programmes are available in arts, commerce, science, and management, empowering students to achieve their educational goals while balancing studies with other commitments.
KSOU Online Bachelor’s Programmes
| Programme Name | Fee | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
Bachelor of Arts (History, Economics, Political Science) | Rs 30,000 | Two Year Pre-University examination conducted by the PreUniversity Education Board in Karnataka State OR Any other examination considered as equivalent there to OR Candidates from other states who have successfully completed 12 years of schooling (either 10+2 or 11+1 or Higher Secondary Examination-12 Years of Schooling) excluding Nursery Education OR Pre University Examination in Vocational Courses conducted by the Department of Vocational Education, Government of Karnataka |
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com | Rs 36,000 |
KSOU Online Master’s Programmes
| Programme Name | Fees | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
Rs 30,000 | Bachelor’s Degree without studying Cognate subjects OR B.A./B.Sc./B.A. (Performing Arts) degree offering Kannada as a major/optional subject, or an equivalent qualification. Those who have passed the Kannada Pandit exam (Government of Karnataka), Kannada Ratna exam (Kannada Sahitya Parishath, Bengaluru), or Vidwan exam in Kannada (Madras University) along with a B.Ed. Graduates with a Post-PU Diploma in Kannada or those who studied Kannada as a second language/minor subject in B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. with at least 50% marks are also eligible. | |
Rs 30,000 | Bachelor’s Degree of Three years duration without studying Cognate subjects OR B.A./B.Sc./B.Music degree offering English as a second language or minor subject with at least 50% marks, OR those with a four-year B.A., B.Ed. (University of Mysore, Regional College Scheme) with English as major/optional, or a four-year B.Ed./B.Sc. Ed. (University of Mysore, Regional College Scheme) with at least 50% in English. Graduates holding a Post-Graduate Diploma in English are also eligible. | |
Rs 30,000 | Bachelor’s Degree of Three years duration or equivalent without studying Cognate subjects OR B.A./B.Sc./B.A. (Performing Arts) degree examination of any recognized university offering Hindi as a language under Group-I or Group II, Provided they have obtained not less than 50 percent of marks. OR Graduates of any recognised University who have not studied Hindi as a language or optional subject are eligible if they have qualified in one of the following equivalent Hindi examinations: Rashtrabhasha Praveen or Visharda (Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachara Sabha, Chennai), Rashtrabhasha Vidwan or Rajabhasha Prakash (Karnataka Hindi Prachara Samithi, Bangalore), Hindi Ratna (Mysore Hindi Prachara Parishat, Bangalore), Bhasha Praveen (Karnataka Mahila Hindi Seva Samithi, Bangalore), or Sahitya Vishard/Madhyama/Uttama (Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag). | |
Rs 30,000 | Bachelor’s Degree without studying Cognate subjects OR B.A./B.Sc./B.Com./B.Musi c/BYNS/BBM or five-year BAMS/LLB degree offering Sanskrit as a second language or minor subject with at least 50% marks. Graduates who have passed the Sahitya Examination of the Board of Sanskrit Education, Govt. of Karnataka, or equivalent exams such as Kovida (Bharatiya Vidyabhavan, Mumbai or Sanskrit Bharati, New Delhi) or Samartha (Bhasha Pracarinisabha, Chittor). Graduates with a Post-PU Diploma in Sanskrit, those who passed Vidwat Madhyama (B.A) by the Board of Sanskrit Education or Karnataka Sanskrit University, and graduates who cleared the Kannada Pandit Exam conducted by the Government of Karnataka are also eligible. | |
Rs 30,000 | Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent without studying Cognate subjects OR B.A./B.A. (Performing Arts) Degree Examination of any recognized University offering Economics as one of the Major/Optional subjects at the Degree level or an examination of any university considered as equivalent thereto. | |
Rs 40,000 | Bachelor’s Degree without studying Cognate Subjects are eligible such admitted candidates have to qualify the Master’s Preparatory Program (MPP) examination conducted by the Karnataka State Open University. OR Candidates who have passed three years B.Com /B.B.M. /B.B.A. Degree Examination of any recognised University or an examination of any University considered equivalent thereto. | |
Rs 80,000 | Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University or equivalent | |
Rs 80,000 | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University. |
Open Universities Admission 2025-26
Candidates can apply for admission to Open Universities online programmes after meeting the eligibility criteria. They need to submit a duly filled application form along with the required documents in the universities’ online admission portal.
Visit the official website of your chosen university
Select the online programme and meet the admission criteria
Fill in the registration form
Login with the registered email and password
Complete the admission form
Upload the required documents
Wait for the admission confirmation
Open Universities Registration Fee
Applicants are required to pay the admission or registration fee while processing the admission form. This is a one-time fee that applicants will be charged during the admission process. The registration fee for open universities online programmes is Rs 1,000.
Pursuing online programmes from open universities help students not only follow their academic pursuits but also fulfill their career aspirations. With a recognised degree, placement opportunities, and global exposure, open universities allow learners to make the most of their learning through online programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Online programmes at open universities cost between Rs 12,000 and Rs 80,000, depending on the university.
For UG programmes, candidates must have passed 10+2 and hold a bachelor’s degree for PG programmes.
Pursuing online programmes from open universities provides an accredited degree at an affordable cost, career advancement, and global exposure.
Open universities offer a variety of online programmes at the bachelor’s and master’s level from Online BA, Online BCom, and Online BCA to Online MA, Online MCom, Online MSc, and Online MBA.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) and Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) are the open universities offering UGC-entitled online programmes.
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List of B.C.A. colleges
Questions related to B.C.A.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
GGU Bilaspur does not offer a 2-year BCA. The BCA course in GGU is a 3-year UG programme. If you want admission in BCA for the 2026-27 session, you have to follow the normal admission process.
Admission process for BCA in GGU Bilaspur:
-
You must pass 10+2 from a recognised board.
-
You have to appear for CUET-UG , because GGU takes UG admission through CUET.
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After the CUET result, you have to fill the GGU admission form on the official website.
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GGU will release merit lists and counselling schedules. You have to attend counselling based on your CUET score.
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After seat allotment, you must complete document verification and pay the admission fee.
GGU does not have lateral entry or direct admission into 2nd year for BCA. So joining directly in the 2nd year is not possible.
For accurate dates and updates, you should check the GGU admission notifications when the 2026-27 cycle starts.
Hope it helps !
Hey Rohan,
Yes there is difference but not a big deal. BCA is simpler and mainly focus on coding and software whereas Computer science is bit harder and includes coding, hardware and maths.
and most importantly you can still get good tech jobs with BCA if you learn skills well because at the end skills matters more than the degree.
I hope this will help you.
All the best.
Hello
BCA first-year fees in 2024 vary a lot depending on the college you choose.
Government colleges are usually affordable, with fees ranging from 10,000 to 50,000.
Private colleges charge more, usually between 40,000 and 1,20,000 for the first year.
Some top institutes may have higher fees because of better facilities and placements. It’s important to check each college’s official website for exact and updated fees.
Choosing the right college depends on your budget, location, and career goals.
Hello,
Yes, a bio student can pursue a BCA degree at BHU. Through eligibility depends on the program and may require strong performance in mathematics and a specific CUET score.
Hope this information will help u. Goodluck.
Hi there,
Hostel fees and tuition fees for a BCA student over 3 years can vary from 1.2 lakhs to 8.88 lakhs, depending on the College or university. Generally, Government colleges and universities have lower fees compared to Private colleges. The food fees vary, as they are not always included in hostel fees.
But roughly, tuition fees are around 1.2 lakhs to 5.4 lakhs for the entire course, and hostel fees are around 1.0 lakhs to 5.3 lakhs. But it entirely depends on which college or university you are going to attend.
Hope it helps!!!