Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes: Fees, Eligibility, Admission
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Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes: Fees, Eligibility, Admission

#B.C.A.
Vivek KumarUpdated on 24 Sep 2025, 03:10 PM IST

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

  1. List of Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes
  2. Open Universities Admission 2025-26
  3. Open Universities Registration Fee
Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes: Fees, Eligibility, Admission
Open Universities in India Offering Online Programmes: Fees, Eligibility, Admission

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 ProgrammesFee Range

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU)

10

UG: Rs 12,000 - Rs 45,000

PG: Rs 13,000 - Rs 50,000

Karnataka State Open University (KSOU)

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 NameFeesEligibility

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 NameFeeEligibility

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 NameFeesEligibility

Master of Arts - Kannada

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.

Master of Arts - English

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.

Master of Arts - Hindi

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).

Master of Arts - Sanskrit

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.

Master of Arts - Economics

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.

Master of Commerce

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.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Rs 80,000

Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University or equivalent

Master of Science - Mathematics

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)

Q: What is the fee of online programmes at open universities?
A:

Online programmes at open universities cost between Rs 12,000 and Rs 80,000, depending on the university.

Q: Who can apply for open universities online programmes?
A:

For UG programmes, candidates must have passed 10+2 and hold a bachelor’s degree for PG programmes.

Q: What are the benefits of pursuing online programmes from open universities?
A:

Pursuing online programmes from open universities provides an accredited degree at an affordable cost, career advancement, and global exposure.

Q: What are the online programmes offered by Open Universities?
A:

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.

Q: What are the best open universities for online programmes?
A:

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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Questions related to B.C.A.

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to B.C.A. ?

There are several institutions that provides BCA course in India which also offers good placement opportunities. You can click here : Top B.C.A. Colleges in India 2025 – Courses, Fees, Admission, Rank https://share.google/YYolJSVsNm8ghmEaz (http://Top%20B.C.A.%20Colleges%20in%20India%202025%20%E2%80%93%20Courses,%20Fees,%20Admission,%20Rank%20https%3A//share.google/YYolJSVsNm8ghmEaz) to know more about the best BCA Colleges in India 2025.

Hello dear candidate,

in 2024, the closing rank in CAP round 1 for all India seats were nearly around 66-67 percentile. exact cutoff differ for each category.

For a detailed information you can visit the link given below:-

https://university.careers360.com/articles/bhu-ug-cut-off


Nanhi Pari Seemant Engineering Institute in Pithoragarh mainly offers B.Tech courses in branches like Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical. The admission process for B.Tech is done through JEE Main and then by joining the Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) counselling. For B.Tech you must have passed 12th with Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry or Computer Science and should have at least around 45% marks.


If you do not want to apply for BCA and wish to study in this college, you can try for B.Tech or any other course that the institute offers. To get admission, you need to appear in JEE Main, then take part in the UTU counselling and choose Nanhi Pari Seemant Engineering Institute as your preferred college.


If you have already missed the admission dates for this year, then you may need to wait and apply in the next session. Another option is to contact the admission office of the institute directly and ask if any seats are available through special or management quota, but usually government engineering colleges follow strict rules.


https://archive.sitp.ac.in/


https://www.careers360.com/colleges/nanhi-pari-seemant-engineering-institute-pithoragarh


HELLO,

In India there are several best colleges that offers BCA with a cybersecurity specialization and accept students from an Arts stream or background.

Here are some colleges that you can consider:-

1.Amity University , Noida

2.Lovely Professional University , Noida

3.Jain University , Bangalore

4.Manipal University , Bangalore

5.Galgotias University , Bangalore

Visit the link for exploring more options :- https://engineering.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-cyber-security-colleges-in-india

While many private universities accept arts students for BCA , some still require Mathematics as a core subject in class 12th so before applying always verify or confirm your eligibility criteria according to university's admission guidelines

Hope this Helps!

Hello

You can still apply to BCA colleges even if your CET didn’t go well don’t worry, you have options.
KVM College in Rohtak doesn’t seem to offer a BCA program; it mainly focuses on education and nursing courses.
If you're looking to study BCA, consider colleges like MDU Rohtak, BMU, or Govt. College Rohtak.
Many colleges accept direct or merit-based admissions for BCA, especially in private institutions.
Being a reserved category (like BCA) student can give you relaxed cut-off marks and more chances.
For example, MDU requires around 45 marks in 12th (less for reserved categories).
Start applying early and keep an eye on official college websites for admission updates.
Even if CET went badly, your journey doesn’t end good colleges are still within your reach.