Is Nalanda Open University the Right Choice for Your Career?

The only distance-learning institution in Bihar, Nalanda Open University was established in 1987. It has a cutting-edge campus with well-equipped labs, examination centres, library and other infrastructural facilities for students. It has today evolved into a top-tier institute for students who are planning to pursue courses from distance education. It was recognised by the UGC (University Grants Commission) DEB (Distance Education Bureau).

If you are wondering whether or not it is a good idea to pursue a degree from Nalanda Open University, then browse no further. This blog will provide you with a comprehensive overview of Nalanda Open University. Let’s dive straight into it.

Want to Learn about Nalanda Open University?

In Bihar, Nalanda Open University (NOU) is a pioneer in the field of distance education and has dedicated itself to providing an extensive range of courses and educational opportunities. The University has been historically known for accessibility and excellent education. With a great track record of students and renowned faculty, NOU becomes a top choice for thousands of students nationally and Internationally.

Set on a mission to provide educational opportunities to those students who are unable to pursue formal education, the University offers flexibility in terms of eligibility, age, course selection, etc.

What are its Accreditation & Approvals?

Nalanda Open University has received recognition from the UGC DEB to offer various distance education courses. Furthermore, it has been recognised by the Ministry of HRD.

What are the Courses Offered?

NOU offers a wide range of courses in various fields including, Computer & IT, Economics, Commerce, Management, EVS, Indian & Foreign Languages, Journalism & Mass Communication, and many more.

They can be categorised as follows:

Bachelor’s Courses

Course	Duration	Fee (Per Annum)
Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)	3 Years	INR 6,600/-
Bachelor of Commerce	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA)	3 Years	INR 6,600/-
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
Bachelor of Library and Information Science	1 Year	INR 5,500/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Economics	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Hindi	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in History	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Tourism	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.)  in Political Science	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Sociology	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Social Work	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Education	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A. (Hons.) in Public Administration	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A./B.Sc. (Hons.) in Geography	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.A./B.Sc. (Hons.) in Home Science	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Mathematics	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics	3 Years	INR 2,400/-
Bachelor of Education	2 Years	INR 25,000

Master’s Courses

Course	Duration	Fee (Per Annum)
Master of Computer Application (MCA)	3 years	INR 12,000/-
Master of Commerce	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
Master of Library and Information Science	1 Year	INR 9,700/-
Master of Journalism and Mass Communication	2 Years	INR 5,000/-
M.A. in Economics	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Education	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Hindi	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Magahi	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Maithili	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Sanskrit	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Urdu	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in History	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Geography	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Political Science	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Psychology	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Public Administration	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Rural Development	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A. in Sociology	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.A./M.Sc. in Environmental Studies	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.Sc. in Botany	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.Sc. in Chemistry	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.Sc. in Physics	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.Sc. in Zoology	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.Sc. in Mathematics	2 Years	INR 4,400/-
M.Sc. in Geography	2 Years	INR 4,400/-

Intermediate Courses

Course	Duration	Fee (Per Annum)
I.A. Hindi	2 Years	INR 2,000/-
I.A. History	2 Years	INR 2,000/-
I.Sc. Biology	2 Years	INR 2,000/-
I.Sc. Chemistry	2 Years	INR 2,000/-
I.Sc. Physics	2 Years	INR 2,000/-
I.Sc. Mathematics	2 Years	INR 2,000/-

Certificate Courses

Courses	Duration	Fee
Certificate course in Information Technology (CIT)	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate in Home Usages of Computers	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate in Library & Information Science	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Disaster Management	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Insurance Service	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
CISCO CCNA (Routing & Switching)	9/6 Months	INR 12,050/-
Certificate in Interior Decoration	9/6 Months	INR 5,500/-
Certificate in Hindi-English Translation	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Child Psychology and Guidance	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Environmental Studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Food and Nutrition	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Health and Environment	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Nutrition and Child Care	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in HIV and Family Education	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Bhojpuri	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Magahi	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Maithili	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Pali	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Prakrit	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Sanskrit	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Urdu	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Buddhist studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Christian Studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Hindu Studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Islamic Studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Jain Studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Sikh Studies	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Bio-fertilizer Production	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Floriculture Technology	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Soil Health Management	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Abolition of Child Labour	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Child and Women’s Rights	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Indian Constitution and Panchayati Raj	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-
Certificate course in Legal Awareness Among Women	9/6 Months	INR 1,650/-

Diploma Courses

Courses	Duration	Fees
P.G. Diploma in Yogic Studies	1 Year	INR 5,500/-
P.G. Diploma in Hindi-English Translation (To be Introduced)	1 Year	INR 5,500/-
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management	1 Year	INR 5,500/-
Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management	1 Year	INR 5,500/-
Post Graduate Diploma in Information & Public Relations	1 Year	INR 5,500/-
P.G. Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication	1 Year	INR 5,500/-

Are NOU’s Distance Learning Courses Affordable?

Yes, Nalanda Open University’s (NOU) Distance Learning Courses are generally considered affordable compared to traditional on-campus programs.

• Range: The program fees at NOU range from INR 1,650 to INR 25,000 per year, which is significantly lower than on-campus counterparts in most other universities.
• Additional Fees: There might be additional costs like registration, examination, and study material fees, but these are also relatively low compared to other universities.

Cutting-Edge Learning Management System

NOU offers an innovative online learning platform, NOU e-Gyan. The portal is an innovative initiative launched by Honourable Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) K.C. Sinha to offer students access to online study resources.

The portal can be accessed from any location in the world. Additionally, it is completely safe and available to authorised users whenever needed. It will address academic concerns including delivery tracking, evaluations, progress monitoring, and control of e-content for all system participants, including teachers, students, and administrators, who are located remotely. You can access the same at https://nouegyan.in/.

Is the Faculty of Nalanda Open University Well Experienced?

The versatile faculty at Nalanda Open University comprises scholars, lecturers, and subject matter experts. The institution provides courses in several academic fields, such as the social sciences, humanities, business, and science. The student’s learning experience is enhanced by the faculty member’s depth of expertise and variety of viewpoints.

What are the Academic Facilities Available at NOU?

The University has set up a cutting-edge, fully automated office that extends approximately 60,000 sq. ft. at its camp office in Patna. In addition to administrative offices and other infrastructure, the office includes a computer lab with approximately 300 IBM Pentium-4 computers, an advanced library with about 50,000 titles, and an examination centre with space for about 1000 students.

How do they help Students with Support & Course Material?

Considering certain difficulties caused by distance and open learning, Nalanda Open University values student support services. You can reach out to them via Email: [email protected] & Phone: 9341508580, 9341508577.

Furthermore, the University has in place study centres at various different locations that help students with all their academic and administrative queries. You can check the detailed list of study centres on this link: http://www.nou.ac.in/notices/2016/List%20of%20Study%20Centres%20(2).pdf

What are the Advantages of Studying at NOU?

The educational landscape has witnessed a significant transformation with the rise of distance learning platforms, and the best part is that it is equally relevant as compared to traditional offline study methods. Let’s dive into it in detail:

• Flexibility: Students can pursue their education on their schedule, balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.

• Affordability: Many of the students give up their dream of studying due to the financial crisis. But thanks to NOU for its affordable prices, everyone can afford higher education.

• Excellent Education: The university has been recognised by the UGC DEB which emphasises its commitment to maintaining high academic standards.

• Outstanding Student Support: By fostering a sense of community and engagement, NOU’s proactive student support services add to a good learning environment.

Conclusion

Leading the way in open and distance learning, Nalanda Open University prioritises affordability, accessibility, and high-quality education. It has a strong learning management system, committed faculty, an inclusive learning philosophy, and extensive student support. The institution uses an inventive technique that not only transfers knowledge but also gives people the confidence to go through difficulties and fulfill their dreams of attaining quality higher education.

FAQ’s

Q1. Is the Nalanda Open University degree valid?

NOU has received recognition from the UGC DEB, indicating that the degree is completely valid both in India as well as abroad.

Q2. Is Nalanda Open University approved by UGC?

Yes, it is recognised by UGC DEB.

Q3. Is Nalanda University free?

No, NOU offers a wide range of courses and has a different fee structure for each course. Although the fee is very affordable.

Q4. How can I get admission to Nalanda Open University?

Students who want to get admission to Nalanda Open University need to first obtain the prospectus by sending a Demand Draft to the University Office. After this, they need to fill out the application form and submit original documents.

Q5. Is NOU valid for UPSC?

Yes, you are eligible for UPSC even if you complete your degree from an Open University like NOU.

Q6. Is Nalanda a Government Institute?

Yes, it is a Government Institute.