Is Choosing Karnataka State Open University a Wise Choice?

“Karnataka is a land of infinite possibilities and opportunities.” – Padma Vibhushan, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty

When we hear the word “Karnataka”, the adjectives that start coming to our minds are nature, beauty, heritage, culture, & Education. If we talk about the history of Karnataka, it was once ruled by Cholas and Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi, UNESCO’s one of the World Heritage sites stands as the witness of the famous Vijayanagara Empire.

Karnataka takes a sense of achievement regarding its educational institutions and the track records of the former students. It has many renowned institutions, for example, IISc (Indian Institute of Science is a leading research institute), and NITK (National Institute of Technology Karnataka). All these institutions impart quality education to support endless growth.

Karnataka State Open University is one of the leading universities that provides education to students who want to study at their own pace & comfort, without any geographical constraints. If you are looking to manage your studies alongside other commitments, it will be a suitable fit for you.

Want to Learn about Karnataka State Open University?

Established in 1992  by a State Legislature Act, the Karnataka State Open University never failed to provide educational excellence, upholding the pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. It is the former Institute for Centre of Higher Education under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) of the University of Mysore. KSOU runs with the motto of “ Higher Education for Everyone, Everywhere”.

Students who are from underprivileged sections of society or working professionals who were not able to pursue their higher education due to many factors can now take admission and pursue their higher studies at their own pace without hampering their daily chores.

This University has its headquarters in Mysore and also has its regional centres across 21 other states. There is hardly any comparison of KSOU in terms of syllabus, curriculum, environment, study materials, mode of examinations, and evaluation & announcement of results.

What are Its Accreditations and Approvals?

Due to its excellent job of providing education and adding value in the field of distance learning institutions, KSOU got recognition from the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of the University Grant Commission (UGC).

KSOU is accredited by NAAC’s Grade ‘A+’. This makes it even more authentic for anyone who is looking for an institution of distance education.

The University has also received recognition from other accreditation bodies, such as:

• AICTE
• NCTE

What are the courses they offer?

They offer a wide range of courses in various specialisations and subjects including languages, science, social science, etc.

We will go through them with the help of the following tables:

PhD Courses

Ph.D. Specialisations	Duration
Kannada	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
English	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Hindi	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
History	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Economics	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Political Science	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Sociology	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Public Administration	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Ancient History and Archeology	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Journalism & Mass Communication	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Commerce	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Management	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Biochemistry	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Biotechnology	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Chemistry	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Food and Nutrition	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Environmental Science	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Microbiology	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Psychology	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Library Science	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Information Technology	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Geography	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years
Telugu	Minimum- 3 Years Maximum- 6 Years

PG Programmes

Course	Duration	Total Fee
M.A. Kannada	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. English	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Hindi	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Sanskrit	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Urdu	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Telugu	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. History	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Economics	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Political Science	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Sociology	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Public Administration	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Ancient History and Archeology	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.A. Journalism and Mass Communication	2 Years	INR 30,000
M.A. Education	2 Years	INR 19,400
M.Com. in Accounting and Finance	2 Years	INR 22,800
M.Com. in Marketing Management and HR Management	2 Years	INR 22,800
M.Com. in Accounting and HR Management	2 Years	INR 22,800
M.Com. in Marketing Management and Finance	2 Years	INR 22,800
M.B.A. Finance	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. Marketing	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. Human Resource Management	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. Operations	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. Tourism	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. Corporate Law	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. IT	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.B.A. Hospital and Health Care Management	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Biochemistry	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Biotechnology	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Botany	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Chemistry	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Computer Science	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Environmental Science	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Food and Nutrition Science	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Geography	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Information Technology	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Data Science	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Mathematics	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Microbiology	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Physics	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Psychology	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.Sc. Zoology	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.C.A.	2 Years	INR 55,800
M.S.W.	2 Years	INR 40,000

UG Programmes

Course	Duration	Total Fee
B.A.	3 Years	INR 22,700
B.Com.	3 Years	INR 24,200
B.B.A. Finance	3 Years	INR 34,100
B.B.A. Marketing	3 Years	INR 34,100
B.B.A. Human Resource	3 Years	INR 34,100
B.Sc. Information Technology	3 Years	INR 67,100
B.Sc. Home Science	3 Years
B.Sc. General	3 Years	INR 67,100
B.C.A.	3 Years	INR 67,100
B.Ed.	3 Years
B.S.W.	3 Years	INR 36,000

PG Certificate Courses

Course	Duration
Communicative English	1 Year
Human Resource Management	1 Year
Financial Management	1 Year
Business Administration	1 Year
English	1 Year
Marketing Management	1 Year
Nutrition and Dietetics	1 Year
Journalism and Mass Communication	1 Year
Kuvempu Sahitya	1 Year
Business Law	1 Year
Information Technology	1 Year
Computer Application	1 Year
Ambedkar Studies	1 Year

Certificate Courses

Course	Duration
Panchayati Raj	6 Months
Nutrition and Food	6 Months
Information Communication Technology	6 Months
English, Entrepreneurship, and Employment	6 Months

Diploma Courses

Course	Duration
Kannada	1 Year
Journalism	1 Year
Nutrition and Health Education	1 Year
Information Technology	1 Year
Computer Application	1 Year
Early Childhood Care and Education	1 Year

Is the Faculty Well Experienced?

The Karnataka State Open University is known for its expert faculty, who provide top-notch education to the students for excelling in their future job roles. Each and every faculty of KSOU is an expert in their respective fields. Not only do they impart theoretical knowledge but they also teach value and ethics to each and every individual.

What are the Academic Facilities Offered by KSOU?

• KSOU excels not only in the matter of education but also in accessibility, quality, flexibility, etc. With over 31 Post Graduate Departments, students can choose according to their interests.
• The library offers open access to its extensive resources.
• Campus facilities include a health centre, a canteen serving hygienic and affordable food, and well-furnished hostels for both men and women.
• It also offers an innovative KSOU radio app and a Drushyavahini YouTube channel, fulfilling diverse learning needs and enhancing the university’s commitment to holistic education.
• The University also organises Personal Contact Programmes to bridge the gap between students and faculty members.

What are the Learning Resources Available?

• KSOU has an extensive network of Learner Support Centres throughout the country.
• They provide learning resources in both print as well as e-format.
• The University has in place an Audio Visual Studio wherein they prepare various audio and video lectures for students’ reference.
• There are many well-equipped laboratories and an R&D Cell for students’ use.
• There is also a Competitive Exam Training Centre.

Student Support Facilities

KSOU knows the importance of the needs and doubts students can come across when they are pursuing distance learning. So, they have appointed a dedicated team to attend to the query. You can reach out to them for various queries.

Placement Support

At KSOU, there is a dedicated Placement Cell which provides top class employment opportunities to students by organising various job fairs and recruitment drives. Many top companies participate in these fairs for their recruitment needs.

Conclusion

With the ever-changing landscape of education. The modern technique of completing education via distance learning at your own pace, comfort, and choices can help you upscale in your academics and career. If you are also planning to pursue your higher education with an open university, then Karnataka State Open University for distance education has been standing tall since the beginning, this is your sign to choose wisely amongst the top choices.

FAQs:

Q1. Is the Karnataka State Open University degree valid?

Ans- Yes, the offered degrees are completely valid as the University has gained recognition from UGC as well as AICTE.

Q2. Who is eligible for KSOU?

Ans- Any student who has completed their 10+2 in the relevant subjects is eligible for a Bachelor’s degree. Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in relevant subjects are eligible for a master’s degree.

Q3. Is KSOU approved by UGC?

Ans- Yes it is approved by UGC.

Q4. What is the difference between IGNOU and KSOU?

Ans-  In comparison to KSOU, IGNOU’s fee is high. Also, IGNOU is not very active in E-learning and online education. KSOU has a dedicated team for it.

Q5. Is KSOU a Government University?

Ans-  Yes, it is a government University.

Q6. How do I verify my KSOU certificate?

Ans- Visit the official website of KSOU, fill in your personal details such as name, roll number, degree programme, etc., and wait for the verification process to be completed. The university will provide a certificate of authentication if the degree is original and valid.