Nalanda Open University Distance Education 2026: Nalanda Open University offers degree, diploma, and certificate courses in different disciplines through its distance learning program. The enrollment procedure will soon open for diploma and certificate distance mode programs for the academic year 2026-27. The last date for the online admission procedure for all programs is expected to be 31 January 2026*. The university will offer admission to students who have met all the basic eligibility criteria. Students are advised to go through the university’s official prospectus before applying for admission in the session. A candidate can apply for admission while filling out an online application form through NOU’s official website @nou.ac.in.
NOU Distance Education: Latest Updates
- Dec Update: Nalanda Open University has published a notice about the Results of the postgraduate degree programmes. The Results of the Annual Examination held in August 2025 have been published. Source
NOU Distance Education Highlights
| University Name | Nalanda Open University |
| Enrollment Fee | INR 450 |
| Courses Offered | PhD, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, and Certificate |
| Application Process | Online |
| Mode of Learning | Online |
| Type of University | Public University |
| Establishment year | 1987 |
| University admission website | @nou.ac.in. |
| Mode of Education | Distance Education |
About Nalanda Open University
Nalanda Open University will soon start offering admission from the academic session 1987-88. It is a public university situated in Patna, Bihar. NOU stands in the 2nd position after IGNOU in the list of the largest universities in India. Degree courses offered at the university through distance mode are approved by the UGC-DEB. This university is a member of AIU (Association of Indian Universities). Through distance mode, NOU offers a total of 105 courses under postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate programs. 25% concession in fees is offered to women students who enroll in any distance learning course. Additionally, free education is offered to jail inmates.
Benefits of Nalanda Open University Distance Education:
Several key benefits of pursuing distance education at NOU are mentioned below:
- Flexibility: Students can study at their own pace and schedule. Working professionals can pursue any higher-qualifying education through distance learning, along with continuing their job.
- Affordability: Distance mode education tuition fee is comparatively lower than regular mode education. It helps students in building their careers and saves some money at the same time.
- Wide Range of Courses: NOU offers a variety of courses through distance mode, including an MA in Social Work, MLISc, MCom, BBA, BCA, and others. These courses cover multiple specializations such as Geography, Environmental Science, Zoology, Botany, etc.
Nalanda Open University Distance Education Admission Process 2026
Nalanda Open University offers various distance learning programs to students for the session 2026-27, and some of them include undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and PhD. The mode of admission is online and students are advised to apply while visiting the university’s official webpage. The registration fee for all programs is INR 500. The admission process is convenient for students who wish to apply for any desired course. Students are advised to go through all the basic eligibility criteria while going through the online admission prospectus.
NOU UG Admission 2026
Numerous courses that Nalanda Open University offers for undergraduate (UG) programs are BA in Home Science, Journalism and Mass Communication, Urdu and Tourism, BSc in Yoga, Statistics, Zoology, Mathematics, B.Ed, BBA, and so on. Students who wish to apply for the desired course must apply before the due date on the official website. The duration of the UG course is 3 years spread across 6 semesters. 31 January 2026 * is the expected date to the last date to fill the admission form for the 2026-27 academic year.
Admission is offered to students who have qualified for the 10+2 examination from a recognized university. To register, students need to pay an application fee of INR 450. The average course fee is around INR 5000 to INR 25000 for all programs. For more admission-related details, candidates shall visit Nalanda Open University’s official website.
NOU BBA Admission 2026
The complete duration of the BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) program is 3 years with 6 semesters in total. Admission to BBA is made on the merit list of 10+2 scores along with the qualifying score of 40% marks.
NOU BEd Admission 2026
The duration of the BEd (Bachelor of Education) program is 2 years. NOU offers several specializations in the BEd course such as Hindi, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Political Science, Computer Science, etc. Students who completed undergraudate degree with 50% marks from a recognized university are qualified to enroll in the BEd program.
NOU PG Admission 2026
Nalanda Open University PG admission for the 2026-27 academic session will start soon. The duration of master degree program is 2 years which consists of 4 semesters. The university offers wide range of PG programs with several specializations. Some popular PG course offers at NOU are MA in Magahi, Maithili, Disaster Management, and Rural Development, MCom, MSc in Zoology, and MJMC.
Eligibility for PG admission: Students must hold bachelor’s degree in a respective discipline from a reputed university with a minimum of 50% marks to get admission at NOU. The registration fee of INR 500 is required to be paid at the time of enrollment. INR 5500 to INR 32000 is the average academic fee of PG programs.
NOU MSc Zoology 2026 Admission
Admission to MSc (Master of Science) in Zoology is offered to students who have a BSc Zoology degree or any degree in science stream. A minimum qualification to be selected is 50% marks. MSc Zoology distance education course fee range for INR 12500. The duration to complete the PG degree in Zoology from NOU is 2 years. The university offers semester-based examination for this program.
NOU Diploma Admission 2026
Students having 50% marks in their intermediate exam are eligible to get admission to Diploma program at Nalanda Open University. Candidates are shortlisted based on merit. The diploma distance education course duration lasts for 6 months. Fees for an application form are INR 450.
A wide range of specializations offered under diploma courses are Marketing Management, Financial Management, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Yogic Studies. Academic fee structure for diploma courses ranges between INR 12500 to INR 26000 depending on specializations.
NOU Certificate Admission 2026
Nalanda Open University offers several certificate courses through distance mode. Some of the specializations include Computing, Library Science, Dental and Oral Hygiene, ECG Technique, Physiotherapy and Yoga Therapy, Bio-fertilizer Production, Child Psychology and Guidance. Students can either opt for a 6-month or 9-month certificate course at NOU. Candidates are advised to register themselves before the last date.
Candidates who have passed a higher secondary examination can enroll in any specialized certificate program. To register online, candidates have to pay an application fee of INR 450. Certificate course fee for all specializations ranges from INR 10000 to INR 21000 at NOU.
Nalanda Open University Eligibility Criteria
NOU offers a wide range of programs, including Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, Certificate, and PhD. To take admission in Nalanda Open University distance education courses, students need to fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the university. Applicants shall know they can take admission in only one course at a time. Admission to distance education is entirely based on merit for all courses. Some of the points required to be fulfilled while applying for the desired course are given below:
- For selection to an undergraduate program, applicants should pass a 10+2 (intermediate) exam from an accredited board. A minimum score of 40% is needed for admission.
- Selection to the postgraduate program is strictly based on a minimum aggregate of 50% marks obtained in any bachelor’s degree from a UGC regulated institute.
- For admission to the BEd program, students have to go through an entrance test conducted by the university.
- No upper age limit has been specified by the NOU for admission.
Nalanda Open University Required Documents
Before the final submission of the online application form, candidates are required to upload all the scanned documents. Some of the common documents are mentioned below:
- Passport Size Scanned Photograph
- Scanned Signature
- Migration Certificate
- Domicile Certificate
- Scanned copy of 10th marksheet
- Scanned copy of 12th marksheet
- Scanned copy of UG marksheet (if required)
- Date of Birth certificate
- Copy of Identity proof (PAN, AADHAAR Card)
Nalanda Open University Application Procedure
Nalanda Open University offers various programs for the session 2026-27, such as PhD, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, and Certificate. Candidates have to follow all the steps while filling out the application form:
Step 1: Students interested in enrolling in any courses must fill out the application form available on Nalanda Open University’s official website.
Step 2: It is suggested that students shall review the prospectus thoroughly.
Step 3: Sign in by creating your login ID using your email address, ID proof, name, and phone number.
Step 4: After registration, log in using your new applicant ID and password.
Step 5: The application form is categorized into various sections, including personal details, documents, payment section, and academic information. Make sure to fill all sections correctly.
Step 6: Upload all important documents as per the guidelines.
Step 7: Deposit the payment of application through any available payment gateway.
Step 8: Now, click on the “Submit Button”.
Nalanda Open University Scholarship
Nalanda Open University provides various scholarships to financially support its students. The Merit cum Means Based Scholarship Scheme (MMS) is one example, specifically designed to assist bright students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds in pursuing their education.
Nalanda Open University Result
To check the NOU Distance Education Result, students can check their result by visiting the official website of Nalanda Open University (nou.ac.in). You have to check the result through select your course on the official website, and download the PDF.
Nalanda Open University FAQ
Q1: What is the fees of Nalanda Open University?
Ans: The fees at NOU (Nalanda Open University) vary depending on the program and specialization. Fees for all UG programs range from INR 5000 to INR 25000, for PG programs from INR 5500 to INR 32000, and for diploma programs from INR 12500 to INR 26000.
Q2: What are the courses students can choose to study under the postgraduate program at Nalanda Open University?
Ans: The courses available for candidates to choose from under the postgraduate programs are MCom, MSc in Zoology, MA in Magahi, Maithili, Disaster Management, Rural Development, and MJMC.
Q3: What is the fee structure of the MJMC course at NOU?
Ans: The admission fee required for the MJMC (Master of Journalism & Mass Communication) course is Rs. 18000 (approx.).
Nalanda Open University Distance Education Contact Details
- Address: Nalanda Open University, 2nd/3rd Floor, Biscomaun Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna 800001 Bihar.
- Fax: 0612-2201001
- Email: nou@nou.ac.in
- Website: www.nalandaopenuniversity.com
Note: Dates are Tentative and are subject to change. Visit the University’s official website for more information regarding admission.







