NOU Admission: Nalanda Open University (NOU) — the only open university in the state of Bihar — has commenced admission for the July 2026 session, and the last date has been extended to 15 September 2026*. NOU was established on 14 March 1987 by an ordinance of the Government of Bihar, is named after the ancient Nalanda University, and is recognised by the UGC, the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) and the Ministry of HRD.
NOU AdmissionIt offers over 100 programmes UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate, Intermediate and PhD entirely in distance learning mode, through 265 counselling and study Centres across Bihar. Most UG and PG admissions are merit-based with no entrance exam — B.ED requires a valid Bihar B.ED CET rank and PhD requires an NOU entrance test. Fees are among the lowest anywhere: ₹1,650 to ₹20,000 per year, and all female students receive a 25% concession on course fees across every programme. Apply at nou.ac.in.
NOU Admission Highlights
| Event | Highlights |
|---|---|
| University | Nalanda Open University (NOU) — established 14 March 1987 by Government of Bihar ordinance |
| Distinction | The only open university in the state of Bihar |
| Headquarters | Biscomaun Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna – 800001 |
| New campus | Baragaon, Nalanda district — near the ancient Nalanda ruins; 10 acres |
| Campus facilities | Exam centre for 1,000+ students · library with 50,000 titles · computer lab with 100+ computers |
| Recognition | UGC · UGC-DEB · Ministry of HRD |
| Type | State public open university |
| Programmes | 100+ — UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate, Intermediate, PhD |
| Study Centres | 265 counselling and study Centres across Bihar |
| Admission Mode | Merit-based for most UG/PG · Bihar B.ED CET for B.ED · NOU entrance test for PhD |
| Management quota | None — all seats by merit or entrance |
| UG Eligibility | Class 12 pass — no minimum percentage for most UG programmes |
| PG Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree with 50% (5% relaxation for reserved) |
| Application Fee | ₹400 (SC/ST/PWBD) · ₹600 (General/OBC/EWS) — some cycles cite ₹300–₹450 |
| Course Fee | ₹1,650 – ₹20,000 per year |
| UG fee | ₹2,400 – ₹6,600 per year |
| PG fee | ₹7,200 – ₹20,000 per year |
| Certificate fee | ₹1,650 |
| Female students | 25% concession on course fees — every programme |
| Reservation (Bihar) | SC 16% · ST 1% · EBC 18% · BC 12% · EWS 10% · BC Women 3% · PWBD 5% (horizontal) |
| Study material | Mostly in Hindi · SLM dispatched after enrolment |
| Payment | SBI Collect only — bank drafts not accepted |
| Hostel | Available for both boys and girls |
| Examinations | Jan–Feb (1st Sem) and Jun–Jul · 80 marks theory + 20 marks assignment |
| Last Date | 15 September 2026 (tentative) |
| Official Website | nou.ac.in | ums.nou.ac.in |
NOU Admission 2026
NOU Admission was established on 14 March 1987 by an ordinance introduced by the Government of Bihar, and is the only open university in the state providing higher education through open and distance education. Named after the ancient Nalanda University — a historic seat of learning — the institution aims to provide education to those unable to pursue formal education, offering flexible learning through distance education, study centres and mass media, and catering to diverse groups including the elderly, women and people in remote areas. Its new campus at Baragaon in Nalanda district, near the ancient ruins, spans 10 acres with an examination centre for 1,000+ students, a library holding 50,000 titles and a computer lab with 100+ computers.
NOU Admission model is built for Bihar’s learners: 265 counselling and study Centres across the state host weekend counselling sessions, Self Learning Material (SLM) is dispatched after enrolment, and — an important practical point — the course materials are mostly in Hindi. The university also provides hostel accommodation on campus for both boys and girls, which is unusual for an open university.
NOU Admission for 2026 is conducted entirely online. Candidates create an ABC ID using DigiLocker, generate a DEB ID (mandatory), scan their documents, register at ums.nou.ac.in/student application/verify, complete the form and pay via SBI Collect. Most UG and PG admissions are merit-based on qualifying marks — no entrance exam — while B.ED requires a valid Bihar B.ED CET score and PhD requires an NOU entrance test. The last date has been extended to 15 September 2026*.
NOU Admission 2026 Last Date
NOU Admission tentative schedule is given below.
| Admission Event | Dates (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| July 2026 session — admission commenced | 10 July 2026 |
| Last date to apply — extended | 15 September 2026 |
Check nou.ac.in for the current last date, as NOU has extended deadlines in previous cycles (the 2025-26 session was extended to 15 October 2025).
NOU Admission Eligibility
For UG programmes (BA, BSc, BCom, BCA, BBA, BLIS):
- Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board.
- There is no minimum percentage cut-off for most UG programmes at NOU — though some (such as BLIS) require 45% aggregate.
- Selection is based entirely on Class 12 marks — no entrance exam is required for any UG programme.
- Duration: 3 years (B.ED: 2 years).
For PG programmes (MA, MSc, M.Com, MJMC, MCA, MLIS):
- Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline from a UGC-approved university with at least 50% aggregate marks.
- The university provides a 5% relaxation for reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST and PWD).
- Admission is on the basis of merit score without any entrance exam for most PG programmes; MCA may require an entrance test.
For B.ED:
- Requires a valid rank in the Bihar B.ED Combined Entrance Test (CET-BED) — seats are not offered solely on merit.
- Applicants must have 2-year teacher training where specified.
For PhD:
- A Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories).
- Admission through an NOU entrance test followed by an interview. NET, JRF, SET and GATE holders are exempt from the entrance test but must attend the interview. Candidates exempted from the test are ranked on the basis of the interview alone.
General:
- Bihar state reservation applies — SC 16%, ST 1%, EBC 18%, BC 12%, EWS 10%, BC Women 3%, PwBD 5% (horizontal).
- An ABC ID (via DigiLocker) and a DEB ID are mandatory before applying.
NOU Admission Courses List
NOU Admission offers over 100 programmes across UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate, Intermediate and PhD levels.
UG Courses
| Programme | Specializations | Fee (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) — 13 specializations | Economics, Education, Sociology, Political Science, Tourism, Psychology, Geography, Hindi and more | ₹7,200 |
| BSc (Hons) | Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, Geography, Mathematics | ₹7,200 |
| BCom (Hons) | Commerce | ₹7,200 |
| B.Lib.I.Sc (BLIS) | Library & Information Science | ₹5,500 — registration ₹450 |
| BBA | Business Administration | ₹19,800 |
| BCA | Computer Applications | ₹24,000 |
| B.Ed | Education — Bihar B.Ed CET required | Varies |
PG Courses
| Programme | Specializations | Fee (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| MA | Economics, Bhojpuri, Political Science, Sociology, Urdu, Education, Home Science | ₹8,800 (total) |
| MSc | Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Biology | ₹4,400 (total) — 2 years, English medium |
| MCom | Commerce | ₹7,200 – ₹20,000 per year |
| MJMC | Journalism & Mass Communication | Varies |
| MCA | Computer Applications | ₹24,000 |
| MLIS | Library & Information Science | Varies |
Alongside these, NOU offers Diploma, Certificate and Intermediate programmes, plus PhD in Arts, Science, Commerce, Library Science and Computer Science. NOU is currently not offering an MBA programme.
NOU Admission Fee Details
NOU Admission provides courses in a very affordable range — among the lowest of any university in India. The indicative structure is below.
| Fee Component | Amount (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | ₹400 (SC/ST/PwBD) · ₹600 (General/OBC/EWS) — some cycles cite ₹300 (₹250 OBC / ₹200 SC/ST/EWS), ₹350 (UG) or ₹450 (BLIS) |
| Overall course fee | ₹1,650 – ₹20,000 per year |
| UG courses | ₹2,400 – ₹6,600 per year |
| PG courses | ₹7,200 – ₹20,000 per year |
| Certificate courses | ₹1,650 |
| BA/BSc/BCom (Hons) | ₹7,200 |
| B.Lib.I.Sc | ₹5,500 |
| BBA | ₹19,800 |
| BCA / MCA | ₹24,000 |
| MA | ₹8,800 (total) |
| MSc | ₹4,400 (total) |
Female students receive a 25% concession on course fees across every programme, applied after admission. Bihar SC/ST and OBC students can access post-matric scholarships via the National Scholarship Portal, and UGC fellowships are available for eligible PhD candidates. Payment must be made via SBI Collect only — bank drafts and other payment methods are not accepted. An examination fee applies separately at the examination cycle. Verify current fees at nou.ac.in.
NOU Admission Examination Pattern
NOU Admission exams are held every year in January–February for the 1st semester and June–July. Every programme consists of both theory and practical papers. The written examination carries a weightage of 80 marks and the assignment carries 20 marks, with a 3-hour theory paper. Exams are held at the university’s study centres, or at a suitable venue arranged by NOU — Patna is usually the venue for PG examinations. Admit cards are released online before exams.
NOU Admission Process 2026
- Create your ABC ID using your DigiLocker account.
- Generate your DEB ID — mandatory for completing the form.
- Scan and keep all documents ready — Aadhaar, photo, signature, mark sheets and certificates.
- Visit the official NOU admission portal — ums.nou.ac.in/studentapplication/verify (via nou.ac.in). Apply only through the official university website — do not trust third-party agents or unofficial websites.
- Register at the portal with your basic information — use the student’s own email address, as it will be used throughout the process.
- Use the correct link for your programme (UG, PG or MCA).
- Complete the application form with accurate personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the fee via SBI Collect only — bank drafts and other payment methods are not accepted.
- Download the fee receipt and application copy after payment.
- Selected candidates are called for document verification once the merit list is released. B.Ed applicants attend Bihar B.Ed CET counselling; PhD applicants appear for the NOU entrance test and interview.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar card
- Passport-size photograph and scanned signature
- Class 12 mark sheet and certificate (for UG applicants)
- Bachelor’s degree mark sheets and certificate (for PG applicants)
- Master’s degree certificate (for PhD applicants — 55%, 50% reserved)
- Bihar B.Ed CET rank card (for B.Ed applicants)
- NET/JRF/SET/GATE certificate, for PhD entrance-test exemption
- Category certificate, if applicable (Bihar norms)
- ABC ID (via DigiLocker) and DEB ID
Contact Details
- Headquarters: 2nd/3rd Floor, Biscomaun Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna – 800001, Bihar, India
- New campus: Baragaon, Nalanda district, near the ancient Nalanda ruins
- Helpline (admission enquiries): 9341508580, 9341508577
- Official website: nou.ac.in | Admission portal: ums.nou.ac.in/studentapplication/verify
- 265 counselling and study centres across Bihar — weekend contact sessions, tutorials, practicals, library and resource access
- For recognition queries, check the UGC-DEB portal (deb.ugc.ac.in)
FAQ’s
Q1.Is the Nalanda Open University degree valid?
Ans:-Yes. NOU is recognised by the UGC, the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) and the Ministry of HRD — its degrees are valid for jobs and further studies across India.
Q2.Is there an entrance exam at NOU Admission?
Ans:-Most NOU programmes do not require an entrance exam — selection is on qualifying marks. B.Ed requires a valid Bihar B.Ed CET rank, and PhD admissions need an NOU entrance test followed by an interview. NET, JRF, SET and GATE holders are exempt from the PhD test but must attend the interview.
Q3.What is the minimum eligibility for NOU UG admission?
Ans:-Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board. There is no minimum percentage cut-off for most UG programmes at NOU — though some (such as BLIS) require 45%.
Q4.Does NOU offer any scholarship or fee waiver?
Ans:- Yes. All female students receive a 25% concession on course fees across every programme. Bihar SC/ST and OBC students can access post-matric scholarships via the National Scholarship Portal, and UGC fellowships are available for eligible PhD candidates.
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