Distance Education Universities in India: Distance education has become more and more popular in the 21st century because it allows students to work while pursuing a degree. It is an excellent option for individuals who are unable to attend regular classes. This program will provide employees with remote learning options, such as the ability to sign up for classes from a distance. Top universities like Mangalayatan, SKU, Subharti, and IMTS Institute offer admissions for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in addition to diploma and certificate programs. The registration deadline for admission is 06th January 2026.
Important Notice:Â
- Dec Update: As per the UGC notice, all students need to check the desired university and program recognition status before enrolling on the UGC-DEB portal to avoid fraudulent institutions. Interested students can verify their desired course or university approval status on the official UGC Distance Education Bureau (DEB) search tool.
- IMTS Institute is currently accepting admissions for 2026-27 year. It is one of the finest Distance Education Universities. Students are informed to enrol before the deadline which is 06th January 2026 Source
Distance Education Universities: Overview
- About: UG, PG, Diploma, and Certificate distance courses admissions are open for the 2026 session in all UGC-approved universities. IMTS Institute has obtained the list of all the UGC-approved universities.
- Eligibility: To be eligible for the Online Distance learning courses, students must have a passed certificate of 10+2 with aggregate 50% marks. And also for some courses, a degree is required.
- Admission Process: Most distance education universities take applications on both online and offline platforms. IMTS Institute provides admission forms for every distance course on its website. Visit and use the swift admission process of IMTS Institute.
- Fee: ODL courses are very cost-effective and affordable, with fees varying by course and university. UG programs typically range from ₹10,000 to ₹40,000, while PG programs range from ₹12,000 to ₹60,000.
- Course: Program duration depends on which course you are choosing. For UG and PG degrees, the course span is 3 and 2 years, respectively.Â
- Study Materials: ODL Universities provide correspondence study material through the post and online. IMTS Institute also provides its students with complete study material via PDFs and Online Docs.
About Top Distance Universities in India
There are various top universities in India offering distance education. Some of the popular universities include IGNOU, Nalanda Open University, Annamalai University, BRAOU, MP Bhoj Open University, DU SOL, etc. In distance mode, students can pursue various undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate courses, including a PhD. Students can avail these courses in online or ODL mode as per their convenience. Distance learning is mostly suitable for working professionals and students who cannot attend traditional classes and cannot afford high fees. The duration of the courses in distance universities is more flexible with low program fees. Fees will be around INR 10,000/- to INR 40,000/- for most of the courses, except for professional courses, which can have fees around INR 60,000/-. Students will be provided with study material, assignments, an internship, and other resources. Admission is mostly held online, on a merit basis. However, students are advised to check out the desired university, admission guidelines, and course eligibility before applying.Â
Distance Education Universities in India Approved by UGC
Here, students can check the list of distance education universities in India approved by UGC for the academic year 2026-27:
| University Name | Location | Courses Offered | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | National (Pan India) | Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Certificate, Diploma in various fields like Arts, Science, Commerce, Education, etc. | ignou.ac.in |
| Annamalai University | Tamil Nadu | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Agriculture | annamalaiuniversity.ac.in |
| Nalanda Open University | Bihar | Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Vocational courses in Arts, Science, Commerce | nou.ac.in |
| Sikkim Manipal University (SMU-DE) | Sikkim | MBA, BSc IT, MSc Computer Science, Diploma Programs | smude.edu.in |
| Jaipur National University | Rajasthan | Undergraduate, Postgraduate degrees in Business, Computer Science, Education, Law | jnujaipur.ac.in |
| Sree Narayanaguru Open University | Kerala | Undergraduate, Postgraduate programs in Humanities, Science, Law, Vocational Education | snou.ac.in |
| Vidyasagar University | West Bengal | Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science | vidyasagar.ac.in |
| Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University | Assam | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce | kkhsou.in |
| Karnataka State Open University | Karnataka | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | ksoumysuru.ac.in |
| Tamil Nadu Open University | Tamil Nadu | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | tnou.ac.in |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University | Telangana | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | braou.ac.in |
| Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University | Maharashtra | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | ycmou.ac.in |
| Netaji Subhas Open University | West Bengal | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | wbnsou.ac.in |
| Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University | Madhya Pradesh | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | bhojvirtualuniversity.com |
| Uttarakhand Open University | Uttarakhand | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | uou.ac.in |
| Dr. C.V. Raman University | Chhattisgarh | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | cvru.ac.in |
| Mahatma Gandhi University | Kerala | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | mgu.ac.in |
| University of Madras | Tamil Nadu | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | unom.ac.in |
| University of Mumbai | Maharashtra | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | mu.ac.in |
| University of Delhi | Delhi | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | du.ac.in |
| University of Calcutta | West Bengal | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | caluniv.ac.in |
| University of Kerala | Kerala | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | keralauniversity.ac.in |
| University of Rajasthan | Rajasthan | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | uniraj.ac.in |
| University of Madras | Tamil Nadu | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | unom.ac.in |
| University of Mumbai | Maharashtra | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | mu.ac.in |
| University of Delhi | Delhi | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | du.ac.in |
| University of Calcutta | West Bengal | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | caluniv.ac.in |
| University of Kerala | Kerala | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | keralauniversity.ac.in |
| University of Rajasthan | Rajasthan | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | uniraj.ac.in |
| University of Jammu | Jammu & Kashmir | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | jammuuniversity.ac.in |
| University of Kashmir | Jammu & Kashmir | Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Education | kashmiruniversity.net |
| University of Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh | Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Vocational courses | allduniv.ac.in |
Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India
| Top 10 Distance Education Universities Name | State |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | Delhi |
| Delhi University School of Open Learning (DU SOL) | Delhi |
| Symbiosis Centre for Distance Education | Pune |
| Kurukshetra University | Haryana |
| Subharti University | Uttar Pradesh |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Delhi |
| Jamia Hamdard | Delhi |
| Dibrugarh University | Dibrugarh |
| Nalanda Open University | Patna (Bihar) |
| Punjab University | Chandigarh |
Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India for MBA
In India, many distance education universities offer 2-year-long Master of business administration (MBA) courses. The majority of these universities offer this course on a merit basis at a nominal cost. This made it sophisticated for students to find the top institution for this course. For such students, we have created a list of the Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India for MBA:
| Alagappa University | KSOU |
| Anna University Chennai DDE | KUK DDE |
| AUDDE | Mangalayatan University |
| BAOU | MGAHV DDE |
| BDU CDE | MKU DDE |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth University DDE | NSOU |
| BSAU DDE | Osmania University |
| Chandigarh University DDE | Panjab University |
| DAVV DDE | PDDE |
| DDE GJU | PSSOU |
| DU SOL | Shivaji University DDE |
| Guru Nanak Dev University DDE | Shoolini University DDE |
| HPU DDE | SRM University DDE |
| ICFAI University DDE | SVSU DDE |
| IDEUNOM | UOU DDE |
| Jain University DDE | UPRTOU |
| JMI | IGNOU |
Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India for BBA
There are several UGC-approved universities offering admission to BBA courses in open and distance learning mode in India for the academic year 2026. However, choosing a university for pursuing a BBA via distance learning mode is a difficult task for students. Here we provide you with a list of the top 10 distance education universities offering this program in distance mode in India:
| Indira Gandhi National Open University |
| Delhi University School of Open Learning |
| Subharati University |
| BRAOU |
| Himachal Pradesh University |
| Madras University |
| Amity University |
| Lovely Professional University |
| Radha Govind University |
| Tagore University |
FAQs
Ans: IMTS Institute is not a UGC-approved institution. However, IMTS is an authorized partner of many universities that are approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Ques: What are the lowest fees for a distance MBA program?
Ans: Every university has set their fees structure according to facilities providing, infrastructure, tuition fees. So, before applying, once visit the official website of the university which you are applying for.
Ques: Is a distance education degree valid in India?
Ans: Yes! It is a very common question for all students thinking about distance education. After obtaining a distance degree, candidates are eligible for jobs in both the government and private sectors.
Ques: Which university is best for distance education in India?
Ans: Many universities offer distance education courses, but some of the famous distance education universities include Subharti University, Mangalayatan University, SKU, and NIILM University.
Ques: Which university provides the best open and distance learning education?
Ans: Best universities in the Open Distance learning education mode with various flexibility for the student are Subharti and Mangalayatan universities.
Ques: Which are the best universities to pursue the courses in distance education?
Ans: List of distance education universities in India are:
- Indira Gandhi National Open University
- Delhi University School of Open Learning
- Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
- Mangalayatan University
- Subharti University