Distance education is catching up fast in India and the number of students opting for this mode of education is on the rise. Many students living in remote areas are unable to pursue regular courses for their higher education, even if they wish to do so. They can fulfill their wish with this mode of education. Even working professionals can boost their careers with better qualifications and skills. With the advancements in open learning, many Indian universities offering this form of education have developed in recent years. We will take a look at the Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India.

Top 10 open universities

Below is a complete list of the top 10 open universities offering different courses to candidates through distance education. They are not in any particular order.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Governed by the Council for Distance Education (DEC), IGNOU is the most popular university among students seeking admission to correspondence or online courses. The courses are classified in different schools of study.

Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University

There are about 137 centers of this university throughout the country. The motto of this university is ‘Education at your door’. Various undergraduate, graduate and diploma courses are offered at this University.

Sikkim Manipal

This university is recognized by the United Grants Commission and there are around 725 authorized centers across India.

Annamalai

Annamali University is the first distance education university in India offering postgraduate courses in subjects like Zoology, Applied Psychology, Bioinformatics, Botany, Law, etc. All courses are approved by the Distance Education Council.

Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning

This institute is located in Pune and follows the concept of ‘blended learning’. Their programs have e-learning facilities along with printed study materials and interaction with faculty. The structure of the program is such that students obtain the same knowledge as those in regular courses.

ICFAI

ICFAI University has many centers around the world and is well known for its MBA courses through open education mode. With an MBA degree from ICFAI, candidates can greatly enhance their career opportunities.

National Urdu Maulana Azad University

With 9 regional centers, the university offers 3 undergraduate courses, 3 graduate courses, and 8 Diploma, Certificate and PG Diploma courses. B.Ed programs are also offered to interested candidates.

Alagappa University

The University of Alagappa offers work-oriented and sector-specific programs to its students in this educational setting. Both Tamil and Hindi are the medium of instruction. Holders of a diploma are eligible for lateral entry into various degree programs.

Mumbai University

The University of Mumbai has a separate section for students who are interested in taking open learning courses. The Distance and Open Learning section offers different degrees in various available faculties.

IMT Open and Distance Learning Institute

Cybersecurity and management are the two study areas in which students can enroll for correspondence or online learning. Graduate programs and doctoral programs are recommended.

However, a thorough check of all aspects of admission is necessary before enrolling in any of these top-tier distance learning colleges.