Nalanda Open University Admission 2026: Exam, Dates, Eligibility & Fees

Nalanda Open University Admission 2026: Nalanda Open University (NOU) began its admission procedure in July 2025 for the academic year 2026 for different Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, and Certificate courses. Interested students can apply online at the official site of the university before the last date of 25th November 2025(Tentative). The application fee is between INR 225 to INR 750 (Depending on the program and category), and the mode of application is both online and offline.

Nalanda Open University offers 67 courses under UG, PG, Diploma, and Certification programs in disciplines such as Humanities, Commerce, Science, Education, Management, Journalism, and Library Science. The students are able to get admission on the basis of merit for most of the courses, and for some courses like B.Ed, an entrance exam is required. 

Nalanda Open University, the sole university in Bihar that is devoted to distance and open learning, was founded in 1987. It is approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Distance Education Bureau (DEB), and the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

Nalanda Open University Admission Key Points

• University Name: Nalanda Open University (NOU)
• Type: State Open University
• Recognition: UGC-DEB, AIU
• Admission Start Date: July 2025
• Last Date to Apply: 25th November 2025(Tentative)
• Application Fee: INR 225 to INR 750
• Admission Mode: Online and Offline
• Popular Programs: B.Ed, BLIS, MLIS, BA, MA, B.Com, M.Com

Nalanda Open University Admission Latest Updates:

• Nalanda Open University is giving admission to students in Certificate, Intermediate & PG Diploma Courses for the 2026 academic year. Students who want to take admission in these courses can fill out their application form which can be done on the working days of the university from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Source
• Nalanda Open University has extended the last date to apply for its UG, PG, Diploma and PG Diploma programs for the 2026 session. Students who want to apply for these courses should submit their application form by the official deadline of the university i.e. 25th November 2025(Tentative).

Nalanda Open University Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University has opened admission for all courses to its students for the 2026 session. All students who want to take admission in Nalanda Open University should complete their online registration before the last date of 25th November 2025(Tentative). Students can enrol in UG, PG, Diploma, and Certificate courses by filling out the application form either online or through the offline mode. The offline application form can be downloaded from the university website or collected from the NOU campuses and study centres.

The application process is simple and does not require the candidate to appear for any entrance test, except for a few programs like B.Ed, which require an entrance exam conducted by the university.

All the students who are interested in taking admission should check their eligibility and required documents and submit them before the last date of admission. NOU offers a learner-friendly environment with personal contact programs (PCPs), self-learning materials (SLMs), and digital support through its portal and mobile app.

NOU UG Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University offers admission to an undergraduate program for the 2026 academic session, and the last date to apply online is 25th November 2025(Tentative). Students who have completed their Class 12 education in any stream can apply for courses such as BA, B.Com, B.Sc, and BCA. The UG admissions are granted directly based on merit without the need for any entrance examination. 

For BCA admission, candidates must have passed Intermediate with Mathematics or Information Technology as a subject, along with a Certificate in Computing. The duration of Undergraduate programs is typically three years, and the annual fee ranges between INR 2,400 to INR 6,600, depending on the course.

NOU BEd Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University offers a B.Ed course for working teachers and graduate students in Bihar. The B.Ed admission process at NOU is based on an entrance exam(CET-BED), which is conducted by the university. Admission is open from July 2025, and the deadline to submit the form is 25th November 2025(Tentative). As per the university guidelines, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject with at least 45% marks and a minimum of two years of teaching experience in a recognised school. The duration of the B.Ed course is two years. B.Ed program fees are INR 25,000 per year.

NOU PG Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University has opened its postgraduate admission window from July 2025 to 25th November 2025(Tentative) for the academic year 2026 in various streams, including Arts, Science, Commerce, Computer Applications, Library Science, and Journalism. Candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject area can apply for PG courses such as MA, M.Com, M.Sc, MCA, MLIS, and MJMC. The university grants admission to PG courses on a merit basis. For MCA, a bachelor's degree with Mathematics as a subject or a BCA/B.Sc (Computer Science) degree is required. MLIS applicants must have passed BLIS, while MJMC candidates should hold a bachelor's degree or PGDJMC. The PG programs generally span 2 years, except MCA, which is of 3 years duration.

NOU PG Diploma Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University also offers a range of Postgraduate Diploma programs in fields like Journalism and Mass Communication, Library Science, and other professional areas. Admission has started from July 2025, and the deadline is 25th November 2025(Tentative). These programs are ideal for students who want to upskill or pursue short-term academic goals. The minimum requirement for PG diploma courses is a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any discipline. The duration of diploma programs is usually one year, and the application process is straightforward with no entrance exam requirement.

NOU Certificate Admission 2026

Admission to Certificate courses at Nalanada Open University has opened from July 2025, and the last date to apply for admission is 25th November 2025(Tentative). For students interested in short-term and skill-based learning, Nalanda Open University provides several certificate courses such as Hindi-English Translation, Computer Applications, Urdu, and Bhojpuri. 

These certificate programs are open to students who have passed Matriculation or Intermediate, depending on the specific course. The duration of the certificate courses ranges from six to nine months. Admissions are conducted on a direct basis without any entrance exam. These programs are especially suitable for working individuals and learners aiming for quick certifications.

NOU Admission Eligibility Criteria 2026

UG Programs:

• For a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Subjects, candidates must have completed Class 12 in any stream from a recognised board.
  
• Students must have passed Class 12 with Science as their subject combination, for a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Subjects.
  
• For B.Com admission, applicants should have completed Class 12 in any stream.
  
• BCA admission, students must have passed Class 12 with Mathematics or Information Technology, along with a Certificate in Computing for BCA admission.
  
• For BLIS (Bachelor of Library and Information Science), candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
  

PG Programs:

• Students must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any subject from a recognised university for Master’s Degree in Arts Subjects.
  
• For Master’s Degree in Science Subjects, one must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the relevant science subject.
  
• Students should have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce to pursue M.Com.
  
• For MJMC (Master of Journalism and Mass Communication), students must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any subject or a PGDJMC qualification.
  
• Candidates must have completed BCA, B.Sc (Computer Science), or a Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics as a subject for MCA (Master of Computer Applications).
  
• Applicants must hold BLIS degree from a recognised university to become eligible for For MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science).
  

Diploma/PG Diploma:

• For Postgraduate Diploma Courses, students must have completed a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any stream.
  

B.Ed Program:

• For Bachelor of Education (B.Ed), applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in any subject with at least 45% marks at the graduate level, along with 2 years of teaching experience in a recognised school.

Certificate Courses:

• Candidates applying for certificate programs must have passed Matriculation or Intermediate, depending on the specific requirements of the course.

NOU Admission Process 2026

Students can apply to Nalanda Open University through both online and offline methods:

Online Application Steps:

1. Visit the official website.
2. Click on the “Online Admission” link.
3. Register by entering basic details like email ID, phone number, etc.
4. Log in using your credentials and fill out the application form.
5. Upload necessary documents.
6. Pay the application fee via online mode.
7. Submit the form and download the confirmation page.

Offline Application Process:

• Download the form from the NOU website or collect it from the study centre.
• Fill it manually and attach photocopies of the required documents.
• Submit it at the university office in Patna or an authorised study centre.
• Pay the application fee via DD or cash.

NOU Courses and Fees 2026

Nalanda Open University offers a wide range of Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, Certificate, and Intermediate programs across diverse disciplines. The fee structure is designed to be affordable for distance learners. Below is the detailed list of courses offered by NOU for the academic year 2026, along with their annual fees.

UG Courses

PG Courses

PGDM Courses

Certificate Courses

Intermediate Courses

NOU Admission Documents Required

• Class 10 and 12 Marksheet 
• Graduation mark sheet (if applying for PG)
• Transfer Certificate / Migration Certificate
• Passport-size photographs
• Signature and ID proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID)
• Caste Certificate (if applicable)
• Teaching Experience Certificate (for B.Ed)
• Domicile Certificate (for state quota applicants)

UGC Approved Universities List