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Jagpreet
23 September, 2024
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Do you want to further your education but find it hard to attend regular classes due to a hectic schedule? Distance education offers the flexibility to learn from anywhere at your own pace. It has become an essential tool, making education accessible to all. The top 10 universities for distance education in India are now the top choice for many, providing practical options. Some Indian universities lead in delivering high-quality distance programmes. These institutions offer excellent courses that cater to various career goals.
Distance education is ideal if you work or have family commitments that prevent attending regular classes. Many Indian universities are recognised as the best for distance education, offering a wide range of courses. However, choosing the right university is crucial. Read on to discover the top 10 distance education universities in India.
Read: Explained: Distance Education, Online Education & Traditional Education
Distance education, also called distance learning, focuses on gaining knowledge remotely. Traditionally reliant on correspondence, many colleges now use technology and instructional design to offer quality education to those unable to attend in-person classes. This learning mode is flexible and affordable for working professionals, making it highly appealing.
Distance learning uses various technologies to ensure regular, meaningful interactions between students and instructors. These can be synchronous or asynchronous despite the physical distance. In India, many institutions have adopted distance learning, allowing students to complete courses from any location. In-person meetings and exams are held at prearranged locations. Institutions now offer various programmes to meet the growing demand, enabling students to earn degrees while maintaining full or part-time jobs.
Distance education has become a valuable option for students in remote areas, where attending university is often difficult. According to a Ministry of Education survey, it makes up 11.1% of total higher education enrolment, with 44.5% female students. The National Education Policy 2020 highlights the importance of online and distance learning in improving access to education. To raise enrolment ratios to 50% by 2035, the policy promotes an inclusive and technology-driven approach to learning.
You must choose their institutes for distance education wisely. There are many UGC-recognised universities in India. The top 10 distance education universities in India are listed below.
Colleges, along with their NIRF ranking:
| S.No | Name of the Distance University | NIRF Ranking |
| 1 | IGNOU Distance Education | 1 (Open University) |
| 2 | Netaji Subhas Open University | 2 (Open University) |
| 3 | Delhi University School of Open Learning | 15 (Overall) |
| 4 | Chandigarh University Distance Education | 20 |
| 5 | LPU Distance Education | 27 |
| 6 | Symbiosis University Distance Education | 32 |
| 7 | IMT (Institute of Management and Technology) | 35 |
| 8 | Amity University Distance Learning | 49 (Overall) |
| 9 | Sikkim Manipal University | 101 – 150 |
| 10 | Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU) | 151 – 200 |
Let’s discuss each university in detail.
IGNOU stands for Indira Gandhi National Open University. It is one of India’s oldest and most well-known distance education institutes. It is the first national open university in India, founded in 1985. IGNOU offers hundreds of courses At the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students enrolled in IGNOU can use all the benefits and courses offered by the university. The course fees are also quite affordable and reasonable. IGNOU distance education accepts applications for any course it offers to students who want to work in the field and pursue a technical profession.
Some of the courses offered by IGNOU are Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Computer Applications (MCA), Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and Diploma in Creative Writing in English.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC-DEB
AICTE
NAAC A++
NIRF Ranking: 1 (Open University)
Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU) is a state-open university. It offers distance education in eastern India. It was established in 1997. It offers various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in distance mode. If you join this university, you can pursue your academic objectives while juggling other responsibilities. Being a pioneer in remote learning, NSOU offers a broad choice of programmes tailored to different academic specialities, guaranteeing that you, wherever you may be, get a well-rounded education.
With NSOU’s distance education programmes, you can pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees at your speed and on your schedule, all while taking advantage of the knowledge and assistance of experienced faculty members.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC-DEB
AICTE
NAAC A
NIRF Ranking: 2 (Open University)
Delhi University’s open learning school was established in 1962. It is a pioneer in the Indian context of distance education and one of the best distance education universities in India. DU is officially recognised as a constituent institution of the University of Delhi by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Admission to UG and PG programmes is governed by the University of Delhi’s guidelines. The University of Delhi’s constituent institutes, including the School of Open Learning, have unremarkable course content and assessment practices.
In 2022, Delhi University (DU) adopted the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022. You can enrol here if you live far from campus, face financial constraints, or cannot secure admission to regular courses. A degree from DU’s School of Open Learning (SOL) holds the same value as any regular college under Delhi University.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC-DEB
AICTE
NAAC A+
NIRF Ranking: 15
According to the QS World Rankings 2024, Chandigarh University (CU) is one of the best distance education universities in India. It is also ranked #1 among all private universities in the country. It was the first university in Punjab to receive the esteemed NAAC A+ certification and is ranked in the top 5% of all universities. It is ranked 27th among the finest universities in India by the NIRF Rankings 2023. It is dedicated to excellence in research, innovation, multidisciplinary education, and the active development of bright new people. It is one of India’s top 7 private universities for higher learning.
Chandigarh University Distance Education offers competitive courses such as MBA, BCA, Mcom, Bcom, MA, etc.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC
AICTE
NAAC A +
ACU
IAU
NIRF Ranking: 20
Lovely Professional University (LPU) is one of the largest private universities in India. It is one of the best distance education universities in India. It has been permitted to provide distance learning programmes by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which ranks it 47th out of all government and private universities in the country. LPU distance education offers a wide range of UGC-DEB-entitled undergraduate and graduate programmes in management, computer applications, commerce, arts, and science. Additionally, professional programmes (MCA and MBA) are approved by AICTE. LPU Distance Education offers its offline students the same curriculum, faculty, and standards as the traditional campus to level the playing field.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC-DEB
AICTE
NAAC A++
NIRF Ranking: 27 (Overall)
Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) is India’s biggest independent remote learning education institution. Established in 2001, it became one of India’s largest and most prestigious distance learning institutions by offering numerous students a high-quality education. (SCDL) offers Post Graduate Diploma, Diploma, and Certificate programmes in business management, international business, information technology, banking and finance, supply chain management, customer relationship management, insurance management, education management, business and corporate law, and entrepreneurship development.
Symbiosis is one of the best distance colleges for working professionals who want to advance their career opportunities.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC-DEB
AICTE
NAAC A++
NIRF Ranking: 32 (university category)
IMT (Institute of Management and Technology) is another one of India’s top 10 universities for distance education. It is located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. It also stands among the top-ranked PGDM colleges in Ghaziabad and B schools in Delhi NCR. It offers a wide range of management courses.
IMT Ghaziabad Distance has taken the lead in curating entrepreneurs for the future by providing them with state-of-the-art skills and technology and a clear vision. Furthermore, it helps its students acquire the required skills; the centre hopes to develop all-around leaders in management and entrepreneurship. It also provides full-time, part-time, and corporate PGDM courses and other programmes.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC-DEB
AICTE
NBA
NAAC A
NIRF Ranking: 35 (Management)
Amity University is located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the most renowned and prominent private universities in India. Amity University’s Distance Education welcomes applicants nationwide and provides top-notch graduate and undergraduate programmes. The engineering and management programmes offered by this university are likewise highly regarded. Some other courses offered by Amity University Distance Education are as follows:
Bachelor of Science B.Sc. (IT)
Masters of Science, M.Sc. (IT)
Master of Science, M.Sc. (Evs)
Approvals & Recognition
UGC
AICTE
NAAC
ACU
NIRF Ranking: 47 (Overall Category)
Established in 2001, Sikkim Manipal University-Distance Education (SMU-DE) offers a range of professional distance learning courses. It ranks among the top 10 universities for distance education in India. Whether you’re looking to pursue an MBA, BBA, MCA, BCA, M.Sc. (IT), or B.Sc. (IT), SMU-DE has you covered with its well-recognised programmes, accredited by the Distance Education Board (DEB) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). With support from academic advisors and expert faculty, over five lakh students have successfully graduated from SMU-DE. You can even take advantage of their learning app, allowing you to study whenever it suits your schedule. SMU-DE programmes are designed to give you an edge in your career. It would help you grow professionally while you continue your studies.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC
AICTE
NAAC A+
NIRF Rank Band: 101-150 (University)
MDU distance education is one of the top 10 universities for distance education in India. It offers quality distance education. It was established in the year 2012. The mission of the Center for Distance Education is to create, preserve, and spread knowledge to enhance competitiveness and promote the overall well-being of society and humankind. Maharishi Distance Education offers a range of programmes that cater to local requirements and job prospects in the nation, from traditional to professional. Some of the courses offered in MDU distance education are MSc, MA, Mcom, etc. MDU is one of the best distance colleges for BEd degrees.
Approvals & Recognition
UGC
NAAC A+
NIRF Ranking: 151-200
The objective of distance education is to create and spread knowledge. If you wish to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees but are unable to do so, distance education can be of great assistance. In the current environment, where degrees may be obtained while sitting at home, these distance education universities are a blessing. These top ten universities offer multiple learning resources along with placement services. Make sure you check out the fees, services, and more before applying.
