NSOU: Courses, Fees, Facilities

Noora Salam

Updated on - Feb 12, 2024

NSOU was set up in 1997. It is an open university by WB State legislative assembly. It is the first and the only open university in the State of West Bengal. It has been awarded the best innovative university for using ICT in vocational education and training. Admission for 2024 is in process for various UG & PG courses. It offers distance education programs at UG, PG, certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, PG diploma & Doctorate level courses in arts, science, commerce, and various other streams. NSOU accepts scores of various entrance examinations like UGC NET/GATE/CET.

NSOU has 6 schools under it, such as humanities, social sciences, vocational studies, sciences, education, and professional studies. It has more than 100+ study centres with 3 regional centres in West Bengal, namely Jalpaiguri, Kalyani, and Durgapur. Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has awarded NSOU as Excellence in Distance Education Award (EDEA) for institutional excellence. 

NSOU is considered to be one of the best open universities in India. Check out the GetMyUni Verdict for the university.

 Table of Contents

• NSOU Quick Insights
• NSOU Admission Dates 2024
• NSOU Ranking
• NSOU Courses
• NSOU Departments
• NSOU Admission
• Why Choose NSOU?
• NSOU Cutoff
• NSOU Results
• NSOU Infrastructure
• NSOU Placements
• NSOU Scholarships
• NSOU Collaborations
• NSOU Faculty
• NSOU Alumni

NSOU Quick Insights 

NSOU plays a vital role in providing education to the unprivileged society with a motto of 'reaching the unreached. The highlights of the university, such as university type, approvals, etc., are mentioned below

NSOU Admission Dates 2024

NSOU admissions can be made online. NSOU offers various UG, PG, Vocational, Diploma, Certificate and Advanced Diploma courses in distance learning. The candidates can check the website for notifications related to admissions. Tentative dates related to admissions are given below.

NSOU Ranking

NSOU is recognized by DEC and the Government of Bengal and has secured various rankings for its outstanding performance in various disciplines. Below is an overview of NSOU's rankings in the last few years by different organizations organizations

• Netaji Subhas Open University ranking is 92nd in the country among universities.
• Awarded as the Best Innovative University for the use of ICT in vocational education and training at the 8th Innovative Education Awards (2016) by DNA and Star Group
• Received 'The Excellence in Distance Education Award (EDEA) for institutional achievement from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Vancouver, in 2006.
• Ranked 2347 in the world ranking of universities.

NSOU Courses

NSOU courses are offered at certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Below is a summary of courses offered by the university across different disciplines with their specializations.

Read more: NSOU Courses

NSOU Fee Details

NSOU offers various undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs in science, management, law, etc. Applicants pay their fees online or offline mode. Given below are some of the fees for different courses offered by the institute

Read more: NSOU Fee Structure

NSOU Departments

NSOU has 6 schools functioning under it. Each school offers courses and programs catering to the chosen field and specialization the students selected. The table below consists of the 6 schools available at the university

NSOU Admission

NSOU admission 2024 is in process. The admissions to courses like BA, B.Sc, B.Ed, MCA, M.Com, MA, etc., are started by filling up an online application form on the official website of NSOU. An online entrance test is taken for admission. Admission is based on the entrance exams like UGC NET/GATE/CET and eligibility for courses. A merit list is prepared for various courses based on the marks scored and marks obtained in the previous course, which is the basis of admission. 

NSOU Eligibility Criteria

NSOU courses are offered in various disciplines, each with different eligibility criteria. A list of a few courses offered by the university with their eligibility criteria is given below.

B.Sc Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate should have passed 10+2 or its equivalent examination securing an aggregate of 45% marks from a recognized board.  

B.Ed Eligibility Criteria 

• Candidates should have completed 10+2 in the arts and science stream with an aggregate of 45% marks from a recognized university.

Certificate Courses Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates should have completed a 10+2 or equivalent examination in any stream from a recognized university.
• To pursue an e-Accounting & Taxation with GST certificate course, students have to be in any year of their graduation from a recognized university. 

Read More: NSOU Admission

Why Choose NSOU?

NSOU is the premier State Open University in India. The university received various awards and accolades, such as 'The Excellence in Distance Education Award (EDEA)' for Institutional Achievement from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Vancouver and the 'Best Innovative University' for using ICT in vocational education and training. Following are some of the advantages provided by the institute

• The Centre for Online Education (COEdn) was established to provide affordable access to quality education through an online learning environment.
• Its question paper is set on high standards which match the IIT level throughout the course duration.
• NSOU University offers 59 courses in 9 streams. There are 6 departments in the university.
• NSOU Kolkata has 100+ study centres.
• It also offers an online course with SWAYAM and has developed two MOOCs for the SWAYAM platform- one is hosted by the UGC (four-credit PG course), and the other is hosted by IGNOU (non-credit certificate course).

NSOU Academic Advantages

NSOU courses are concerned with the modern context and the requirements of the people. The university offers flexible learning and a blended learning approach which contribute to developing the underprivileged section of society. With collaborative efforts with the other State's Open Universities and the National Open University, the university aims to create a practical destination for educational outreach to everyone in the country. The following enlists the academic advantages of the university.

• Face-to-face counselling
• Practical lab sessions
• Hands-on experience in project work
• Industry exposure to students during field trips
• Self-learning/ multimedia material
• OER repository 
• Village knowledge centre
• Outreach program
• Annual job fairs

NSOU Cutoff

NSOU cutoff 2022 has been released. The students need to meet the essential cutoff marks required to get admission. The university offers various UG and PG courses, which are based on UG/ PG entrance exams. The cutoff differs for each course. The university sets different cutoffs for different courses. The students also need to clear the entrance exam for the particular course conducted online by the university and meet the essential cutoff marks for the test.

NSOU B.Ed Cutoff 2022

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NSOU Results

NSOU results are declared for the term-end examination on its official website. Students can check the result by entering their required credentials. The MSW & MLIS Online PG term-end examination result was published on November 26, 2021.

Read More: NSOU Result

NSOU Infrastructure

NSOU offers students a wide range of infrastructure facilities, from modern and smart classrooms to many library collections. It has initiated the process of setting up a partnership with the existing public libraries. The strategic partnership has been started with the public libraries at different locations, namely State Central Library, Kolkata, Uttarpara Jaikrishna Public Library, Hooghly, Kolkata Metropolitan Library, North Bengal State Library, and Coochbehar, to name a few. 

Some of the facilities offered within the campus are

• Library
• Modern/ Smart Classroom
• Modern Computer Lab
• Medical Facility
• Canteen
• Auditorium

 Read More: NSOU Infrastructure

NSOU Placements 

NSOU placements in 2022 are in process. It has a placement facilitation service for NSOU School of Vocational Studies students. There is an online platform on which students have to upload their curriculum vitae. Employers then see the resumes from the same platform. Potential employers then contact the students for further process. However, there is no direct or indirect university participation in placements.

Read More: NSOU Placements

NSOU Scholarships

NSOU offers some scholarship schemes for needy students. Some of the scholarships that the university offers are mentioned below

• State level Scholarships
• National Level Scholarships
• Kanya Shree Scholarships
• Swami Vivekananda Scholarships

NSOU Collaborations

NSOU has various national collaborations with educational institutions for research and development purposes. NSOU's tie-ups with various educational institutions are as follows

• Khulna University
• COL-CERCA
• George Telegraph Training Institute
• Rabindranath Tagore International of Cardiac Sciences
• Enterprise Development Institute (BNCCI)

NSOU Faculty 

NSOU has a highly reputed and high-quality faculty of 77+ members. The faculty at NSOU also has rich industry experience. NSOU features a dedicated and impressive team of college members that guides students toward the trail of educational excellence. The faculty ensures that students are trained to be high-quality professionals with innovative and inventive ideas. 

NSOU Alumni

NSOU has thousands of students passed out from it since its inception. Alumni are working in different fields of arts, sciences, education, etc., doing very well in their professional life. Some of the notable alumni and their professions are listed down below.