Bharathiar University Distance Education: Courses, Exam 2023

Bharathiar University, a state government university in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, formed the School of Distance Education (SDE) in 1991-1992 to offer distance and open learning courses to students. It is a NAAC rated ‘A’ grade university and has also been ranked among the top 13 national universities for Science and Arts by MHRD-NIRF. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses along with a number of lateral entry and professional courses to students. 

If you are considering Bharathiar University SDE for open education, then check out the full blog below to know more details about the same. 

Overview of Bharathiar University School of Distance Education (SDE)

The overall details of the Bharathiar University SDE have been listed below:

Overview of Bharathiar University School of Distance Education (SDE)
Key Features	Details
Course Types	Undergraduate Degree Courses Postgraduate Degree Courses Diploma/Certificate Courses Post-Graduate Diploma Courses Professional Courses Lateral Entry Courses
Mode of Education	Distance Learning
Approvals and Recognitions	UGC-DEB NAAC (Rated ‘A’) NIRF (Top 15 Science and Arts Universities)
Undergraduate Degree Courses	Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)  Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences (B.Lib&I.Sc)
Postgraduate Degree Courses	Master of Arts (M.A) Master of Social Work (M.S.W) Master of Science (M.Sc) Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S) Master of Commerce (M.Com)
Diploma/Certificate  Courses	Diploma in Animation and VFX Diploma in Communicative English Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management DiplomainInterior Design Diploma in Airline and Airport Management Diploma in Yoga for Human Excellence
Postgraduate Diploma Courses	PG Diploma in Computer Application PG Diploma in International Business PG Diploma in Communicative English PG Diploma in Insurance Management PG Diploma in Fitness Management PG Diploma in Bio-Informatics PG Diploma in Hospital Management PG Diploma in Microbial Biotechnology  PG Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management  P.G. Diploma in Yoga Education P.G. Diploma in Fire & Safety Management P.G. Diploma in Counseling and Guidance P.G. Diploma in Advertising Management P.G. Diploma in Advanced Networking P.G. Diploma in Office Automation P.G. Diploma in E-Commerce P.G. Diploma in Export Management P.G. Diploma in Human Resource Development P.G. Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication P.G. Diploma in Management Accounting P.G. Diploma in Portfolio Management P.G. Diploma in Public Accounting P.G. Diploma in Tax Procedure and Practice P.G. Diploma in Web Service P.G. Diploma in Business Administration P.G. Diploma in Educational Administration P.G. Diploma in Public Management
Professional Courses	MBA MCA
Lateral Entry Courses	BCA / B.Sc (Comp. Sci.) / B.Sc. (IT)  B.Com B.Sc (Costume Design & Fashion) MBA
Fee Range	Undergraduate Courses: INR 7220- INR 24,000 Postgraduate Courses: INR 13,500- INR 31,000 Postgraduate Diploma Courses: INR 6000-INR 9000
Scholarship and Fee Concession	Alumni of Bharathiar University (graduates) will be given a concession of 25% on the tuition fee   Differently-Abled Students are eligible for 100% concession on tuition fee
General Eligibility	UG Courses: The Candidate Should have Completed their Grade 12 Level Education or 3 Years Education from Polytechnic University  (Some Courses may Have Subject Specific Requirements) PG Courses: The Candidate should have Completed Bachelor’s Level education (With Course Specific Requirements for Different Courses) Diploma Courses: Candidate Having Completed Grade 12 (HSC) Education  Postgraduate Diploma Courses: Candidate Holding Any Degree of Graduation Level (Specific Courses may have Subject Requirements) Professional Courses: Candidate should have Completed Graduation Level Education, i.e. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree. Candidate should have Completed Education in 10+2+3/11+1+3/10+3 (Diploma)+3 (Degree)  Lateral Entry Courses: Candidate should have Completed a 3 Years Diploma Course (Specific Courses may have Subject Requirements)
Duration	Undergraduate Courses: 3 Years (Except B.L.I.S which is a 1 Year Long Course) Postgraduate Courses: 2 Years  Diploma Courses: 1 Year (Except Diploma in Animation and VFX which is a 3 Year Course) Postgraduate Diploma Courses: 1 Year Professional Courses: 2 Years  Lateral Entry Courses: 2 Years (Except MBA which is a 1 Year Course)
Learning Pedagogy and Support	Personal Contact Programmes (PCP) Virtual Classrooms Live Virtual Classes Printed Learning Materials  Learning Materials in the form of CDs
Student Support Facilities	Official Learner Support Centres  Student Support Portal on Official University  Contacts and Mail Facilities in the case of Concerns
Placement Support	Available

Why Choose Bharathiar University SDE

Bharathiar University is one of the top educational institutions in the state of Karnataka and its School of Distance Education (established in 1991-92) provides around 100 courses to students at the UG and PG level in the distance learning mode. Numerous students seek admission in the SDE, Bharathiar University every year. 

If you are wondering about enrolling in the university, we have listed some factors that might make it the right choice for you. 

• Well-Accredited University: Bharathiar University SDE  has acquired the needed approvals for providing distance education. It provides students with credible degrees and diplomas since it has accreditations from 
• University Grants Commission-Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB)
• All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) 
• Course Choices: Bharathiar University SDE offers around 100 courses which means a greater number of students can find the course of their choice in the university, making distance education accessible to a larger number of students. Courses at Bharathiar University are provided in the fields of 
• Humanities, 
• Commerce 
• Sciences 
• Management 
• Library Sciences 
• Social Work etc.

Additionally, there are professional and lateral entry courses designed for working professionals to continue their education. 

• Affordability of Higher Education: All the courses at Bharathiar University SDE have been formed keeping in mind the diversity of economic sections from which students belong. So, all the courses have a fee range within INR 50,000 for the full course, which is much lower than most government and private distance universities. Moreover, there are facilities for fee concessions for differently abled students as well as alumni of Bharathiar University SDE. 
• Placement Support: this is one of the most important factors that students are looking for in a  distance education university today. At Bharathiar University SDE, students get to attend job fairs and melas which are exclusively designed for the students enrolled in distance education courses.     
• Allows Dual Degrees: one of the most important features of the university, Bharathiar University allows students to enroll in their distance education courses while pursuing another regular course, which means students can pursue two degrees/courses at the same time.   
• Complete Merit-Based Admission: Bharathiar University SDE does not conduct any entrance examinations for admission to any of its courses. This means that students do not need to separately devote time to preparation for the entrances and can directly seek admission in the courses on the basis of their past academic performance
• Efficient Student Support: The university has an efficient student support system that has provisions for quick redressal of student matters. This is done through online communication via the contacts on the official website of the university as well as through the Learner Support Centres formed by the university.   

Taking all such considerations into account, Bharathiar University SDE can be considered a good alternative for distance education, especially for students living in the states of southern India. 

Courses Offered by Bharathiar University SDE

Bharathiar University DDE offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, undergraduate and postgraduate diploma programmes as well as lateral entry and professional courses to students. The details for the same are further elaborated below. 

1. Undergraduate Degree Courses

Bharathiar University School of Distance Education (SDE) offers 30 undergraduate degree programmes, the details about which have been listed below: 

Undergraduate Degree Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Bachelor’s Degree Programme
Level of Course	Graduation
Duration	3 years (Except B.L.I.S- 1 Year)
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	The University Follows the Annual, i.e. Non-Semester System of Teaching
Courses	B.A. Tamil Literature B.A. English Literature B.A. Yoga for Human Excellence (Offered by Aliyar Centre) B.Sc. Computer Science B.Sc. Information Technology B.Sc. Costume Design and Fashion Technology B.Sc. Visual Communication (Electronic Media) B.Sc. Mathematics B.Sc. Physics B.Sc. Chemistry B.Sc. Botany B.Sc. Zoology B.Sc. Animation and VFX B.Sc. Psychology B.Sc. Multimedia & Web Technology B.Sc. Animation B.Sc. Interior Design B.Sc. Yoga B.Sc. Geography B.C.A B.Com B.Com. Computer Applications B.Com. Actuarial Science B.B.A B.B.A.Airline and Airport  Management B.B.A. Logistics and Supply Chain Management B.B.A. International Shipping and AirCargo Logistics Management B.B.A. Hospital Management B.S.W B.Lib & I.Sc (Bachelor of Library & Information Science)
General Eligibility	Candidate having Completed Higher Secondary Level of Education (i.e. HSC-Grade 12) or Having Completed a 3 Year Diploma from a Polytechnic University   Some Courses may have Specific Subject Requirements
Fee Structure (For Full Course)	B.A: INR 7220 B.Com: INR 7000- INR 13,500 BBA: INR 7000- INR 13,000 B.Sc: INR 10,000- INR 24,000 BCA:  INR 15,620 B.S.W: INR 9620 B.L.I.S: INR 15,620

2. Postgraduate Degree Courses 

Bharathiar University SDE also offers 30 full-time PG degree courses in the distance learning mode. The course details are given here:  

Postgraduate Degree Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Master’s Degree Programme
Level of Course	Post Graduation
Duration	2 years
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	The University Follows the Annual, i.e. Non-Semester System of Teaching
Courses	M.Sc. Mathematics M.Sc. Physics M.Sc. Chemistry M.Sc. Environmental Science M.Sc. Bioinformatics M.Sc. Computer Science M.Sc. Information Technology  M.Sc. Applied Psychology M.Sc. Botany M.Sc. Zoology M.Sc. (Costume Design & Fashion Technology) M.Sc Visual Communication  M.Sc. E-Learning Technology M.Sc. Animation and VFX M.Sc. Geography M.S.W (Master of Social Work) M.Com. M.Com (CA) M.L.I.S (Master of Library & Information Science) M.A. Tamil M.A. English Literature M.A. Journalism & Mass Communication M.A. History M.A. Economics M.A. Political Science and Public Administration M.A. Sociology M.A.Women’s Studies M.A.Yoga for Human Excellence M.A. Criminology and Police Administration
General Eligibility	Candidate having Completed Graduation, i.e. Having a Bachelor’s Degree from a Recognized University  Some Courses may have Specific Subject Requirements
Approximate Fee Range (For Full Course)	M.A: INR 13,120 M.Com: INR 13,120 M.Sc: INR 10,000- INR 24,000 M.S.W: INR 16,120

3. Diploma Courses

The university also offers diplomas after school education to students. Find the details for the same here: 

Diploma Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Diploma Programme
Level of Course	Undergraduate
Duration	1-3 Years
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	The University Follows the Annual, i.e. Non-Semester System of Teaching
Courses	Diploma in Communicative English Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management DiplomainInterior Design Diploma in Airline and Airport Management Diploma in Yoga for Human Excellence Diploma in Animation and VFX
General Eligibility	Candidate having Completed School Education- i.e. Higher Secondary Level Education (i.e. Grade 12 Education) or Senior Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC-Grade 10)

4. Postgraduate Diploma Courses 

Bharathiar University SDE has over 25 diploma courses that students can take up after completing their graduation level education. The course details are given here.

Postgraduate Diploma Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Postgraduate Diploma Programme
Level of Course	Post Graduation
Duration	1 Year
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	The University Follows the Annual, i.e. Non-Semester System of Teaching
Courses	PG Diploma in Computer Application PG Diploma in International Business PG Diploma in Communicative English PG Diploma in Insurance Management PG Diploma in Fitness Management PG Diploma in Bio-Informatics PG Diploma in Hospital Management PG Diploma in Microbial Biotechnology PG Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management P.G. Diploma in Yoga Education P.G. Diploma in Fire & Safety Management  P.G. Diploma in Counseling and Guidance P.G. Diploma in Advertising Management P.G. Diploma in Advanced Networking  P.G. Diploma in Office Automation P.G. Diploma in E-Commerce P.G. Diploma in Export Management P.G. Diploma in Human Resource Development P.G. Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication P.G. Diploma in Management Accounting P.G. Diploma in Portfolio Management P.G. Diploma in Public Accounting P.G. Diploma in Tax Procedure and Practice P.G. Diploma in Web Service P.G. Diploma in Business Administration P.G. Diploma in Educational Administration P.G. Diploma in Public Management
General Eligibility	Any Candidate Holding a Degree can Apply to the Courses Some Courses May Have Specific Subject Requirements
General Fee Structure (For Full Course)	INR 6000- INR 9000

5. Professional Courses 

Bharathiar University SDE also offers professional courses for those interested in developing their professional skills and competencies. The university has mainly 2 courses for this- MBA and MCA. The course details are given here. 

Professional Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Professional Courses
Level of Course	Post Graduation
Duration	2 Years
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	The University Follows the Annual, i.e. Non-Semester System of Teaching
Courses	MBA (General) MBA (Financial Management) MBA (Hospital Management) MBA (Export Management)  MBA (Entrepreneurship) MBA (Financial Services) MBA (Human Resource Management) MBA (Information System Management) MBA (Retail Management) MBA (Tourism and Hotel Management) MBA (Investment Management)  MBA (Marketing Management) MBA (Services Management) MBA (Project Management) MBA (Technology Management) MBA (Airline and Airport Management) MBA (Logistics and Supply Chain Management) MBA (Banking and Finance Management) MBA (Material Management) MBA (Software Testing and Quality Management) MCA (Master of Computer Application)
General Eligibility	Candidate Having Completed Graduation Level Education MCA Course Requires Subject Specifications such as Mathematics
General Fee Structure	MBA: INR 24,000- INR 31,000 MCA: INR 29,120

6. Lateral Entry Courses

Lastly, Bharathiar University School Distance Education also offers lateral entry to some of its courses for students who have already completed preliminary education in the course in the form of a 3 year diploma. The course details for the same are given here: 

Lateral-Entry Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Lateral Entry Courses
Level of Course	Graduation/ Post Graduation
Duration	1-2 Years
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	The University Follows the Annual, i.e. Non-Semester System of Teaching
Courses	BCA B.Sc (Computer Science) B.Sc (IT) B.Sc (CDF) B.Com  MBA
General Eligibility	Candidate Having Completed 3 Year Diploma in the relevant field  MBA Course Requires the Candidate to have Completed MBA
General Fee Structure	B.Sc: INR 14,840 BCA: INR 14,840 B.Com: INR 6640 MBA: INR 11,520

Admission Procedure to Courses at Bharathiar University DDE

Students can seek admission at Bharathiar University through online mode or offline mode. 

The offline mode admissions are only in exceptional circumstances such as when a student does not have access to internet facilities. Apart from that, students can also visit the Learner Support Centres (LSCs) in Tamil Nadu, that have been approved by the university. 

The basic admission procedure both in terms of offline and online mode of admission has been described below: 

1. Application Form 

i) For Online Admission 

In case of online admissions, students can visit the university website  http://sde.b-u.ac.in and apply directly to the course of their choice. Before doing this, they need to pay the application fee amount of INR 150 through online payment methods (Net Banking/ UPI payment/ Credit/Debit Card etc.) 

ii) For Offline Admission

This facility is provided in exceptional cases such as if the applicant does not have access to internet facilities etc. In those cases, the student can obtain the application form from the university campus or through post. 

For obtaining the application form from the university, students need to make a payment of INR 150 and for obtaining the form through post, an application fee of INR 200 needs to be paid. Both the payments need to be made in the form of  a Demand Draft (DD). 

2. Filling-up of Application Form and Submission 

i) For Online Admission 

Students need to apply directly by visiting the website linked above. Then they need to follow the simple steps listed below: 

• Selecting the Course they want to Apply to
• Confirm their Educational Qualification for Verification of Eligibility 
• Filling up of Basic Preliminary Data of Candidate 
• Confirming and Verifying the Valid e-mail ID and Mobile Number
• Filling up of Correspondence Details (Address)
• Filling-Up of Social Data and Applying for Concession (If Needed)
• Uploading Digital Copies of Necessary Documents 
• Submitting the Application after Confirming all Details 

ii) For Offline Admission

After obtaining the application form, students need to fill the form, attach copies of the documents needed and then submit the form along with DD 

3. Admission Confirmation 

After payment of the course fee and submission of documents for admission, the university confirms the admission of the candidate via text message and a provisional admission confirmation. 

The student can then log in to the website and then download their ID card, upon which their admission with the university will be activated.   

Course Fee Range

The fee range at Bharathiar University SDE is quite affordable and pocket-friendly, with all courses costing below INR 50,000 for the full term. So, a larger number of students can afford and take admissions to the courses. The fee payment can be done through annual instalments which ensures that the fee expenses are not heavy on the pocket for students. 

Here are the fee details for the courses at Bharathiar University SDE

Fee Structure for Courses at Bharathiar University SDE
Course	Full Course Fee
B.A	INR 7220
B.Com	INR 7220- INR 13,220
BBA	INR 7220- INR 12,620
B.Sc	INR 11,000- INR 24,000
BSW	INR 9620
BCA	INR 15,620
BLIS	INR 15,620
M.A	INR 13,120
M.Com	INR 13,120
M.Sc	INR 16,000- INR 24,500
MSW	INR 16,120
MBA	INR 24,000-INR 30,000
MCA	INR 16,120
PG Diploma Courses	INR 6000- INR 9000
B.Sc (Lateral Entry)	INR 14,840
BCA (Lateral Entry)	INR 14,840
B.Com (Lateral Entry)	INR 6640
MBA (Lateral Entry)	INR 11,520

Scholarships and Fee Concession at Bharathiar University SDE

The university also extends further financial support to students through fee concession facilities. 

• 25%  Fee concession is provided to students who have graduated from Bharathiar University 
• 100% Fee concession is provided to students who are differently abled.

Please note that the concessions are provided only on the tuition fees, and students need to submit authentic and valid documents (provisional certificate/degree of qualification for Bharathiar alumni and PwD Certificate in case of differently-abled students) in order to avail these concessions. 

Learning Pedagogy and Support 

Bharathiar university uses technological means to extend educational support to students. It also has Physical Contact Programmes (PCP) which are conducted at the university headquarters.   

 

The university has the following facilities for learning support for students.

Learning Support Features at Bharathiar University SDE
Physical Contact Programme (PCP)	Virtual Classroom
Livestream Classes	Printed Learning Materials
Digital Learning Materials (CD format)	Digital Learning Resources, Previous Years Question Papers etc.

In addition to the multiple learning support features, the university also allows students to pursue the distance courses while pursuing regular courses simultaneously. This dual course provision provides value for time to students. 

Also Read | What Is Learning Management system?

Examination and Evaluation Procedure at Bharathiar University SDE

The courses at Bharathiar University SDE follow the annual mode of examinations. Examinations are conducted by the university twice a year. 

• For the process of examinations, the students must submit their examination application form along with the examination fee. 
• The students are assigned with an exam centre by the university and the student must appear for exams from their designated centre only.

Also Read | How Universities Conduct Online Degree Exams In India?

Student Support Features at Bharathiar University SDE

Student support is an important part of a distance education institution since students do not visit the campus regularly. So in case concerns arise, there should be a framework in place where students can reach out to. 

• To ensure that students are in contact with the university authorities, the university has established over 44 Learning Support Centres across Tamil Nadu, where students can conveniently seek clarification of queries and redressal of concerns.    
• Additionally, students can also seek redressal of issues through the online support portal available on the official website of the university. 
• Apart from these amenities, students enrolled at SDE can also contact the university administration through telephone or via email, the details of which are available on the website of the university. 

Is a Degree from Bharathiar University SDE Valid?

Bharathiar University SDE is a NAAC rated ‘A’ university of India. Moreover, it has the approval of UGC-DEB for offering distance learning courses to students. Considering that it has the authorization of the government-authorized statutory bodies for providing online education, the degrees and diplomas obtained from Bharathiar University SDE are completely valid and credible. 

Moreover, with the latest guidelines from the Ministry of Education and Government of India, any full-time distance degree is of equal importance and worth as the same regular degree course. 

So students can be sure of the validity of their degree/diploma obtained from Bharathiar University since it is a nationally and internationally recognized university. 

Bharathiar University SDE Prospectus 

The complete prospectus of the university can be accessed through the university website or by clicking here. 

About Bharathiar University SDE

Tamil Nadu is a state that boasts of academic and educational legacy with many pioneering educational institutions started in this state. Bharathiar University is definitely one of the most renowned universities in the state of Tamil Nadu. 

Established in 1982, this is one of the older universities of India. The School of Distance Education (SDE) was formed as an academic division of Bharathiar University in 1991-92 with the aim of extending the educational services of the university to students who cannot relocate to pursue regular courses. Starting with conventional distance learning courses, the university today taps on the advancements in technology to offer virtual as well as physical support to students pursuing distance courses. 

The university today offers over 99 courses in the distance learning mode to students through its School of Distance Education. It has been authorized by UGC-DEB  to provide fully online learning courses and is a NAAC rated ‘A’ grade college. It is ranked among the top 15 universities of India in the category of Sciences and Arts. Its SDE offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree and diploma courses in addition to a number of professional courses. 

Bharathiar University SDE Review

• Course Review: with over 99 courses offered in the distance learning mode, Bharathiar University offers a diverse range of educational choices to students. Professional as well as academic courses are offered to students both at the undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The curriculum has a professional orientation. 
• University Review: Bharathiar University SDE has been rated as an A grade university by the NAAC and is one of India’s top 15 universities for science and arts as ranked by NIRF. It is a UGC-DEB accredited university and has vast course choices. It is infrastructurally strong and offers efficient pedagogical and logistical support to students. The Learner Support Centres make education easier to access for a larger number of students in Tamil Nadu. All these features make the university a good choice for distance education. 

Similar Online & ODL Universities of India

There are a number of other online and ODL universities in India which are well-accredited. Here we have listed down some of the top options for you. 

Top Online Universities in India
University	Location	Approvals and Recognitions
MMU Maulana Online	Haryana	UGC-DEB, AICTE, NAAC A++, NIRF, AIU
Tamil Nadu Open University	Tamil Nadu	UGC-DEB, NCTE, RCI
Alagappa University Distance Education	Tamil Nadu	UGC-DEB, NAAC (Rated A+), NIRF
University of Mysore Online	Karnataka	UGC-DEB, AICTE, AIU, NAAC (Rated ‘A’, NIRF)
BITS Pilani WILP	Pilani	NAAC (A)
Jain Online University	Bangalore	UGC-DEB, AICTE, NAAC A+, NIRF
Online Manipal	Jaipur	UGC, NAAC (A+), ACU
LPU Online	Phagwara, Punjab	UGC, ACU, NIRF
Karnataka State Open University	Mysore	UGC-DEB
Annamalai University Distance Education	Tamil Nadu	Is it valid?
Andhra University Distance Education	Andhra Pradesh	UGC-DEB, AICTE, NAAC
Madurai Kamaraj University Distance Education	Tamil Nadu	UGC-DEB, NAAC
University of Mumbai Distance Education	Maharashtra	UGC-DEB, NAAC A
Kashmir University Distance Education	Jammu and Kashmir	UGC-DEB, NAAC
Vidyasagar University Distance Education	West Bengal	UGC-DEB, NAAC
Shivaji University Distance Education	Maharashtra	UGC-DEB, NAAC, NIRF
Subharti University Distance Education	Uttar Pradesh	UGC-DEB, NAAC A+, AICTE
Kerala University Distance Education	Kerala	UGC-DEB, NAAC A, AICTE
Mangalore University Distance Education	Karnataka	UGC-DEB, NAAC, AICTE
Madras University Distance Education	Tamil Nadu	UGC-DEB