Tamil Nadu Open University: Courses, Fees, Exams Online 2023

Tamil Nadu Open University, more commonly known as TNOU is a fully open university that was started as an initiative by the state government of Tamil Nadu. The university has over 90 courses that are offered in the open-distance mode of education along with online learning support. The university is a well-known educational institute for providing distance education to students. 

If you are a student looking for a full guide about the university and wondering if it will be a good choice for your further education, then read the full blog where we have condensed all the important information about the university for you. 

Overview of TNOU

Here is a broad overview of the important details about Tamil Nadu Open University

Overview of TNOU
Key Features	Details
Course Types	Undergraduate Degree Courses Postgraduate Degree Courses Diploma Courses Post-Graduate Diploma Courses Vocational Diploma Programmes Advanced Vocational Diploma Programmes   Certificate Courses  Short-term Courses
Mode of Education	Open Distance Mode
Approvals and Recognitions	UGC-DEB NCTE Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
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 Performing Arts (B.P.A)
Postgraduate Degree Courses	Master of Arts (M.A) Master of Social Work (M.S.W) Master of Science (M.Sc) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Computer Applications (MCA)  Master of Commerce (M.Com)
Diploma Courses	Diploma in Wildlife Tourism Diploma in Archaeology and Epigraphy Diploma in Tourism and Tour Operations Management Diploma in Journalism Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education
Postgraduate Diploma Courses	PG Diploma in Library Automation & Networking
Certificate Courses	Certificate in BS-VI: Emission Standards Certificate Programme In Advanced Technological Applications In Teaching Mathematics Certificate Course in Conservation Techniques Certificate Programme In Modern Techniques And Technology In Teaching Certificate in ICT in Functional Tamil Certificate Programme On Brain-Based Learning Techniques Certificate in Entrepreneurship Development Certificate Programme on Instructional Design Certificate Programme on Adolescence Education
Vocational Diploma Courses	Vocational Diploma in Refrigeration & AC Technician Vocational Diploma in Vehicle Mechanic Vocational Diploma in Fashion Design & Garment Making Vocational Diploma in Beauty Therapist Vocational Diploma in Office Automation Vocational Diploma in In-Design Vocational Diploma in Acupressure Therapist Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant Vocational Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (Kindergarten)
Advanced Vocational Diploma Courses	Advanced Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant Advanced Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant (Lateral entry)
Short-Term Courses	Short Term Course in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Thoughts Short Term Programme in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Short-Term Course in Office Automation Short-Term Course in Basic Computer Operations Short-Term Course in Industrial Safety & Security Short-Term Course in Cold Storage Management Short-Term Course in Beautician Short-term Course in Tailoring and Dress Making Short Term course in Surface Embellishments Short Term Programme In Life Skills And Personality Development Short Term Programme In Yoga Education Short Term Course on Digital Skills for 21st Century Teachers Short-term Course in Social Justice Short-term Course in Road Safety & First-Aid Short-term Course in Theatre Arts Short-term Course in Acting Method Short-term Course in Folk Dance Short-term Programme in A Novel Corona Virus: Awareness, Prevention, Vaccination & Life Balancing
Fee Range	Undergraduate Courses: INR 4550- INR 28,100 Postgraduate Courses: INR 6500- INR 26,000 Diploma Courses: INR 4000- INR 4500 Postgraduate Diploma Courses: INR 5500 Certification Courses: INR 2000 (Except Certificate Course in Entrepreneurship Development: INR 300) Vocational Diploma Courses: INR 4700- INR 7700 Advanced Vocational Diploma Courses: INR 7700- INR 15,200 Short-Term Courses: INR 300- INR 1500
Scholarship and Fee Concession	Scholarship Facilities for SC/ST Students Complete Fee Concession for Differently-Abled Students, Children of Jail Inmates, Destitute Widows and Transgender Individuals  10% Fee Concession for Students Enrolling in Tamil Medium Courses
General Eligibility	UG Courses: Candidate Having Completed Grade 12 or Equivalent Course OR Having Completed Grade 10 with 3 Years Diploma, with 2 Years of ITI and NCVT PG Courses: Candidate Having Completed Graduation/Bachelor’s from a Recognized University (Some Courses may have Subject Specific Requirements) Diploma Courses: Candidate Having Completed Grade 10 or Grade 12 Level Education or Equivalent Education (Depending on Course) Postgraduate Diploma Courses: Candidate Having Completed Graduation from a Recognized University   Vocational Diploma Courses: Candidate Having Completed Grade 10 Level or Equivalent  Education (Except Vocational Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education for which the Candidate Should have Completed Grade 12 Level or Equivalent Education) Advanced Vocational Diploma Courses: Candidate Having Completed Grade 10 Level Education Certificate Courses: Candidate Having Completed Grade 10 or Grade 12 Level or Equivalent Education (Depending on Course)
Duration	Undergraduate Courses: 3 Years (Except BCA -Lateral Entry which is a 2 Year Long Course and BPA which is a 4 Years Long Course) Postgraduate Courses: 2 Years (Except MCA which is a 3 Year long Course) Diploma Courses: 1 Year Postgraduate Diploma Courses: 1 Year Vocational Diploma Courses: 1 Year Advanced Vocational Diploma Courses: 1-2 Years Certification Courses: 6 Months  Short-term Courses: 3 Months
Learning Pedagogy and Support	Open and Distance Mode of Learning  Access to Printed Learning Materials  Access to Digital Learning Materials
Student Support Facilities	Grievance Redressal System Student Support Centres Anti-Ragging Cell Environment Cell Internal Harassment Cell Person with Disability Cell Placement Services  Equal Opportunity Cell  Women’s Cell Research Advisory Committee
Placement Support	Available

Why Choose TNOU?

Tamil Nadu Open University is a state government university that was started as an initiative by the Tamil Nadu government to extend educational services to a larger number of students who are not able to pursue courses in the regular mode of education.

So, if you are looking for a higher education course in the open learning or distance mode, then find out why Tamil Nadu Open University is a good choice for you. 

• Credibility and Trust for the University  

The Tamil Nadu Open University is a state government university that is dedicated to solely providing distance learning courses to students. The university has the approval of UGC-DEB and has also received recognitions from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and the NCTE. It is also a much trusted and credible university, and students enrolled for the courses here can be sure of the credibility and validity of their degree/diploma/certificate. This is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing an open university since you must ensure the validity and credentials of the university to ensure that their degrees are recognized.

• Course Diversity 

With over 90 courses offered in the open distance learning mode, the university has a truly diverse range of educational choices for the students. Not only are academic courses but also professional and vocational courses are provided at TNOU, which means individuals interested in not only the academic higher qualifications but also improving their professional skills can find a number of courses here. Additionally, both undergraduate and postgraduate level education is provided here. Lastly, students can choose from degree, diplomas, postgraduate diplomas, certificates, short-term courses and vocational programmes based on their educational needs.   

• Student-Friendly Fee Range 

Affordable education is the key to making education truly accessible to everyone. Based on this mission, TNOU offers courses at very reasonable and pocket-friendly rates. Additionally, there are scholarship and fee concession options available for needy students as well. So, if you are looking for affordable courses for further education, then TNOU can be a good option for you. 

• Efficient Student Support Facilities

With over 10 different bodies and committees especially dedicated to address students’ concerns, Tamil Nadu Open University offers a robust support system for the easy resolution of issues that may arise during the period of a student’s enrollment with the university.   

• Placement Services   

The students who pursue courses from the TNOU also get access to the placement services offered by the university, which includes placement fairs held at the various student support centres established by the university across Tamil Nadu as well as career guidance by professionals and industry experts.  

Considering such factors, TNOU can indeed be a good choice for higher education for you if you are seeking an affordable and quality educational course. 

Courses Offered by TNOU

There are 8 types of courses offered by the Tamil Nadu Open University, namely, undergraduate degree courses, postgraduate degree courses, diploma courses, postgraduate degree courses (PGD), vocational diploma programs, advanced vocational diploma programs, certification courses, and short-term courses.

The full details of these courses have been given here for your easy reference. 

1. Undergraduate Degree Courses

There are 27 UG degree courses offered at TNOU in the distance mode. The course details for the same are provided below.

Course Details of UG Degree at TNOU
Course	Bachelor’s Degree Programme
Level of Course	Graduation
Duration	3 years (Except B.P.A- 4 Years)
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	6 semesters for 3 Years 8 Semesters for 4 Years
Courses	B.A (Tamil) B.Lit (Tamil) B.A (English) B.A Economics B.A Islamic Studies B.A Sociology B.A Human Rights B.A Political Science B.A Public Administration B.A History B.C.A B.C.A (Lateral Entry) – LE B.Sc Geography B.Sc Mathematics B.Sc Psychology B.Sc Apparel and Fashion Design B.Sc Chemistry B.Sc Zoology B.Sc Physics B.Sc Botany B.Sc Apparel and Fashion Design (LE) B.S.W (Social Work) B.B.A B.Com B.Com(Computer Applications) B.Sc Visual Communication B.P.A (Drama and Theatre Studies)
Eligibility	General Eligibility Candidate should have Completed Grade 12 Level Education or Equivalent Education (From NIOS) OR Candidate should have completed a 3 Year Diploma from DOTE with 2 Years of Training from ITI Some Courses may have Specific Subject Requirements
Fee Structure	INR 4550- INR 28,100 Depending on Course

2. Postgraduate Degree Courses

The TNOU offers 24 PG-level degree courses in the open distance mode. The details for the same are given here. 

Course Details PG Degree at TNOU
Course	Master’s Degree Programme
Level of Course	Post Graduation
Duration	2 years (Except MCA- 3 Years)
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	4 semesters (For 2 Years) 6 Semesters (For 3 Years)
Courses	M.A Tamil M.A English M.A Linguistics M.A Anthropology M.A Economics M.A Sociology M.S.W (Social Work) M.Sc Chemistry M.Sc Mathematics M.Sc Physics M.Sc Zoology M.Sc Botany M.Sc. Geography M.Sc Apparel and Fashion Design M.Sc Counselling and Psychotherapy M.Sc Counselling and Psychotherapy (For non-Psychology Students) M.Sc Psychology MBA (Finance, Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, Information Technology) M.Com. M.A Political Science M.A Public Administration M.A History M.C.A M.C.A(L.E) M.A. Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration
Eligibility	General Eligibility Candidate should have Completed Graduation Level Education, i.e. Should Hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a Recognized University  Some Courses may have Specific Subject Requirements Depending on Specialization
Fee Structure	INR 6500- INR 26,000 Depending on Course

3. Diploma Courses

The university offers 5 diploma courses to students after completing school level education, the details of which are provided below: 

Course Details of Diploma Courses at TNOU
Course	Diploma  Programme
Level of Course	Undergraduate Level
Duration	1 Year
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	2 semesters
Courses	Diploma in Wild Life Tourism Diploma in Archaeology and Epigraphy Diploma in Tourism and Tour Operations Management Diploma in Journalism Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education
Eligibility	General Eligibility Candidate should have Completed Grade 12 Level or Equivalent Education  Eligibility for Diploma in  Tourism and Tour Operations Management & Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Candidate should have Completed Grade 10 Level or Equivalent Education
Fee Structure	INR 4000 For Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education And Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: INR 4500

4. Postgraduate Diploma Courses

The university offers a PGD course in Library Automation and Networking. The course details are listed here. 

Course Details of Post Graduate Diploma Courses at TNOU
Course	Post Graduate Diploma  Programme
Level of Course	Postgraduate Level
Duration	1 Year
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	2 semesters
Courses	Post Graduate Diploma in Library Automation and Networking
Eligibility	The Candidate should have Completed their Graduation from a Recognized University
Fee Structure	INR 5500

5. Vocational Diploma Courses

TNOU also has 9 vocational programmes for students to expand their proficiency in specific professional fields. The course details are given here.

Course Details of Vocational Diploma Courses at TNOU
Course	Vocational Diploma  Programme
Level of Course	After Matriculation or Higher Secondary Education
Duration	1 Year
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	2 semesters
Courses	Vocational Diploma in Refrigeration & AC Technician Vocational Diploma in Vehicle Mechanic Vocational Diploma in Fashion Design & Garment Making Vocational Diploma in Beauty Therapist Vocational Diploma in Office Automation Vocational Diploma in In-Design Vocational Diploma in Acupressure Therapist Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant Vocational Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (Kindergarten)
Eligibility	Candidate should have Completed their Grade 10 Level Education, i.e. Till Senior School Level Eligibility for Vocational Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education: Candidates should have Completed Grade 12 Level Education i.e. Higher Secondary or Equivalent Education
Fee Structure	INR 4700- INR 7700

6. Advanced Vocational Diploma Course

TNOU also has two advanced vocational diploma courses that have been designed for students to grow their professional skills through rigorous training. The course details are given below:

Course Details of Advanced Vocational Diploma Courses at TNOU
Course	Advanced Vocational Diploma  Programme
Level of Course	Post Matriculation (Grade 10 Level Education)
Duration	1-2 Years
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	2 Semesters for 1 Year Course  4 Semesters for 2 Year Course
Courses	Advanced Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant Advanced Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant (Lateral entry)
Eligibility	Candidate should have Completed their Grade 10 Level Education, i.e. Till Senior School Level Eligibility for Advanced Vocational Diploma in General Duty Assistant (Lateral Entry): Candidates should have Completed Grade 10 Level Education i.e. Senior Secondary Education and Have a VDGD/ VDHA/DHA from TNOU
Fee Structure	INR 7700- INR 15,200

7. Certification Courses

The university also offers short-term certification courses to the students for skill development that can be pursued by anyone who has completed their basic school education. The course details have been provided here: 

Course Details of Certification Courses at TNOU
Course	Certification Course
Level of Course	Post Secondary and Senior Secondary Education
Duration	6 Months
Mode	Distance Mode
No. of Semesters	1 Semester
Courses	Certificate in BS-VI: Emission Standards Certificate Programme In Advanced Technological Applications In Teaching Mathematics Certificate Course in Conservation Techniques Certificate Programme In Modern Techniques And Technology In Teaching Certificate in ICT in Functional Tamil Certificate Programme On Brain Based Learning Techniques Certificate in Entrepreneurship Development Certificate Programme on Instructional Design Certificate Programme on Adolescence Education
Eligibility	Candidate should have Completed their Grade 12 Level Education, i.e. Till Higher Secondary Level Eligibility for Certificate Courses on BS-VI: Emission Standards, Entrepreneurship Development and Conservation Techniques: Candidates should have Completed Grade 10 Level Education i.e. Senior Secondary Education
Fee Structure	INR 2000 Course Fee for Certificate in Entrepreneurship Development: INR 300

 8. Short-Term Courses

These are 3-month courses in specific academic and professional areas. The course details are given below: 

Course Details of Short-Term Courses at TNOU
Course	Short-Term Course
Level of Course	Post Secondary and Senior Secondary Education
Duration	3 Months
Mode	Distance Mode
Courses	Short Term Course in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Thoughts Short Term Programme in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Short-Term Course in Office Automation Short-Term Course in Basic Computer Operations Short-Term Course in Industrial Safety & Security Short-Term Course in Cold Storage Management Short-Term Course in Beautician Short term Course in Tailoring and Dress Making Short Term Course in Surface Embellishments Short Term Programme In Life Skills And Personality Development Short Term Programme In Yoga Education Short Term Course on Digital Skills for 21st Century Teachers Short term Course in Social Justice Short term Course in Road Safety & First-Aid Short term Course in Theatre Arts Short term Course in Acting Method Short term Course in Folk Dance Short term Programme in A Novel CoronaVirus: Awareness, Prevention, Vaccination & Life Balancing
Eligibility	General Eligibility  Candidate should have Completed their Grade 10 Level Education, i.e. Till Senior School Level Eligibility for Short Term Programme In Life Skills And Personality Development Candidate should have Completed their Grade 12 Level Education, i.e. Till Higher Secondary Level Eligibility for Short Term Course on Digital Skills for 21st Century Teachers Candidate Should have Completed Graduation from Any Recognized University in Any Discipline Eligibility for Short term Programme in A Novel CoronaVirus: Candidates should have Completed Any Degree/ Nursing Students and Staff can also Pursue the Course
Fee Structure	Total Course Fee: INR 300- INR 1500

Admission Procedure at TNOU

Admission procedure for the courses offered by TNOU is conducted both through the online mode as well as through facilitation from the Learner Support Centres and Regional Branches of TNOU. 

The process is initiated with the candidate signing up on the official admission portal of the university. This can be found in the form of the ‘Online Admission’ tab on the drop-down menu for Admissions on the university homepage. 

After initial registration, students can further make the application fee payment, and then continue the admission procedure further. 

Admissions can be further carried out through regional centres and learner support centres that the university has established across the state of Tamil Nadu. 

Some of the important documents that students need to present for admissions include: 

Important Documents/Requirements for Admissions
Official Mobile Number	Official Credit Card/ Debit Card/ Internet Banking Facilities
Digital Copy of Qualification Certificates (Senior School Certificate/ Higher Secondary Certificate/ Diploma)	Community Certificate (for Scholarship)
Passport Size Photo	Candidate’s Signature
Government ID Proof	Official Email ID

The admissions are conducted in two academic circles, one in the form of the calendar year and the other in the form of an academic year: 

• Calendar Year: January to December
• Academic Year: July to June  

Course Fee and Scholarship Provisions at TNOU

The courses at TNOU are offered at reasonable rates along with flexible annual installment facilities.

There are fee concessions for students under special circumstances. The fee details for the courses are given below: 

Course Fees at TNOU
Course	Fee in INR
B.A	INR 6500- INR 10,100
B.Sc	INR 125,500- INR 19,500
B.Com	INR 10,000- INR 13,000
BCA	INR 28,500
BCA (Lateral Entry) Course	INR 18,800
BBA	INR 13,850
BSW	INR 10,100
BPA	INR 13,400
B.Lit	INR 6725
M.A	INR 6500- INR 8500
M.Sc	INR 12,800- INR 26,000
MSW	INR 12,800
MBA	INR 24,800
M.Com	INR 9800
MCA	INR 37,100
MCA (Lateral )	INR 24,800
Diploma in WildLife Tourism	INR 4000
Diploma in Archaeology and Epigraphy	INR 4000
Diploma in Tourism and Tour Operations Management	INR 4000
Diploma in Journalism	INR 4500
Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education	INR 4500
Postgraduate Diploma Course	INR 5500
Vocational Diploma Courses	INR 4700- INR 7700
Advanced Vocational Diploma Courses	INR 7700- INR 15,200
Certificate Courses	INR 2000
Certificate in Entrepreneurship Development	INR 300
Short-Term Courses	INR 300-INR 1500

The course fee at TNOU can be paid through the following modes: 

• Net Banking
• Credit Card or Debit card
• NEFT/ RTGS

Scholarships and Fee Concessions at TNOU 

To meet the financial needs of different students and enable more students to access education, Tamil Nadu Open University also offers scholarships and fee concessions to students. The details of the same are given here: 

Scholarships and Fee Concessions at TNOU
Scholarship & Fee Concession	Details
Scholarship for SC/ST Students	SC/ST Students with Community Certificate  Reimbursement Provided to Students who are not Employed and whose Annual Family Income  is within INR 1,00,000.
Fee Concession for Differently-Abled Students, Children of Jail Inmates, Destitute Widows and Transgender Individuals	Students meeting the Necessary Criteria will be given 100% fee concession for the tuition fee.
Fee Concession for Enrolling in Tamil Medium Courses	Students who enroll in Tamil medium courses will be given 10% concession on the tuition fee

Learning Features and Pedagogical Support at TNOU

The learning at TNOU occurs through open and distance learning means, which allows learning at one’s own pace. In addition to self-paced learning, the university also holds in-campus practical  classes for various courses.

Students are given access to printed textual learning resources. They are given the choice to also refer to the digital learning materials which can be accessed by students free of cost from the official university website. In terms of learning methodology, the university also gives online assignments to students, which can be submitted through the assignment portal on the official website of the university. 

Faculty at TNOU

A university which has been providing distance education to students for over 2 decades, TNOU boasts of 7 faculties further consisting of various schools for specific disciplines. 

The faculty is well-qualified and has ample experience in effectively delivering distance education to students. Majority of the professors are Ph.D scholars. 

The faculties of TNOU have been listed below:

Faculties at Tamil Nadu Open University
Faculty	Schools
Faculty of Arts	School of History and Tourism Studies
	School of Library and Information Sciences
Faculty of Social Sciences	School of Social Sciences
	School of Journalism and New Media Studies
	School of  Politics and Public Administration
	School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration
Faculty of Sciences	School of  Science
	School of Computer Science
Faculty of Indian and Foreign Languages	School of Tamil and Cultural Studies
	School of Humanities
Faculty of Extension Education	School of Continuing Education
Faculty of Education	School of  Education
	School of Special Education and Rehabilitation
Faculty of Management	School of Management Studies

Examination and Evaluation Procedure at TNOU

The university evaluates the performance of the student through Continuous Internal Assessment (CIA) and term-end examinations which are held in authorized exam centres through automated means. The two components are divided in the ratio of 30:70, with CIA having 30% weightage and End Semester Exams having a weightage of 70%. 

CIA further includes attendance at the Academic Counselling Sessions conducted by the university and Assignments for each paper. The academic counselling sessions are conducted at the student support centres over the weekends, the timetable for which is intimated to the students. The assignments for evaluation can be accessed by students from the official university website.

The examinations for the courses are conducted in the physical mode at designated centres across the state. The basic details of the examination procedure are mentioned here: 

• Online Examination Registration through University Portal
• Automated examinations held at university authorized centres
• University officials closely invigilate the examinations 
• Examination follows the Semester End system
• Students enrolled in the academic year format appear for exams in the months of June-July 
• Students enrolled in the calendar year format appear for exams in the months of December-January
•  Examinations Conducted in the form of OMR Sheets 

Student Support Features at TNOU

Tamil Nadu Open University has a very strong and robust support system for students, which allows students to have a hassle-free experience of education. With the added support of the regional centres and learner support centres, communication in case of queries and concerns become easier and convenient even through correspondence. 

The university has also formed a number of different bodies, cells and committees to address the various concerns or complaints that students may raise. There are over 10 cells as well as a number of facilities given to the students so that they can directly contact the concerned authority for their concerns and seek prompt redressal. 

The basic student support features of TNOU are given here 

Student Support at TNOU
Student Support Services Division	Alumni Cell
Anti-Ragging Cell	BC/ MBC Cell
Environment Cell	Internal Harassment Cell
National Innovation Cell	Person with Disability Cell
Placement Cell	Equal Opportunity Cell (SC/ST Cell)
Grievance Redressal Cell	Women’s Cell
Research Advisory Committee	Library
Quick Enquiry Feature on University Website	Admission Counselling

Placement Facilities at TNOU 

TNOU has a Student Placement Cell which is dedicated to helping students’ professional skills development as well as providing them with various employment opportunities through partnering with a large number of hiring companies and organizations. 

TNOU’s Placement Cell conducts annual placement drives at the various regional centres of the university.

The university also conducts various professional skill development programmes and workshops for students to assist them in honing their professional skills and becoming better-equipped at job-seeking. 

The placement services offered at TNOU have been given below: 

Placement Services at TNOU
Regular Placement Drives	Career Guidance Programmes
Parallel Education and Employment Programme (PEEP)	Employment Linked Skilling Programme (ELSP)

Is a Degree from TNOU VALID? 

Tamil Nadu Open University is a UGC-DEB approved institute dedicated to providing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the distance and open mode. Since it has the approval of the UGC-DEB, which is one of the main accrediting bodies for distance education universities, the degree/diploma/ certificate is valid and credible in India and abroad. 

TNOU Prospectus

The latest complete prospectus of the Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) can be accessed from the official website of the university or by clicking here.  

About TNOU

Tamil Nadu Open University was started by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2002. Since then the university has received approvals from bodies like UGC-DEB, RCI and NCTE and also offers online courses to students now. 

Located in Chennai, the university also has 8 regional centres which allow the student to access educational resources and get student support easily without the hassle of travel. The university offers courses in the domains of humanities, social work, social sciences, sciences, management, commerce etc. 

It has facilities for student support, learning support as well as placement assistance for students. It is one of the well-regarded universities in Tamil Nadu for distance learning. 

TNOU Review 

• Course Review: there are over 90 courses offered by the Tamil Nadu Open University in the  open-distance learning mode. Courses in the domains of humanities, social sciences, journalism, commerce, management, sciences etc. are covered. A number of vocational and advanced vocational courses are also available. The course fee is reasonable, along with provisions for scholarships and fee concessions in special cases.

• University Review: TNOU is a state government university and has the approval from UGC-DEB and experience of over 20 years in providing distance education to students. It offers higher education at affordable rates and has a well-structured student support network. It also offers placement support to students. So, overall the university has a good framework for providing distance education effectively. 

• Faculty Review: the University has 7 faculties constituted by 15 schools. The faculty at TNOU is well-qualified and has ample experience in distance education. Most of the professors are Ph.D scholars and are supportive and reachable for queries and concerns.  

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
Bharathiar University Distance Education	Tamil Nadu	UGC-DEB, NAAC (Rated ‘A’), NIRF
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