The Netaji Subhas Open University is one of the top-ranked universities offering distance education in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Netaji Subhas Open University was established in 1997, the vision of the university was laid by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, who made an announcement at an event where he announced a university was going to be set up soon in memory of Netaji Subhas and will be dedicated to him.

The University was laid after the W.B. Act (XIX) of 1997 and Recognised by U.G.C. was passed in August 1997 to favor the foundation of Netaji Subhas Open University for establishing an enormous institution for providing top-quality education through distance education. The NSOU was established after bifurcating the Netaji Institute of Asian Studies known as NIAS and merging it with the Act of the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly the university is built on the land of Sri Sarat Chandra Bose (Netaji’s elder brother).

The university started its first academic batch in late 1998 where in the first year only Bachelor's Degree Programme were offered. 
The Netaji Subhas Open University Distance Education is the tenth university under the open university of the country and the ninth State Open University of India. The university is a well-reputed university in India which is valid and approved by the University Grants Commission and has received recognition from RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India), AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) and received a grade “A” from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

The university offers various course in multiple specializations, the offered courses at the Netaji Subhas Open University includes Ph.D., Bachelor, Post Graduate, Diploma, and advanced diploma program and the university manages its multiple educational programs with their different regional centers which are located at Kalyani, Durgapur, and Jalpaiguri.