What is Distance Learning?

Distance learning are the educational programs wherein students and teachers do not meet in the classroom and teachers do not conduct daily physical classes. The mode of teaching in distance learning could be via online teaching, via e-mails or via correspondence by providing study material. Study material is the main material for the distance learning courses. This study material is usually prepared by the university that offers the distance learning courses and this study material is provided to the students who enrol themselves in the distance learning courses.

This study material is sometimes provided in hard copies to the students and sometimes it is provided through online via e-mail or by uploading on the university website. Distance learning courses is a very good option for many students who cannot come for regular classes due to any reason. It is a good option for working people also. Many working people opt for higher education courses via distance learning because they cannot attend regular classes due to their job. The best part about the degree of the distance learning courses is that it holds equal weightage from eligibility point of view for higher studies as comparing to the other degree offered by other universities that conduct regular courses.

From Bachelors to PhD these universities offer a wide range of courses from all disciplines. Many students in India completes their education through distance learning universities. These universities are a backbone and very prestigious part of the education system of India. Though there are many universities that offer wide range of online education courses in multiple disciplines in the present time but the top ten universities which are imparting the distance education from a very long ago are enlisted below:

The list of the top ten universities of India that imparts distance learning education in India is listed below:

  • 1. Indra Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU): IGNOU is one of the best Universities in India for distance learning and it offers wide range of courses from all stream science, commerce, and Arts from Graduation to Higher Education. It has many centres, cells and units that deals with specific area of studies. Its head office is in Delhi.

  • 2. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning: Symbiosis is an AICTE Approved university for distance learning and it offers wide range of courses especially the diploma courses on Management, Information Technology, Education, Humanities, Design, and wellness. Its head office is in Delhi.

  • 3. Sikkim Manipal University: Sikkim Manipal University is approved by UGC, Distance Education Council and accredited by NAAC. It is the first of its kind public private partnership university for Higher education. It offers both regular classes as well as Distance learning Courses. Sikkim Manipal University is very popular for Medical Science Courses and it is approved by the regulatory body of medical science the Medical Council of India. It also offers other courses from its Humanities and Social Science Department.

  • 4. IMT Distance and Open Learning Institute: IMT is a distance learning institute in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. It is approved by AICTE. It offers post-graduate courses on Management and it also offers a 13 and 15-months executive programme for post graduate diploma in management which is a very attractive programme for working people. It takes admission twice a year in August and January.

  • 5. Delhi University School of Open Learning (DU SOL): SOL is campus of open learning, which is a part of Delhi University only, but it offers correspondence courses in almost all the streams Science, Commerce and Arts. From Graduation to Higher Education SOL, it offers all kind of courses to its students.

  • 6. Dr BR Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU): It is Recognized by UGC. The moto of this University is “Education at your Doorstep”. It offers all three courses, Graduation, post-graduation, and diploma & certificate programmes through distance education. 

  • 7. Netaji Subhash Open University: It is accredited by NAAC. And it offers wide range of courses on humanities, science, social science, vocational courses, Bed Special education, research, and professional studies.

  • 8. Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU): It is located in Haryana and it is accredited by NAAC. It offers both graduation and post-graduation courses and other higher education courses through distance learning.

  • 9. Karnataka State Open University (KSOU): It is recognized by UGC and it offers wide range of courses from all stream science, commerce and Arts and it offers all graduation, post-graduation and other higher education degrees, diplomas and certificate courses. 

  • 10. Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open University): It has eleven centres in Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Rewa, Satna, Sagar, Chindwara, Ujjain, Hoshangabad, Barwani and it imparts distance education in all streams and offer courses from graduation to post graduation courses.