Nalanda Open University Course Admission 2026: Dates, Fees, Eligibility, Application Process, Selection Criteria

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Content Curator | Updated on - Jul 5, 2026

Nalanda Open University Admission 2026 is offered entirely in distance learning mode. NOU is recognised by UGC-DEB and offers over 100 programmes. Most UG and PG admissions are merit-based on qualifying marks.

The B.Ed programme requires a valid score in Bihar B.Ed CET. PhD admissions need candidates to pass an NOU entrance test. NET, JRF, SET, and GATE holders are exempt from the PhD entrance test.

Admission Update:
  • UG (BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, BLIS): 2026-27 admissions ongoing. Check nou.ac.in for the current last date.
  • B.Ed: Bihar B.Ed CET 2026 counselling in progress. Second round allotment 14 July 2026. Classes begin 20 July 2026.
  • PG and PhD: Applications open. PhD last date 30 July 2026. PG deadline at nou.ac.in.
  • 25% fee concession is available for all female students across every programme.
  • Bihar state reservation applies: SC 16%, ST 1%, EBC 18%, BC 12%, EWS 10%, BC Women 3%, PwBD 5% horizontal.
  • All applicants must generate an ABC (Academic Bank of Credit) ID via Digilocker before applying.
  • Application fee is INR 400 for SC/ST/PwBD and INR 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates.
  • NOU runs 265 counselling and study centres across Bihar for weekend contact sessions.

NOU Admission Portal 2026: nou.ac.in/admission

Direct Admission at NOU: Nalanda Open University does not offer a management quota. All seats are filled through merit or entrance-based selection as applicable to each programme.

NOU UG Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University UG admission 2026 is available for BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, BBA, and BLIS. No entrance exam is required for any UG programme. Selection is based entirely on Class 12 marks.

NOU UG Admission Dates 2026

Event Date
Application Form Available May 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date to Apply July 2026 (Tentative)
Academic Session Begins July 2026

NOU UG Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board. There is no minimum percentage requirement for most NOU UG programmes.

Programme Eligibility Annual Fee
BA 10+2 pass from any stream INR 2,400
B.Com 10+2 pass from any stream INR 2,400
B.Sc 10+2 with Science stream INR 3,200
BCA 10+2 with Mathematics INR 6,600
BLIS 10+2 pass from recognised board As per nou.ac.in

The fees above are subject to revision. Contact NOU or visit nou.ac.in for exact fee details.

NOU UG Selection Process

NOU UG selection is purely merit-based on Class 12 marks. Bihar state reservation norms apply to all seats. Women candidates receive a 25% fee concession after admission.

  • Submit Class 12 marksheets and other documents during online registration.
  • Category-wise merit lists are prepared as per Bihar reservation policy.
  • Pay the first instalment of course fees to receive your student ID and study materials.

As per Collegedunia Reviews, students find NOU’s affordable fee structure and self-learning materials accessible. Reviewers note that the SLM (Self Learning Material) is useful for those preparing for competitive exams alongside their degree.

How to Apply for UG at NOU?

The NOU UG application process is fully online. Keep scanned copies of all documents ready before starting.

  • Visit nou.ac.in and create a new student account.
  • Generate your ABC ID at abc.gov.in via Digilocker before filling the form.
  • Upload 10th and 12th marksheets, a passport-size photo, and a government ID.
  • Pay the application fee: INR 400 for SC/ST/PwBD or INR 600 for General/OBC/EWS.
  • Submit and save the acknowledgement slip for reference.

NOU B.Ed Admission 2026

NOU B.Ed Admission 2026 flows through the Bihar B.Ed Combined Entrance Test (CET-BEd). The exam is conducted by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU). Seat allotment is centralised via online counselling for all nine participating Bihar universities.

NOU B.Ed Admission Dates 2026

The Bihar B.Ed CET 2026 exam was held on 7 June 2026. Counselling is currently underway.

Event Date
Bihar B.Ed CET 2026 Exam 7 June 2026
Bihar B.Ed CET Result 19 June 2026
Choice Filling for Counselling 22-28 June 2026
First Round Allotment 3 July 2026
Fee Payment - First Round 3-9 July 2026
Second Round Allotment 14 July 2026
Fee Payment - Second Round 14-17 July 2026
Classes Begin 20 July 2026

NOU B.Ed Eligibility Criteria

A Bachelor’s degree and a valid Bihar B.Ed CET rank are required for NOU B.Ed admission.

Criterion Requirement
Minimum Qualification Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
Entrance Exam Bihar B.Ed CET 2026 (qualifying rank required)
Programme Duration 2 years
Annual Fee INR 32,000 per year (INR 64,000 total)

The fee above is subject to revision. Visit nou.ac.in for the current fee schedule.

NOU B.Ed Selection Criteria

NOU B.Ed selection is based entirely on Bihar B.Ed CET rank. There is no separate NOU-level test or interview for B.Ed.

  • After CET results, register for counselling at the official BRABU portal.
  • Fill college preferences online and include NOU as a choice.
  • BRABU prepares merit lists category-wise and assigns seats to participating colleges.
  • Confirm your seat by paying the acceptance fee within the allotment window.
  • Report to NOU for document verification and final admission.

Key insight: Bihar B.Ed CET 2026 counselling runs at cetbed.ucanapply.com. Register there separately after the CET result. Do not apply directly to NOU for B.Ed.

How to Apply for B.Ed at NOU?

B.Ed admission to NOU happens entirely through the centralised Bihar B.Ed CET counselling process.

  • Check your Bihar B.Ed CET rank at biharcetbed-brabu.in.
  • Register for counselling at cetbed.ucanapply.com with your CET roll number.
  • Add NOU among your college choices during the choice-filling window (22-28 June 2026).
  • Pay the seat confirmation fee if NOU is allotted in Round 1 or Round 2.
  • Attend document verification at NOU on the date communicated by BRABU.

NOU PG Admission 2026

Nalanda Open University PG Admission 2026 covers MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MCA, MBA, MJMC, and MLIS. All programmes are in distance learning mode. Admission is merit-based on graduation marks for most PG courses.

NOU PG Admission Dates 2026

Event Date
Application Open May 2026 (Tentative)
Application Last Date July 2026 (Tentative)
Academic Session Begins July 2026

NOU PG Eligibility Criteria

A graduation degree in a relevant discipline is required for all NOU PG programmes. MCA also requires Mathematics at the 10+2 level.

Programme Eligibility Annual Fee
MA Bachelor’s in relevant Arts/Social Science subject INR 4,400
M.Com B.Com or equivalent INR 4,400
M.Sc B.Sc in relevant Science subject INR 4,400
MCA Graduation with Mathematics at 10+2 level INR 12,000
MBA Bachelor’s degree in any discipline As per nou.ac.in
MJMC Bachelor’s degree in any discipline As per nou.ac.in

Fees are subject to revision. Visit nou.ac.in for exact and current fee details.

NOU PG Selection Process

PG admission at NOU is merit-based on graduation percentage. No entrance exam is required for MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MBA, or MJMC. Confirm MCA entrance requirements at nou.ac.in before applying.

  • Merit is calculated on graduation marks in the relevant subject.
  • Bihar state reservation norms apply to all PG seats.
  • Women candidates receive a 25% concession on the annual PG fee.

How to Apply for PG at NOU?

PG applications at NOU are submitted through the same official portal as UG admissions.

  • Visit nou.ac.in and log in or register as a new user.
  • Generate your ABC ID via Digilocker before filling the form.
  • Upload graduation marksheets, character certificate, and a government photo ID.
  • Pay the application fee: INR 400 for SC/ST/PwBD or INR 600 for General/OBC/EWS.
  • Submit the form and save the acknowledgement receipt.

As per the Quora Discussion, NOU’s online application is straightforward with no complex steps. The university dispatches Self Learning Material (SLM) after enrolment. Students appreciate NOU’s weekend counselling sessions at study centres across Bihar.


NOU PhD Admission 2026

NOU PhD Admission 2026 is open in Arts, Science, Commerce, Library Science, and Computer Science. Admission is through an NOU entrance test followed by an interview. The last date to apply is 30 July 2026.

NOU PhD Eligibility Criteria

Candidates need a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks. Reserved category candidates require 50%. NET, JRF, SET, and GATE holders are exempt from the NOU entrance test but must attend the interview.

Criterion Requirement
Minimum Qualification Master’s degree from a recognised university
Minimum Marks (General/EWS) 55% in Master’s
Minimum Marks (Reserved) 50% in Master’s
Entrance Test Exemption UGC-NET, JRF, SET, or GATE qualified
Annual Fee INR 20,000
Application Last Date 30 July 2026

NOU PhD Selection Criteria

NOU prepares a merit list based on entrance test score and interview performance. Candidates exempted from the test are ranked on the basis of the interview alone.


NOU Scholarships 2026

Nalanda Open University scholarships combine university-level concessions with state and central government schemes. All female students benefit directly from the 25% fee waiver.

Scheme Eligible Students Benefit
NOU Women Fee Concession All enrolled female students 25% off total course fee
Bihar SC/ST Post-Matric Scholarship SC/ST students (Bihar domicile) Fee reimbursement via scholarships.gov.in
Bihar OBC PG Scholarship OBC PG students (Bihar domicile) Partial fee support via Bihar govt portal
UGC Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship Single female child pursuing PG INR 3,100 per month
Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship (RGF) SC/ST PhD candidates Monthly fellowship via UGC-RGF scheme

Apply for government scholarships at scholarships.gov.in. Bihar state schemes are accessible through the Bihar Social Welfare Department portal.

NOU Admission FAQs

Ques. Is an entrance exam required for NOU admission 2026?

Ans. Most NOU programmes do not require an entrance exam. B.Ed requires a valid Bihar B.Ed CET rank. PhD admissions need an NOU entrance test. NET, JRF, SET, and GATE holders are exempt from the PhD test.

Ques. What is the minimum eligibility for NOU UG admission?

Ans. Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board. There is no minimum percentage cut-off for most UG programmes at NOU.

Ques. What is the NOU application fee for 2026?

Ans. The application fee is INR 400 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. General, OBC, and EWS candidates pay INR 600. The fee is paid online at the time of form submission.

Ques. Does NOU offer any scholarship or fee waiver?

Ans. Yes. All female students receive a 25% concession on course fees. Bihar SC/ST and OBC students can access post-matric scholarships via the National Scholarship Portal. UGC fellowships are available for eligible PhD candidates.

Ques. What is the fee for B.Ed at NOU?

Ans. The B.Ed programme costs INR 32,000 per year at NOU. The total for the 2-year programme is INR 64,000. Female students get a 25% concession on this amount.

Ques. How does NOU B.Ed admission work?

Ans. B.Ed admission is through Bihar B.Ed CET, conducted by BRABU. After results, candidates register for counselling at cetbed.ucanapply.com. Seats are allotted in two rounds. NOU is one of the nine participating colleges in the centralised process.

Ques. What is the last date for NOU PhD admission 2026?

Ans. The last date for NOU PhD Admission 2026 is 30 July 2026. A Master’s degree with at least 55% marks is required. NET, JRF, SET, and GATE holders are exempt from the NOU entrance test.

Ques. Is NOU recognised by UGC?

Ans. Yes. NOU is recognised by UGC-DEB for offering programmes in Open and Distance Learning mode. Degrees from NOU are valid for government jobs and higher education purposes.

Ques. What is the Bihar state reservation at NOU?

Ans. NOU follows Bihar state reservation norms: SC 16%, ST 1%, EBC 18%, BC 12%, EWS 10%, BC Women 3%, and 5% horizontal reservation for PwBD candidates.

Ques. Why is an ABC ID required for NOU admission?

Ans. The Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) ID is mandated by the Government of India for all higher education enrolments. Generate it at abc.gov.in via Digilocker. Without this ID, the NOU admission form cannot be submitted.

Nalanda Open University Upcoming Important Dates 2026


Expired Events

EventsDates
Declaration of Result - Bihar CET B.Ed 2026 [B.Ed]
Jun 19, 2026
Invitation for Objection with Proof - Bihar CET B.Ed 2026 [B.Ed]
Jun 09, 2026 - Jun 10, 2026
Display of Answer Key - Bihar CET B.Ed 2026 [B.Ed]
Jun 08, 2026

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