NOU Admission 2026: Courses, Eligibility and Fees
Nalanda Open University (NOU) has extended the online admission deadline for the July 2026 session to 08 October 2026 across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programmes. Female candidates receive a 25% discount on all course fees, and all applications must be submitted online through the Samarth admission portal.
Key facts
| Admission Session | July 2026 Session |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 08 October 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Women Fee Discount | 25% on all course fees |
| Helpdesk Contact | +91 9341508577 / helpdesk@nou.ac.in |
Admission Dates for July 2026 Session
Online admission for the July 2026 session opened on 10 July 2026. The closing date for online applications for certificate, PG diploma, postgraduate, MLIS, BLIS, BCA, and four-year undergraduate programmes has been extended to 08 October 2026.
July 2026 Session Key Dates
| Event / Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Admission Opening Date | 10 July 2026 |
| Extended Admission Closing Date | 08 October 2026 |
Programme Eligibility Criteria and Duration
Qualifications must be recognized by the Academic Council of Nalanda Open University. Below are the minimum eligibility requirements and course durations specified by NOU:
NOU Eligibility Criteria and Duration
| Programme Level / Course | Minimum Eligibility Requirement | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree (Arts) | Bachelor or equivalent degree in any subject | 2 Years |
| Master’s Degree (Science) | Bachelor or equivalent degree in the concerned science subject | 2 Years |
| Master’s Degree (Commerce – M.Com) | Bachelor’s degree in Commerce | 2 Years |
| Master of Computer Applications (MCA) | BCA / Bachelor degree in Computer Science / B.Tech / B.Sc, B.Com, or B.A with Mathematics at 10+2 or Graduation level | 2 Years |
| MJMC | Bachelor degree or equivalent in any subject or PGDJMC | 2 Years |
| MLIS | BLIS degree | 1 Year |
| P.G. Diploma Courses | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent | 1 Year |
| BLIS | Bachelor degree or equivalent | 1 Year |
| Bachelor’s Degree (Arts) | Intermediate in any stream | 3 Years |
| Bachelor’s Degree (Science) | Intermediate in Science | 3 Years |
| Bachelor’s Degree (Commerce – B.Com) | Intermediate in any stream | 3 Years |
| BCA | Intermediate with Maths or I.A with Certificate in Computing | 3 Years |
| Intermediate | Matriculation or equivalent | 2 Years |
| Certificate Courses | Matriculation or Intermediate as per specific programme requirement | 6 to 9 Months |
| B.Ed Courses | Bachelor’s degree in any subject with at least 45% marks at graduate level plus 2 years teaching experience | 2 Years |
Fee Structure and Concessions
All women candidates seeking admission to any course receive a 25% discount on the total course fee. Fees must be paid online in full at the time of admission; money orders, bank drafts, and postal orders are not accepted.
NOU Annual Course Fees
| Course / Stream | Fee Per Year (INR) |
|---|---|
| M.A. (Economics, Education, Env. Science, Geography, Hindi, History, Pol. Science, Psychology, Sociology, Public Admin, Sanskrit, Urdu) | Rs. 7,200 |
| M.A. (Magahi, Maithili, Rural Development) | Rs. 4,400 |
| M.Sc. (Botany, Chemistry, Env. Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Zoology) | Rs. 7,200 |
| M.Com. | Rs. 7,200 |
| MJMC | Rs. 8,000 |
| MCA | Rs. 20,000 |
| MLIS | Rs. 9,700 |
| P.G. Diploma (Marketing Management, Financial Management, Hindi English Translation) | Rs. 6,800 |
| P.G. Diploma (JMC, Yogic Studies, Information & Public Relations) | Rs. 7,200 |
| BLIS | Rs. 5,500 |
| B.A. Honours (All subjects) | Rs. 2,400 |
| B.Sc. Honours (All subjects) | Rs. 2,400 |
| Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) | Rs. 32,000 (Via CET-BED) |
Required Documents for Online Application
- Scanned copy of passport size photograph (file size under 500 KB).
- Scanned copy of signature (file size under 500 KB).
- Scanned copy of original mark sheet of qualifying examination (file size under 1024 KB).
- Scanned copy of matriculation certificate for proof of age (file size under 1024 KB).
- Scanned copy of caste certificate issued by DM, DC, SDO, or an authorized authority for SC/ST/BC/OBC reservation applicants (file size under 1024 KB).
Application Steps
- Open the online admission portal and select ‘NEW REGISTRATION’ or log in through the Samarth admission main page.
- Fill in personal, academic, and contact details as requested in the application form.
- Upload scanned copies of required photo, signature, qualifying mark sheet, age proof, and category certificates.
- Pay the prescribed course fee in full using the online payment gateway.
- Submit the application form and download or print out the filled application form and fee receipt for future reference.
MCA Admission Test 2026 Details
Candidates applying for the MCA programme for session 2026-2027 must attend an Admission Test (Interview) conducted in Patna. Check the MCA admission test notice for group allocations.
- Candidates must carry a copy of their MCA Application Form and Aadhaar Card to the test venue.
- The MCA Admission Test 2026 result was published on 28.09.2026 at 5 PM on the NOU website.
MCA Admission Test 2026 Schedule
| Group | Date | Timing | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 25.09.2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University, Patna |
| Group B | 25.09.2026 | 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM | Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University, Patna |
| Group C | 26.09.2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University, Patna |
| Group D | 26.09.2026 | 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM | Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University, Patna |
Important NOU links
| What you can do | Official page |
|---|---|
| Apply online for July 2026 session | nouadm.samarth.edu.in/ |
| Access Samarth admission portal main page | nouadm.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/index |
| Read general admission guidelines and rules | nou.ac.in/admission |
| Contact NOU admission support team | nou.ac.in/contact-us |
Official documents (PDF)
- Notice For MCA Admission Test 2026 || PDF — Official schedule and candidate list for MCA admission test 2026
- View PDF — Archive report showing course-wise admission figures for 2021-22
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for NOU admission 2026?
The online admission closing date for certificate, PG diploma, postgraduate, MLIS, BLIS, BCA, and 4-year undergraduate courses for the July 2026 session is 08 October 2026.
Is there any fee discount for female candidates at NOU?
Yes, Nalanda Open University offers a 25% fee discount on all course fees to women candidates seeking admission.
What is the fee for MCA at Nalanda Open University?
The fee for the Master of Computer Applications (MCA) programme is Rs. 20,000 per year.
How can I pay my admission fee for NOU courses?
You must pay the complete course fee online through the admission portal at the time of submitting your online application form. Money orders, bank drafts, and postal orders are not accepted.
What documents must candidates bring for the MCA admission interview?
Candidates must bring a printed copy of their filled MCA Application Form and their original Aadhaar Card to the interview venue.
Sources
Written from the official NOU pages and documents below, as read on 2 October 2026.
- Welcome To Nalanda Open University nou.ac.in
- Click here for Online Admission 2026 || nouadm.samarth.edu.in
- Notice For MCA Admission Test 2026 || www.nou.ac.in/…/179006862787MCA_Admission.pdf
- Admission nou.ac.in/…/admission