Online MA from NOU 2026: Eligibility, Fee and Duration
Nalanda Open University (NOU) offers 2-year Master of Arts (M.A.) programmes across multiple humanities and social science disciplines. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in any subject to qualify. Annual tuition is ₹7,200 for most M.A. subjects and ₹4,400 for select regional subjects, with a 25% fee discount for female students.
Key facts
| Programme Level | Postgraduate (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility | Bachelor or equivalent degree in any subject |
| Annual Fee (Standard) | ₹7,200 per year |
| Annual Fee (Regional Subjects) | ₹4,400 per year |
| Women Concession | 25% discount on course fees |
| 2026-27 Application Deadline | 08 October 2026 |
MA Eligibility and Duration
To pursue a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree at Nalanda Open University, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in any subject recognized by the Academic Council of NOU.
All M.A. degree programmes at NOU have a fixed duration of 2 years.
MA Fee Structure and Concessions
Tuition fees are payable annually at the time of online admission. Full payment must be made online, as bank drafts, money orders, or postal orders are not accepted.
M.A. Annual Fee Structure
| M.A. Subject / Category | Annual Fee (General) | Annual Fee (Women – 25% Concession) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics, Education, Environmental Science, Geography, Hindi, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Sanskrit, Urdu | ₹7,200 | ₹5,400 |
| Magahi, Maithili, Rural Development | ₹4,400 | ₹3,300 |
Offered MA Specialisations and Suspended Courses
NOU offers Master of Arts degrees in 15 active disciplines. M.A. in Bhojpuri and M.A. in English have been suspended until further order.
- Active M.A. Streams: Economics, Education, Environmental Science, Geography, Hindi, History, Magahi, Maithili, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Rural Development, Sanskrit, Sociology, and Urdu.
- Suspended Programmes: M.A. in Bhojpuri, M.A. in English.
Online Admission Process for 2026-27
Admissions for the 2026-27 academic cycle are conducted entirely online through the university admission portal. The registration deadline for this cycle is 08 October 2026.
- Go to the NOU online admission portal and select New Registration.
- Fill out the online application form and create login credentials.
- Upload scanned copies of the required documents: qualifying Bachelor’s degree marksheet, Matriculation certificate (for age proof), scanned photograph (under 500 KB), and scanned signature (under 500 KB).
- Upload a DM/DC/SDO-issued caste certificate if applying under a reserved quota (SC/ST/BC/OBC).
- Pay the total annual fee online in full and submit the form.
- Print and retain the completed application form and fee receipt for reference.
MA Examination Schedules 2026
NOU conducts yearly term-end examinations for M.A. Part-I and Part-II students. Examination routines are issued on the official notice board.
M.A. Examination Schedules Released in 2026
| Programme / Part | Notice Date | Subjects Included |
|---|---|---|
| M.A. Part-II (Revised) | 22 June 2026 | Economics, Education, Geography, Hindi, History, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Rural Development, Sanskrit, Sociology, Urdu, Home Science, Disaster Management |
| M.A. Part-I | 13 July 2026 | Economics, Education (Revised), Environmental Science, Geography, Hindi, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sanskrit, Sociology, Urdu |
| M.A. Part-I | 16 July 2026 | Psychology, Rural Development, Home Science, Disaster Management |
Important NOU links
| What you can do | Official page |
|---|---|
| Register for NOU admissions 2026-27 | nouadm.samarth.edu.in/ |
| Access NOU Samarth admission portal | nouadm.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/index |
| View official NOU admission guidelines | nou.ac.in/admission |
| Check NOU 2026 examination timetables | nou.ac.in/noticenewall/Students%20Corner/Examination%20Pro |
| Log in to NOU student portal | umis.nou.ac.in/User/Login |
Frequently asked questions
What are the fees for courses at Nalanda Open University?
For M.A. programmes, tuition is ₹7,200 per year for most subjects (e.g., Economics, History, Hindi) and ₹4,400 per year for Magahi, Maithili, and Rural Development. Undergraduate B.A. Honours courses cost ₹2,400 per year. Female candidates receive a 25% discount on all course fees.
Does Nalanda Open University offer BA or BSc in Psychology?
Nalanda Open University offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Honours in Psychology with an annual fee of ₹2,400. However, NOU does not offer a B.Sc. in Psychology.
What courses are offered at Nalanda Open University?
NOU offers Intermediate courses, Bachelor’s degrees (such as B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., BCA, BBA, BLIS), Master’s degrees (M.A., M.Sc., M.Com., MCA, MJMC, MLIS), Post Graduate Diplomas, and short-term Certificate programmes.
What is the eligibility requirement for M.A. at NOU?
To get admission to an M.A. programme at Nalanda Open University, you must possess a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in any subject from a recognized university.
Is there any fee discount for women candidates taking admission in M.A.?
Yes, Nalanda Open University grants a 25% fee concession to female candidates across all courses, reducing the M.A. annual fee to ₹5,400 (from ₹7,200) or ₹3,300 (from ₹4,400) depending on the subject.
What is the application deadline for NOU admission 2026-27?
The registration deadline for the 2026-27 academic cycle on the NOU admission portal is 08 October 2026.
Sources
Written from the official NOU pages and documents below, as read on 2 October 2026.
- Click here for Online Admission 2026 || nouadm.samarth.edu.in
- Welcome To Nalanda Open University nou.ac.in/…/Examination%20Programme-2026
- Nalanda Open nouadm.samarth.edu.in/…/index
- Admission nou.ac.in/…/admission