Independent guide · not the official NOU website Official site: nou.ac.in →
NOU Guide NOU Guide Nalanda Open University · Bihar

Online BA from NOU 2026: Eligibility, Fee and Duration

Updated 3 October 2026 Programmes 4 min read

Nalanda Open University (NOU) offers a 3-year B.A. Honours degree (also offered as a 4-year UG CBCS programme) across 13 active subject specialisations. The eligibility criterion is Intermediate (10+2) in any stream, and the annual course fee is ₹2,400 with a 25% fee discount for women. Online applications for the 2026-27 session are accepted until 08 October 2026.

Key facts

Degree Offered B.A. Honours / 4-Year UG CBCS
Eligibility Intermediate (10+2) in any stream
Duration 3 Years / 4 Years (CBCS)
Annual Fee ₹2,400 per year
Women’s Concession 25% discount on course fee
2026 Application Deadline 08 October 2026

BA Programme Overview and Duration

Nalanda Open University provides undergraduate education in Arts through its 3-year Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Honours) degree. The university has also implemented the 4-year Undergraduate Programme under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).

Admissions, fee submission, document verification, and academic counselling for BA students are conducted digitally through NOU’s online portals.

BA Eligibility Criteria and Subject Specialisations

To qualify for admission to the B.A. Honours degree, applicants must have passed Intermediate (10+2) or an equivalent examination in any stream from a recognised board.

NOU offers B.A. Honours in 13 active subjects. B.A. Honours in Statistics remains currently suspended.

B.A. Honours Specialisations at NOU

Subject Specialisation Eligibility Requirement Status
Economics Intermediate in any stream Active
Education Intermediate in any stream Active
Geography Intermediate in any stream Active
Hindi Intermediate in any stream Active
History Intermediate in any stream Active
Journalism & Mass Communication Intermediate in any stream Active
Political Science Intermediate in any stream Active
Psychology Intermediate in any stream Active
Public Administration Intermediate in any stream Active
Sociology Intermediate in any stream Active
Social Work Intermediate in any stream Active
Tourism Intermediate in any stream Active
Home Science Intermediate in any stream Active
Statistics Intermediate in any stream Suspended

BA Fee Structure and Concessions

The tuition fee for all active B.A. Honours courses is ₹2,400 per year. Full fee payment must be made online at the time of admission.

Women candidates seeking admission to any course at NOU receive a 25% fee concession on the total course fee.

Online Admission Process and Requirements for 2026

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic cycle are processed online through the NOU online admission portal. The registration deadline for 2026 admission is 08 October 2026.

  • Scanned Photograph (under 500 KB)
  • Scanned Signature (under 500 KB)
  • Educational Documents / Qualifying Exam Marksheet (under 1024 KB)
  • Matriculation Certificate for age proof (under 1024 KB)
  • Caste Certificate issued by DM, DC, or SDO for SC/ST/BC/OBC quota claims (under 1024 KB)
  1. Visit the official Nalanda Open University Samarth admission portal and click on ‘NEW REGISTRATION’.
  2. Register with your basic details to create login credentials.
  3. Log in to complete the online admission application form.
  4. Upload scanned copies of required photograph, signature, and educational marksheets within the prescribed file size limits.
  5. Pay the full annual admission fee online via payment gateway.
  6. Download and print the application form and fee receipt for official records.
NOU: Online Admission Process and Requirements for 2026 — step-by-step
Online Admission Process and Requirements for 2026: the steps at a glance.

Academic Counselling and Examination Schedules

Academic counselling classes for CBCS BA Semester-II (Session 2025-29) are conducted online. Students can join live sessions for subjects like History, Economics, Hindi, Political Science, Sociology, Public Administration, Geography, and Home Science via Microsoft Teams links published in the CBCS BA counselling schedule PDF.

Term-end examination schedules are notified on the NOU examination programme portal.

BA Examination Notices for 2026

Examination Event Notice Date
Four Year UG Semester-I CBCS Examination Programme-2026 2026-04-01
BA_BSc Yoga Part-III Examination Programme-2026 2026-07-30
BA_BSc Hons All Subject Part-III Examination Programme-2026 2026-07-30

Official documents (PDF)

  • View PDF — Microsoft Teams meeting links for CBCS BA Semester-II counselling classes

Frequently asked questions

Does Nalanda Open University offer BA or BSc in Psychology?

Yes, Nalanda Open University offers B.A. Honours in Psychology. The programme requires Intermediate (10+2) in any stream for eligibility, and the annual course fee is ₹2,400.

What are the fees for courses at Nalanda Open University?

For the B.A. Honours degree, the course fee is ₹2,400 per year. All female candidates are eligible for a 25% fee discount on course fees.

What courses are offered at Nalanda Open University?

NOU offers B.A. Honours in 13 active subjects including Economics, Education, Geography, Hindi, History, JMC, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Social Work, Tourism, and Home Science. It also offers B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, Master’s degrees, PG Diplomas, and Certificate courses.

What is the eligibility for admission to BA at NOU?

Applicants must have passed Intermediate (10+2) or equivalent in any stream. Candidates must upload scanned original marksheets and matriculation certificates for age verification during online submission.

What is the deadline for NOU BA admission 2026?

The registration deadline for the 2026-27 academic session is 08 October 2026. Applicants must submit forms online through the Samarth admission portal.

How are counselling classes conducted for BA students at NOU?

Academic counselling classes for BA courses (such as CBCS Semester-II) are held online through Microsoft Teams links published on the university website.

Sources

Written from the official NOU pages and documents below, as read on 2 October 2026.