Top Distance Education Universities in Chennai: Popular Programmes, Average Tuition Fee

Looking forward to pursuing a distance learning course out of Chennai? Here's your guide to the best institutes that offer distance education in Chennai.

Top Distance Education Universities in Chennai - Several private and state universities in Chennai offer distance learning programmes at different levels of education, such as UG, PG, certifications, and diplomas. For students and professionals who are unable to take regular, classroom classes for their higher education, these distance education universities in Chennai can be the ideal choice. In this article, we will list the top distance education universities in Chennai and learn some about their programmes, their background and fee structures. Read further to learn more. 

Top Distance Education Universities in Chennai  

Some of the best universities providing open-format education in Chennai are listed below. 

Annamalai University - Centre for Distance & Online Education 

Established in 1929, this state university started providing distance learning and correspondence courses in 1979. They currently offer over 125 Open & Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Learning (OL) courses. Annamalai University is accredited with NAAC Grade ‘A+’. Popular in Tamil Nadu, it also attracts students from other parts of the country. Some of their popular programmes include BA, BCom, BBA, BSc, MA, MCom, MBA, etc. These courses can cost students anywhere between INR 5,000 and INR 20,000 in their entirety. 

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MBA Course Details 

Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU)

This state-run open university was established in 2003. TNOU is a distance learning institute that now offers over 200 programmes. These programmes include UG, PG, PG Diploma and Vocational Diploma courses. It is recognised by the UGC, Distance Education Council (DEC), NCTE, and Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). The average tuition fee at TNOU is around INR 20,000.

Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research (BIHER)

This renowned institute made it on the top 100 universities list based on the NIRF 2024 Ranking at number 73. At BIHER, they offer both full-time and part-time distance learning courses in the fields of Management, Science, Engineering and Humanities. However, they are known for their medicine and nursing courses. The institute was established in 1984 and has 4 colleges affiliated to it - Sree Balaji College of Nursing, Chennai, Sree Balaji College of Physiotherapy, Chennai, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), Chennai and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences (SLIMS), Puducherry. BIHER is an AIU member and is recognised by the UGC. The NAAC has accredited the institute a Grade A. They offer courses like BE, BTech, BSc, MSc, BPharma, etc. Depending on the level of the programme, the tuition fee can be as high as INR 15 lakhs and as low as INR 2-3 lakhs. 

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BTech Course Details

University of Madras - Institute of Distance Education 

Madras University opened the Institute of Distance Education in 1981. Earlier, it was known as The Institute of Correspondence Education (ICE). The university has received an NAAC Grade A++. They offer 72 UG, PG, Diploma and Certificate courses in the streams of Management, Law, Accounting, Finance, etc. In the years of its existence, the institute has made several innovations in the realm of distance education. They not only provide correspondence courses now but also have a variety of e-learning options. The institute’s agenda has been to provide remote education to working professionals, housewives, etc. The tuition fee at UNOM IDE can cost students about INR 20-30K.

Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha

Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha is an Institution of National Importance. This notable institute is dedicated to promoting Hindi in the southern states of India. They offer BA, MA and PG Diploma distance learning courses in Hindi which can cost students nearly INR 15,000. 

St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research (SPIHER)

Unlike most entries on this list, SPIHER is a private institute established in 1993. Although small in terms of intake, the institute offers its students nearly 60 distinct courses, including BCom, MCom, BSc, MSc, MTech, etc., with various specialisations. It is recognised by bodies like AICTE and CoA and has also received an NAAC Grade B. The tuition fee at this institute ranges from INR 50,000 to INR 5,00,000 depending on the course. 

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER)

Ranked 96 in the Overall category of the NIRF 2024 Ranks, SRIHER is another private institute that provides distance education in Chennai. It has also been ranked 55 in the top Universities list and 20 in the list of the top Medical Universities. It was established by Sri Ramachandra Educational and Health Trust in 1985. It is an AIU member, recognised by UGC and accredited a Grade A++ by NAAC. In addition to that, WHO made it a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Occupational Health. The courses offered here include BTech, BSc, BDS, MBBS, etc. The tuition fee at SRIHER ranges from a few lakh rupees up to a crore. 

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BDS - Course Info

MAHER University, Institute of Distance Education 

Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research is another NIRF 2024 rank-holding institute in Chennai. It was ranked 13 in the list of Dental Institutes. This renowned institute provides e-learning in addition to its classroom courses. MAHER is actively contributing to the e-learning space in the field of medicine and medical practices. Their e-learning study material includes videos, images, presentations, notes and a few workshops. It was established in 2004. Despite being a relatively new institute, MAHER has garnered a reputation for quality education and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The courses offered by them include UG, PG, diploma, PhD, Super Speciality, and other courses. Courses like BA, BSc, MSc, etc. cost anywhere between INR 50,000 and INR 2 lakhs while medical courses seem to start from a tuition fee of INR 3 lakhs and can go up to a crore depending on the subjects and specialisations chosen by the students. 

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MBBS - Course Duration, Admissions, Top Colleges and More 

How is Distance Learning Important in a City like Chennai?

Chennai is a metropolitan where people from all over the country pour in for work and education. It is the sixth most populous city in India. It is also a hub for premier educational institutes like SRM, VIT, IIT, MIT, etc. where there’s cutthroat competition for admissions. Quite honestly, some of the brightest of students get admission to these institutes. In an academic environment like this, distance education plays a vital role in the following ways. 

• People who wish to continue their higher education can do so while making a living or taking care of families. 
• The eligibility requirements like educational qualifications are quite flexible (for admissions to open universities, certificate and diploma programmes. Distance learning programmes by popular universities may still have a rigid criterion for admissions). 
• Flexible and cost-effective programmes also benefit the city's blue-collar workforce. 
• Students can learn at their own pace and seek help whenever required. 
• Since most admissions processes have now become digital, people who are getting an education after a gap get the much-needed e-learning exposure. 

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List of Open Universities in India
Top 5 Open Universities in India