Institute of Distance Education (IDE): Writing Success Stories
About the institution: The University of Madras launched the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) in 1981 to "help learners achieve their educational, career and personal goals." With about 1.60 lakh enrollees in 2009, IDE has grown with centres in and outside the country, including one in Dubai, serving the non-resident Indian population.
In addition to the usual conventional programmes, students can choose from unusual offerings such as medical sociology and criminology and police administration. Another significant feature of IDE is the provision of lateral entry.
Students who have successfully completed their first year/second year (or) discontinued second year/third year undergraduate degree courses through UoM colleges or other recognised universities and accepted as equivalent by it, are eligible for lateral admission to the second-/third-year undergraduate degree programme in the respective subject.
The same goes for postgraduate students. Such students need to submit their application form with original transfer certificate/course completion certificate which mentions the actual duration of course completed by them. Students can seek exemption from papers they passed at their previous institution. Please check the IDE website for details.
Programmes on offer: BA in Urdu, economics, Vaishnavism, Christian studies, and criminology and police administration; BLit Tamil literature, BSc in mathematics, geography, psychology, medical sociology, BNat (naturopathy and yogic sciences), BMusic, BCom, BCom (bank management), BCom (co-operation), BCom (corporate secretaryship), BCom (computer applications), BBA, and BCA; MA in modern Arabic, historical studies (English and Tamil), political science (English and Tamil); sociology (English and Tamil), Christian studies (English), human rights and duties education (English), Music (English and Tamil).
Fees range: There's a differential fee slab - for students from the UoM PUC, Tamil Nadu board and other boards/universities, from Saarc countries (in dollars) and other foreign countries. The UG course fees can be anything from Rs 2,100 to more than Rs 6,100 (UG) and Rs 3,000 to about Rs 14,500 (PG) a year for Indian students.
Support systems/ facilities for students: The institute has a call centre open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Total no. and list of study centres: The institute has about 30 authorised spot admission centres in different parts of Tamil Nadu and about 50 study centres in other states such as New Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Goa, and about 10 study centres abroad. Personal contact programmes are held in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
When do admissions take place: Aspirants can apply online or offline at IDE any time of the year under the academic year admissions. Admissions are also done through the institute's authorised spot admission and study centres and the overseas centres.
Approval from DEC: IDE received provisional recognition for 2007-2008.
Source: HT Horizons
Date: 6th June, 2011
