Odisha State Open University OSOU Admission 2026: Courses, Fees, Eligibility

About Odisha State Open University (OSOU)

OSOU admission is open twice a year at Odisha State Open University, the only state university in Odisha set up to teach through open and distance learning. Often searched as Odisha Open University, it was established by the Government of Odisha in 2015 and is based at G.M. University Campus, Sambalpur. This page explains the OSOU courses on offer, the admission steps, eligibility pointers and how study works, so you can decide before you apply.

OSOU courses and specialisations

OSOU courses run across eight schools of the university and cover postgraduate degrees, bachelor degrees, postgraduate diplomas, diplomas and certificates.

• Postgraduate degrees: MA in Economics, English, Hindi, Odia, Sanskrit, Sociology, History, Public Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, Rural Development and Journalism and Mass Communication; M.Com; MSc in Cyber Security.
• Bachelor degrees: BA (Honours) in subjects such as English, Economics, History, Odia and Political Science; B.Com (Honours); BBA.
• Postgraduate diplomas: Computer Applications, Cyber Security, Disaster Management, Rural Management, Media Management and more.
• Diplomas and certificates: Accounting, Banking and Insurance, Tourism Studies, Multimedia and Animation, Digital Library, e-Commerce, Geriatric Care and others.

Approvals and recognition

As per the university sheet, the programmes are linked to these bodies:

• UGC-DEB
• AICTE
• NCTE
• Bar Council of India (BCI)
• Medical Council of India (MCI)

Learners also need an ABC ID and a DEB ID before taking admission, as per the latest UGC guidelines.

OSOU admission process and intakes

To apply, visit the official OSOU website, register as a new user and note the login credentials you receive. Use them to open the admission form, fill in your details accurately and upload the documents asked for. Admissions are held twice a year, in July/August and January/February. Check eligibility for your chosen programme on the official notice before paying any fee.

How distance learning works at OSOU

The university provides self-learning materials, updated regularly and available in English and regional languages, and supports learners through 54 regional centres in Odisha. Evaluation combines continuous assignments (25% of marks) and term-end examinations (75%), with the UGC grading scale used for results. A minimum of 40% is needed to pass each semester.

Fees and financial support

Fees are kept modest, which suits working professionals and school leavers alike. The university does not offer loans or EMI, but it states that scholarships are available for certain categories such as ST, SC, OBC, SEBC and EBC. Fee details change by programme and session, so confirm the latest amount with a counsellor.

Skills and career support

OSOU puts weight on vocational and add-on skills that help learners move ahead at work. The sheet lists names such as Accenture, HCL, IBM, Infosys, Microsoft and TCS as hiring partners, as stated by the university.

Browse the programme pages below to compare OSOU courses, fees and admission dates, then speak to a CareerBhavan counsellor for help with your application.