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Admission Mantra

Are online degrees valid in India?

Yes, when the university is entitled by the UGC's Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB) to offer that programme for your admission session. Then the degree is treated as equal to the campus degree. Here is what the rules say, how to check, and the warning signs to watch for.

What the 2020 Regulations say

Online degrees are governed by the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020. Regulation 22 says that degrees awarded through open and distance learning or online mode by a university recognised under these Regulations are to be treated as equivalent to the corresponding degrees awarded through conventional mode. The Ministry of Education quoted this in a Lok Sabha answer on 19 December 2022.

The key words are “recognised under these Regulations”. A university may run an online programme only if UGC-DEB lists it for that programme and that admission session. The Regulations also say a degree from a programme that is not recognised is not a valid qualification.

The Regulations have been amended since 2020. Check the current version on deb.ugc.ac.in. AICTE approval for a management or computer applications programme is useful, but UGC-DEB entitlement is the deciding check.

How to check entitlement for your session

Takes about five minutes. Do it before you pay any fee.

  1. 1

    Open the UGC-DEB list of entitled universities

    Go to deb.ugc.ac.in and open the list of higher education institutions entitled to offer online programmes. Use only this official site, not a copy on a university or agent page.

  2. 2

    Choose your academic session

    Entitlement is given per academic session (for example, the July or January intake of a given year). Pick the session you will be admitted in, not an older one.

  3. 3

    Find the university

    Search for the university by its full legal name. The online brand name (such as '… Online') may differ from the university's registered name.

  4. 4

    Match the exact programme

    Check that the programme you want, for example an MBA or a BCA, is listed for that university in that session. A university being on the list does not mean every programme it advertises is.

  5. 5

    Save a copy

    Download or screenshot the list showing your university, programme and session, with the date you checked. Keep it with your admission letter.

Open the UGC-DEB list of entitled universities

Government jobs and higher studies

Government jobs

An entitled online degree is to be treated as equivalent to a campus degree. Each recruiting body still writes its own eligibility rules, so read the notification for the post you want and check whether it names a mode of study.

Master's and further study

You can use an entitled online degree to apply for a master's or other further study. Each university and entrance exam sets its own admission rules, so check the prospectus. Universities abroad decide for themselves how they assess Indian degrees.

Subjects you cannot study online

UGC-DEB does not allow these programmes in open and distance learning or online mode.

  • Engineering
  • Medical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Other para-medical courses
  • Pharmacy
  • Nursing
  • Dental
  • Architecture
  • Law
  • Agriculture
  • Horticulture
  • Hotel management
  • Catering technology
  • Culinary sciences
  • Aircraft maintenance
  • Visual art
  • Sports, including allied domains
  • M.Phil and Ph.D.

Source: UGC-DEB, programmes not allowed.

Red flags

  • The programme or session is not on the UGC-DEB list

    If you cannot find your exact programme for your session, do not rely on a brochure or an agent's word. The 2020 Regulations say a degree from a programme that is not recognised is not a valid qualification.

  • Teaching or exams run through a franchise or partner centre

    The 2020 Regulations say online programmes must not be offered through franchising. Be careful if a third party, not the university, is presented as the one awarding or running the course.

  • A subject that cannot be studied online

    Engineering, nursing, law, pharmacy and the other fields in the list above cannot be offered in online or distance mode. An offer to do so is a warning sign.

  • 'Fast-track' or 'one-sitting' degrees

    Promises of a full degree in months, back-dated certificates or exams you do not need to sit are not how entitled online programmes work.

  • Pressure to pay to an agent's account

    Pay fees through the university's own website or account and keep the receipt.

What NAAC and NIRF mean

NAAC (the National Assessment and Accreditation Council) accredits universities and gives a score on a four-point scale. NIRF (the National Institutional Ranking Framework) is the Ministry of Education's annual ranking.

Under the 2020 Regulations, a university with a NAAC score of at least 3.26, or in the NIRF university top 100 in two of the three previous cycles, can start online programmes without the UGC's prior approval. Other universities need UGC approval and must meet lower thresholds, including at least three years in existence.

For you, a good score or rank is a useful sign of quality, but it does not replace the UGC-DEB check for your programme and session.

Online universities on this site

Check each one on the UGC-DEB list for your programme and session before you apply.

UniversityLocationProgrammes we list
LPU OnlineLovely Professional UniversityPhagwara, PunjabMBA, MCA, M.Com, MA, BBA, BCA, BA
Online ManipalManipal University JaipurJaipur, RajasthanMBA, MCA, M.Com, MA, BBA, BCA, B.Com
Chandigarh University OnlineChandigarh UniversityMohali, PunjabMBA, MCA, MA, BBA, BCA, BA
Jain OnlineJAIN (Deemed-to-be University)Bengaluru, KarnatakaMBA, MCA, M.Com, MA, BBA, BCA, B.Com
NMIMS CDOESVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)Mumbai, MaharashtraMBA, BBA, B.Com
Shoolini University OnlineShoolini University of Biotechnology and Management SciencesSolan, Himachal PradeshMBA, MCA, MA, BBA, BCA, B.Com
Parul University OnlineParul UniversityVadodara, GujaratMBA, MCA, M.Com, MA, BBA, BCA, BA
O.P. Jindal Global University OnlineO.P. Jindal Global UniversitySonipat, HaryanaMBA, MA
Amity University OnlineAmity University, Noida (Uttar Pradesh)Noida, Uttar PradeshMBA, MCA, M.Com, MA, BBA, BCA, B.Com, BA

Frequently asked questions

Is an online degree equal to a regular degree in India?

Under Regulation 22 of the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, degrees awarded through online mode by a university recognised under those Regulations are to be treated as equivalent to the corresponding degrees through conventional mode. The Ministry of Education confirmed this in Parliament in December 2022. It applies only when the university is entitled for that programme and session.

How do I check whether my online programme is approved?

Open the UGC-DEB list of institutions entitled to offer online programmes on deb.ugc.ac.in, choose your academic session, find the university and check that your exact programme is listed. Save a copy with the date.

Can I apply for government jobs with an online degree?

An entitled online degree is to be treated as equivalent to a campus degree under the 2020 Regulations. Each recruiting body still writes its own eligibility rules, so read the notification for the post you want and check that it does not ask for a specific mode of study.

Can I do a master's or PhD after an online degree?

An entitled online degree is equivalent to the campus degree, so it can be used to apply for further study. Each university sets its own admission rules, so check the prospectus of the one you are applying to. M.Phil and Ph.D. themselves cannot be done online.

Which courses are not allowed in online mode?

UGC-DEB lists engineering, medical, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, other para-medical courses, pharmacy, nursing, dental, architecture, law, agriculture, horticulture, hotel management, catering technology, culinary sciences, aircraft maintenance, visual art and sports, as well as M.Phil and Ph.D.

Does a high NAAC grade or NIRF rank mean the degree is valid?

No. NAAC scores and NIRF ranks decide whether a university can start online programmes, but the deciding check for you is whether UGC-DEB lists your programme for your session.

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