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Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) was established on 1st June 1996 with the assent of His Excellency, Honorable Governor of Karnataka, as a full-fledged University in the academic year 1996 vide Government notification no ED 1 UOV 95 dated 12th February 1996 (KSOU Act – 1992).

KSOU offers various Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs through open and distance learning, some of the courses included are B.A., B.Com, BCA, etc., and M.A. and MSc. courses under various disciplines.
Course Level | Popular Programs |
UG | B.A., B.Com, B.Sc, BCA |
PG | M.A. (various specializations), M.Sc., MBA, MCA |
Pursuing UG or PG at KSOU has the following advantages :
Getting admitted into any course at KSOU is very easy, as there is no upper limit, and it also includes basic eligibility requirements.
Bachelor’s Courses
Course | Duration | Eligibility Criteria |
B.A. | 3 Years | 10+2 from a recognized Institute |
B.Com | 3 Years | 10+2 from a recognized Institute |
BBA | 3 Years | 10+2 from a recognized Institute |
B.S.W. | 3 Years | 10+2 from a recognized Institute |
BSc. (Various Disciplines) | 3 Years | 10+2 from a recognized Institute |
BCA | 3 Years | 10+2 from a recognized Institute |
Master’s Courses
Course | Duration | Eligibility Criteria |
M.A. | 2 Years | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
M.S.W | 2 Years | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
MBA | 2 Years | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
M.Com | 2 Years | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
M.Sc | 2 Years | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
MCA | 2 Years | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
Note- As per the Admission Data available on the official website of KSOU.
Eligibility: SC, family income less than INR 2.5 lakh
For the July 2025 cycle, the online application deadline is 31 July 2025 .
Yes, KSOU is a state open university recognized by the UGC, accredited A+ by NAAC and also under AICTE/NCTE for specific programs.
Yes—for MBA, KSOU requires a Knowledge Assessment Test (KAT) rather than traditional entrance exams, and many other PG/UG courses are merit-based.
Yes. UGC allows KSOU’s ODL degrees to be treated equivalent to regular ones for government jobs.
Yes, KSOU participates in state-sponsored scholarships (e.g. minority/tribal schemes) and students may also benefit via SSP portal .
Yes, KSOU allows international/NRI students to enroll—for example, MSc fees include an extra US$300 for foreign applicants.
Instruction and study materials at KSOU are in English, though answer scripts may sometimes be submitted in Kannada too.
KSOU sends SIM‑pattern printed course books in blocks to students and provides additional materials via LMS, also through regional centres.
Yes—being UGC/AICTE‑approved and NAAC‑accredited, KSOU’s online or ODL degrees are globally accepted by employers and institutions.
The one-time application/registration fee ranges between ₹800–₹2,000, depending on the program; UG registration shown as ₹300 for some courses.
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The above statistics depend on various factors and individual results may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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