GetMyUni's Verdict on BRAOU

Parvathy Krishnakumar

“Offering premium educational opportunities to those who belong to less privileged backgrounds, Dr B.R Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) is regarded as one of the best options for pursuing distance degree programs.”

B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) is one of the top open universities in the country that offers distance education. Although the courses and study materials shared by the university are world-class, according to the previous year’s graduates, the degree certificate obtained from BRAOU is not widely recognised overseas, especially in countries like Canada. 

Nonetheless, the undergraduate degree from the university is accepted by all the universities in India and is accepted for the IAS exam. As there are no objections in the age of entry, choice of programs, and the overall flexibility of eligibility requirements to pursue graduate studies at the university facilitates those who were unable to continue their studies due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Even though the chances of pursuing higher education after graduation from BRAOU are not possible at international universities, different global companies hire students from the university for different positions. 

Table of Contents

• Wide Range of Programs
• Courses Affordable to All
• Qualified Faculty Members
• Modern Teaching Facilities
• Absence of Campus Life
• Moderate Placement Opportunities
• Overall Impression of BRAOU

Wide Range of Programs

The university offers a wide variety of programs at different levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil, doctoral, and diploma programs, as well as short-term certificate programs. The flagship courses available at the open university are as follows.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)
• Bachelor's Degree in Library & Information Science (BLISc)
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (M.Sc)
• Masters Degree in Library & Information Science (MLISc)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The university offers more postgraduate programs than undergraduate courses. Yet, there are a decent number of specialisations available at the university for those students who intend to pursue higher studies. Although the courses offered by the university are good, the lack of international recognition makes the students wonders if its worth it.

The main benefit of continuing education at an open university is that the students have an option to obtain a degree alongside their work or other matters, as these universities do not require the students to visit the campus for regular classes, saving them time.

As mentioned before, the study materials are sent to the students after they get admission via post. They can also obtain these materials online. There is no specific attendance policy as it is distance learning. However, the students are expected to attend a sufficient number practical sessions, if included in the curriculum, to appear for the exam.

Courses Affordable to All

As for the course fees, the university offers the programs at nominal tuition fees to ensure all aspirants from different backgrounds have the opportunity to obtain quality education from a recognised university. In fact, the main intention of establishing the university was to promote education for those students belonging to backward castes who were restricted from it due to the prevalent discrimination. 

The average fees for undergraduate courses range from INR 3200 to INR 6000, and for the postgraduate degree programs, the fees are more on the expensive side, ranging from INR 24,600 to INR 75,000. 

Qualified Faculty Members

The university is accredited by NAAC and UGC, and hence, the faculty members at the university are well-qualified and educated to provide the required assistance to the students. However, the overall quality of the professors varies from one department to another. 

The study materials prepared by the faculty members are highly recommended and extremely helpful for the students, to such an extent that they need not refer to other sources, like the internet or textbooks, as these materials cover all the copious topics in simple language. 

The completion of the courses can be done by the students at their own pace and convenience within the stipulated time. Although there are teachers available at the university, in most cases, they are only approached to clarify doubts as regular classes are not conducted by the university.

Modern Teaching Facilities

As the education offered by the university is mostly online, BRAOU is mainly focused on providing the required facilities through pre-recorded video and audio lessons, two-way video teleconferencing, live phone-in radio conferencing, and so on.

In terms of the campus infrastructure, there are reference library facilities and laboratories for the respective subjects available at the designated study centres. Contact classes are conducted at these centres, where the students have the opportunity to interact and learn directly from the teachers. 

The university ensures that the students have access to practical learning experiences for Science subjects by providing laboratories at the zonal study centres. Occasional lectures and seminars on relevant topics are conducted as well. 

The most beneficial facility for the students is the library, where they have access to almost all the required materials, both in printed and electronic forms. Students pursuing their degree programs from other parts of the country can access the resources available at the library through the online platform.

As it is an open university that provides distance education, there are no hostels or other housing facilities available on campus. However, those who are visiting the campus for contact classes can stay at the guest house by paying nominal rent. 

The campus also has a spacious canteen that serves hygienic food and beverages, which acts as a meeting point for the students as well as the teachers.

Absence of Campus Life

The university fails to provide a wholesome campus experience as most of the students pursuing courses here are either working professionals or women who are homemakers. The only campus experience they have is when contact classes are conducted, or they intentionally visit the campus to study with their peers. There are no specific fests or sports tournaments conducted by BRAOU.

Diversity at University

As the sole purpose of the establishment of BRAOU was to ensure all aspirants, irrespective of their caste, creed, gender, economic status, and other factors, have the opportunity to pursue higher studies, the student crowd is very diverse. All students have equal access to opportunities.

Dress Code

There is no uniform or specific dress code imposed on the students at BRAOU. However, the students are expected to wear modest and appropriate clothes when they are visiting the campus or attending the contact classes at the study centres.

Moderate Placement Opportunities

The courses offered by BRAOU are equally valid and recognised when it comes to placements. The university has an active placement cell that helps the graduates to participate in the interview process, which can help them obtain jobs. According to the past years’ records, almost 80% of students have managed to be hired by top recruiters in the country. The highest salary package offered to the students was INR 7.5 LPA, and the average package was 2 LPA. 

Students can also pursue higher education in almost all universities in India and in certain countries abroad after completing their undergraduate studies. They can also attempt UPSC exams for central and state government services.

The top companies that have recruited students from BRAOU are as follows.

• Tata Consultancy Services
• Infosys
• Amazon
• JustDial
• NCC.

Overall Impression of BRAOU

Although BRAOU is one of the few open universities in the country, it cannot be called the best as there are other universities, like IGNOU, that offer more valid and internationally recognised programs. Nonetheless, this university is a great option for students who had to put a pause on their studies due to different reasons.

The flexibility in the eligibility criteria for admission helps aspirants from different age and caste categories acquire quality education from a recognised university at their own pace. The pros and cons of the university have been tabulated below for reference:

*Sourc: braouonline.in