Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), Ahmedabad, was established in April 1994 by the Gujarat State Legislature under Act 14. The university has been renowned for providing quality education for years, with the vision of providing education for all.

The UGC-DEB has accredited the university in the prestigious Category 1 for its high-quality programs, par with on-campus degrees. It has also been ranked in 3rd position in the Open University category of NIRF 2024, along with a NAAC A++ certification.

It offers 80+ programs in both online and distance modes, allowing students to choose their preferred learning medium based on their convenience. With over 300 study centers and OL verticals, it also allows students to pursue any industry-grade degree from the comfort of their home.

The BAOU integrates the renowned SWAYAM, OMKER (e-SLM), its dedicated e-self learning module, study materials, video lectures, and a vast e-library network of e-books for a seamless learning experience. Students are allowed to have 24/7 access to learning resources and learn concepts at their own pace.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University does provide some sort of placement assistance through its dedicated Training and Placement Cell (TPC). It provides mock interview sessions, training, and workshops to help students boost their confidence and the probability of getting a decent job.

• Providing Education Since 1994: One of the oldest universities in India, with over 32 years of experience in providing quality distance and online programs for all.
• 8,00,000+ Alumni Network: A vast alumni and current students across the globe, demonstrating the ability to provide education beyond geographical and economic barriers.
• Industry-Academia Collaboration: Equipping students with the latest in-demand skills in collaboration with top academia experts, including AWS, Gessia, i-Hub, SSIP, and ACM.
• Startup Support: An exclusive Dronacharya Centre for Innovation, Startup and Entrepreneurship to help future founders in seed funding and expanding their business acumen.

Students need to follow a lengthy yet simple process for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Course Admissions. The university generally conducts two admission cycles for its programs, allowing students to choose their timeline as per their convenience.

The steps for admission to all its distance and online courses are as follows:

Step 1:Choose Course

• Visit the official admission website of the BAOU admission/Samarth portal.
• Choose your preferred Diploma/Certificate/UG/PG Course as per your career goals.
• Download the brochure and check the eligibility criteria before proceeding.

Step 2: Online Registration

• Create your BAOU student account
• Enter basic details, Mobile, and Email ID
• Verify using OTP
• Enter your APAR & Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) ID.

Note: if not, create an APAR and ABC account before proceeding.

Step 3: Fill Application Form

• Enter your personal and academic details
• Fill in your contact details (current & permanent address)
• Hit the Submit button
• Make sure to enter the correct details before

Step 4: Upload Required Document

Upload the following documents as per the dimensions mentioned on the website.

• Aadhar, PAN
• Xth, XIIth
• Bachelor's degree marksheet (for PG and PGDM only)
• Passport Size Photo
• Scanned Signature
• Category or Domicile certificate (If applicable)

Step 5: Pay Admission Fee

• Pay your course fee
• You can choose annual or full-time payment as per your convenience
• The university allows various payment methods, including Demand Draft, bank transfer, UPI, and Credit/Debit Card.
• Download and secure a copy of the program fee receipt.

Step 6: Admission Verification

• The BAOU usually takes 7 days to verify application details.
• Re-correct details, if needed.

Step 7: Admission Confirmation

Upon admission confirmation, you will receive:

• Enrollment number
• Allocated study center details
• LMS details

Step 8: Access to LMS and Study Materials

• Get access to an extensive e-library
• Access to OMKER and SWAYAM portal

Note: If this admission seems too difficult to navigate, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Admissions process from your end, you can connect with the BAOU admissions support team to simplify the process.

While taking a Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Course Admission, or any other open university paying program fee in one go, may be a big issue. This university charges an affordable fee. However, most of the students who pursue these degrees are from a lower economic background or working professionals looking to upskill themselves at the lowest cost possible.

No-cost EMI plays a major role in making these courses affordable without the need to pay the whole program fee at once. But on the flip side, the BAOU doesn’t provide any such no-cost EMI or part-payment option. Students can go for upfront, annual, or semester-wise fee payments if it doesn’t pose a drawback.

On the other side, if it matters and need a flexiblible payment options. Students can explore significantly flexible payment options, such as No-cost EMI offered by most private online universities.

These top universities provide a better value and ROI in terms of crucial decision-making, like pursuing an online undergraduate or postgraduate degree, that too with easy, minimal monthly installments. It makes the degree lighter on your pocket.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University offers some attractive scholarships and fee waivers on its diploma, certification, UG, and PG online/distance courses. These schemes are often backed by the government or are eligible for students from reserved categories only.

The open university provide exclusive scholarship and fee exemption for meritorious students, women, ST/SC, OBC, PwD, its alumni, army personnel, and residents from Gujarat. To avail these financial aids, students need to register themselves in the Digital Gujarat or the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) using the following rigorous steps:

Note: You need to upload and approve the income, domicile, and caste certificates along with the current year bonafide to register in the NSP/Digital Gujarat Portal.

The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University has a robust e-self learning module and an extensive library for a seamless learning experience from the comfort of their home. These LMS and libraries apply to both distance and online learning students.

• Access to 300+ Study Centres:The BAOU has over 300+ study centers and over 8 regional centers across Gujarat. They provide anytime access to this extensive network through the study center to access classes, the library, and seek help on assignments and concepts.
• Vivekanand Library: The exclusive digital library with an extensive resource of 1,80,000+ ebooks and 4,000+ international and national journals. Students can also access study materials, audiobooks, PDFs, case studies, and video lectures through this library.
• Integrate SWAYAM Portal: Its distance and online vertical collaborate with the prestigious SWAYAM portal to provide round-the-clock access to study materials and professional courses. These courses are designed to help students equip skill at their own pace.
• OMKAR-E (e-SLM): The BAOU has dedicated Open Matrix Knowledge Advancement Resources for Empowerment (OMKAR-E), an SLM, to help students access study materials and the virtual classroom using their laptop and smartphone.
• 24/7 Access to Study Materials: Students have 24/7 access to study materials, video lectures, audio lessons, an e-library, and an interactive classroom from the comfort of their home. It is ideal for working professionals and students who need a flexible mobile to balance study with their personal and professional commitments.
• Physical/Soft Books: The university offers the option of both physical and soft copies of books based on their learning preference. Students can choose the options of an ebook and a hardcopy during the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University course admissions.

The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University conducts a series of continuous evaluations, including self-evaluations, continuous evaluations (assessments), and session evaluations (term-end-examinations) to measure the knowledge of students. The patterns of these exams are as follows:

• Self-evaluations contain regular projects, which include subject questions, viva, and TA. The results of these helps university to evaluate students' progress during the semesters. It is based on credit consolidation, such as ABC, which can help in the overall results.
• Continuous Assessment consists of MCQs, short questions, and a viva to evaluate students' progress. It is generally conducted in the middle or second half of the semester, and has a weightage of 30%.
• The term-end examination (TEE) or session evaluation is generally conducted twice a year, i.e., February and August. It consists of long-form questions and MCQs in an offline pen-and-paper mode with a weightage of 70%. Students enrolled in both distance and online programs need to visit the offline exam centers or study centers to participate in the TEE exams of their respective courses.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Result

Students need to score at least of 40% marks in their respective assessments and term-end exams to get promotion into the next semester or get a final degree. The BAOU, like other open universities, takes approximately 45-60 days to declare the final results.

Like other open universities, the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University courses have a decent placement record. The open and online vertical of this university have an dedicated Training and Placement Cell (TPC) to help students find jobs.

It provides key assistance, such as mock interviews, group discussion panels, and workshops, to help students build their confidence and soft skills. It also conducts placement drives and intership opportunities to help students connect with recruiters and gain real-world experience.

With the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Course, students from both online and distance modes can secure an average placement package of 3-9 LPA, while someone with prior experience can secure a decent hike of 20% based on their skills.

Alumni from this open university have been placed in many private and government bodies, including SBI, HDFC, the Gujarat Ministry, LIC, Indian Railways, Kotak Mahindra Bank, TCS, Infosys, and Wipro at entry or mid-level.