Madras University Distance Education Brief Information

Madras University is located in Chennai. It offers 27 Undergraduate, 20 Postgraduate, 17 Professional, 25 Diploma, and 13 Certificate courses. Madras University got provisional recognition from DEC in 2007 - 08 for conducting distance education courses.

• Courses

• Methodology

• Study Centres

• Selection

• Application Procedure

It was established under the Act of Incorporation XXVII of 1857 - Madras University Act 1923. University is Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC and conferred with the status of ‘University with Potential for Excellence’ by UGC. Institute of Distance Education was established in 1981. The IDE was known earlier as ICE. IDE now is a mega Institute with a student enrolment of more than 3.0 lakhs. Admissions are made throughout the year.

Courses - IDE, Madras University offers 102 courses. They are in Science (B.Sc & M.Sc), Arts (B.A & M.A), Commerce (B.Com & M.Com) , M.Phil, Vocational (Diploma, Certificate & PG Diploma) and Professional (BMM, B.Music, BBA, BCA, B.Nat, M.Music, MBA, MCA, B.LI.Sc and M.LI.Sc) streams offered through distance learning.

Open University System (OUS) - It was introduced in 1985 is intended to provide educational opportunities to those who aspire for higher education without any basic qualification. And for admission under this scheme one must have completed 18 years of age as on 1st July. The candidate is subjected to the Entrance Test to make sure that he/she has the required literacy level to cope up with the degree course.

Virtual University Project of University of Madras It is a Tele-education and e-learning platform for the students to take education from University of Madras at remote locations convenient to them. University of Madras is offering MSc(IT) and BBA programmes under this project to the following countries - Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Mauritius, Somalia, Egypt, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Sudan, Madagascar, Niger and Mozambique. Virtual University data centre and studio are located at Tholkappiar Campus.

Methodology - Under Academic activities students are provided (a) learning materials periodically and (b) personal contact programme. For each paper of study, a set of learning materials is given to the students periodically. It can be collected by the students or his/her representative personally from the Institute / Study Centres / Spot Admission Centres on production of the student’s copy of the payment challan endorsed by the designated bank.

Contact Classes - For the students of B.Music, B.Sc. Visual Communication, B.Sc. Hotel and Catering Management, B.Sc. Apparel and Fashion Design, BMM Bachelor of Multimedia - Animination practical classes will be conducted in the Institute at Chennai. For B.C.A. and B.Com. Computer Applications students, practical classes will be conducted at Ambur, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Puducherry, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Vellore and at all the Study Centres. Attendance for B.C.A. and B.Com. Computer Applications theory and other practical classes is compulsory. B.Sc. Geography students who do not secure attendance at the compulsory practical classes will not be permitted that year for the practical examination. Students admitted to B.Com. (Co-operation) courses will have to undergo practical training which involves visits to industrial institutions. Students who have enrolled with the Study Centres, Participatory Centres, the PCP Classes will be conducted by the Respective Institutions. IDE, Madras University has study centres in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Orissa, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Selection - Admission to all courses are made through Merit. All the courses of the Institute are offered to the residents of India and also to foreign countries as per the discretion of the authorities, University of Madras. It is necessary for candidate to meet the eligibility requirement for the course he is applying.

Application Procedure - Application form can be obtained from University or Study Centre or Website. The Applicant has to fill in the following - (1) Application Form, (2) Computer Coding Sheet and (3) Address Slip. The Application must be accompanied by all the original certificates as stated in the Prospectus and the Registration Fee of Rs.100. Candidates seeking admission in the Study Centre / articipatory Programme Centre and Online Centres should produce their Original Certificates in their centres for the verification and attested copies of the same should also be furnished. Students can seek admission only at Single Window Admission Centre / Spot Admission Centres / Study Centres / Participatory Programme Centres listed in the prospectus / University Website.

Note - Candidates from other states should submit their applications at any one of the Study Centres of the Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras, of the State concerned for admission to various courses offered by IDE. Practical Examination will be conducted only at the end of the Practical Classes at the PCP Centres for those who have earned necessary attendance and made required progress by completing the record note books during Main examinations. Candidates should be serious for project work, practicals and attendance at pcp classes as advised in prospectus for each course, otherwise candidates will not be allowed for main examinations.

Spot Admission - With a view to simplify the admission procedure for the distance education students, the University of Madras has opened a Single Window Admission Centre at the IDE building at Chepauk Campus, Chennai. Located in a spacious hall, the Single Window Admission Centre ensures admission in thirty minutes. The xerox copies of the certificates will be verified with the originals and the original certificates will be returned along with the provisional admission letter. After obtaining the provisional admission letter, the students can remit the specified fees at the Bank Counter located at the Centre. Then they can collect the study materials and ID card from the respective counters located in the Single Window Admission Centre.

Fees - It is done by fee paid challan endorsed by the Designated Banks, Indian Bank / IOB or a demand draft in favour of “The Director, IDE, University of Madras”, payable at Chennai.