BA Distance Education - Distance Learning BA Course Syllabus, Fees, Admission
October 15th, 2024: 10 Min
Distance BA is a 3-year undergraduate degree program that can be pursued remotely with study material dispatched to the students. A distance BA course includes many specializations and subjects that students can choose from. It also includes electives, and practical work, depending on the specialization a student has decided to opt for.
A distance BA degree covers subjects such as economics, english, political science, history, geography etc. Students are free to choose a subject that aligns with the career they want to pursue.
A distance BA course provides its students with either physical study materials, mailed to their address or a soft copy of the same that students can access at any time.
The course is designed by industry experts and ensures that only the best education is provided to the students enrolled. Apart from the three-year BA distance education in an online mode, there are various other kinds of BA courses that students can pursue. Here is a list of some of them:
- Online BA: Entirely online course where students do not attend classes nor take exams on-campus. Everything is 100% digital. Know more about Online BA Course.
- Part-time BA (duration 4-6 years): Students can focus on their education with on-campus classes and a university curriculum while fulfilling other commitments.
- Accelerated BA (duration 2 to 3 years): This program increases the course load per semester and helps students complete a course sooner
- Hybrid BA (duration 1.5-2.5 years): A combination of online learning and physical presence students can join online + physical classes.
Distance BA Program Benefits
If you are someone who is looking to add to your educational qualifications and increase your chances of landing your dream job, a BA degree is a perfect option for you. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the scope of BA. In case you are still not sure though, here is a list of the benefits that some of the best distance BA learning courses can offer:
Endless choices: Even if you simply choose to pursue a BA in distance education, the number of subjects or specialisations you can choose from is vast. If you think you can handle it, students can also select more than one specialization to expand their skills further.
Flexible: When enrolling in a BA distance education course, students can easily complete their studies and upskill themselves while also staying dedicated to their other commitments. Since the BA distance education course is remote, students can study from the comfort of their location, only needing to be physically present to take examinations.
A do-over for college dropouts: A distance BA degree gives a second chance to college dropouts who might have had to stop their education mid-way and help them finally complete their education by kickstarting their education journey all over again.
Affordable: Distance education courses, like the BA distance education course, are always comparatively more affordable than regular courses. The quality of education is maintained despite the distance while also helping students save on fees considerably. So, even if financial crunches are keeping one from continuing their studies, distance education can prove to be the saviour.
Quality education: Though the concept of distance education has been looked down upon in the past, in recent years society has realised that distance education provides its students with the same quality education, if not better, as regular, full-time universities. This is one element that universities offering BA in distance learning refuse to compromise on.
Effective: The distance mode does not affect the quality of education provided to its students nor the effectiveness of the courses. Students pursuing distance education from any college fare equally well, if not better, than those studying via regular colleges.
Top BA Specializations
- BA in English
- BA in History
- BA in Political Science
- BA in Geography
- BA in Sociology
- BA in Public Administration
- BA in Hindi
- BA in Economics
- BA in Social Work
- BA in Public Policy and Development
- BA in Physiology
- BA in Computer Applications
- BA in International Relations
Top Colleges and Universities Offering Distance BA
Here is a list of reputed colleges and universities that offer distance BA:
- IGNOU or Indira Gandhi National Open University
- Lovely Professional University
- Chandigarh University
- Sikkim Manipal University
- Uttaranchal University
- Delhi University
Distance BA Fee & Scholarship
Here's a combined look at the fee structure that each University offers its students when they decide to apply for distance BA courses:
University/college |
Fee Amount |
IGNOU or Indira Gandhi National Open University |
₹8,100 onwards |
Lovely Professional University |
₹5,500 per semester |
Chandigarh University |
₹10,950 per semester |
Sikkim Manipal University |
₹15,500 per semester |
Uttaranchal University |
₹9,500 per semester |
Delhi University |
₹4,800 onwards |
Eligibility Criteria
Most of the time, the educational qualifications needed to pursue a BA distance degree stay the same from university to university. However, some universities might require additional qualifications. Some of them are listed below.
For Indian Students:
High School Graduation: Anyone wishing to pursue a BA distance degree needs to have passed their 10+2 from a recognized board such as CBSE, ICSE, or State Board. Along with this, a student also needs to have at least a minimum of 50% marks in any stream like science, maths, or arts.
BA Entrance Exam: More often than not, there are no entrance exams that students need to take to apply for a distance BA course. However, this again could differ from one University to another, specifically keeping in mind the CUET or Common University Entrance Test, since students looking to enrol in 24 central universities in India will have to attend this test
BA Distance Education Admission Process
Once you have made a decision about which specialization to pursue and which college to do it from, it is important to also be aware of the admission process. For students who wish to continue their education with a distance BA course, here are the main steps to keep in mind as a part of your admission process
Check the eligibility criteria: Make sure you fulfil all the eligibility criteria set down by the university of your choosing. Once determined that you have fulfilled all of them, proceed to the next step.
Fill out the application form: Now, you will move one step ahead near your admission into the college. Fill out the application form with accurate details and don’t forget to choose the course you had your mind to pursue. Ensure all the details entered in the application form match with the documents that you are asked to upload.
Upload documents: This step is an extremely crucial one so ensure that all your documents are clear when you upload them. The university will usually ask students for their Aadhar Card, PAN card, high school degree mark sheet, and the latest passport-size photograph. If post uploading of the documents you are asked to pay the enrollment fees, do so. This step however might differ from one university to another.
Wait for university approval: It does take some time for universities to cross-check your documents. Once that is done the university will send you a confirmation message,
Pay the first semester/year’s fee: Once you receive confirmation from the university, proceed to pay your fees and your admission is done.
Placement Assistance
One of the major concerns that students and young professionals often have post the completion of their distance BA degree is where will they get a good job. This is where the university’s placement assistance program comes to help them. Most top distance universities want to ensure that their students go out into the world as well-rounded individuals, capable of establishing a great professional life for themselves. This is why most of these universities have tie-ups with some of the best companies in the country, to help their students find a footing in the world.
Potential Job Roles and Job Opportunities for Distance BA Graduates
Here’s a look at the following potential job roles that you can explore post-completion distance BA degree program :
- Content Writer
- Assistant Professor
- Social Worker
- Teacher
- Human Resources Assistant
- Marketing Coordinator
- Public Relations Specialist
- Non-Profit Organization Manager
- Cultural Heritage Officer
- Public Relations
- Corporate Communications
- Event Planner
Industry Hiring Partners and Recruiters
There are a lot of companies looking to recruit young professionals who have completed their Master’s. Here is a list of some of them:
- BBC
- Time Warner
- Viacom CBS
- Thomson Reuters
- Pearson Education
- Kaplan
- Chegg
- local schools and colleges
- Red Cross
- Oxfam
- United Way
- Habitat for Humanity
- Deloitte
- PwC
- KPMG
- Ernst & Young
FAQs
Is distance BA recognized in India?
Yes. Almost all the top universities that offer a distance BA degree for students to pursue are UGC-approved. This makes it crucial for both government and private sector companies to recognise the importance of students having passed a BA distance course.
How high are the chances of getting a job after a Distance BA degree?
A BA Distance course has the same value as a regular BA course in the Job Market. The truth is, AS long as you plan on finishing our degree from a recognized university, the chances of you getting a job are the same as when you finish a BA degree from a regular college.
Is distance BA an equivalent course to an on-campus course?
Absolutely. The distance BA courses from top universities are designed by industry experts who ensure that all the study material and educational components are at par with those of regular BA courses.
Can I get a placement opportunity after a distance BA?
Even though this provision varies from one university to another, a lot of the universities offering distance BA courses to its students also take care of the placement post-completion of the degree. However, if this is important for you, it is best to confirm the same with the universities and apply to one that has this provision.
What are the basic eligibility criteria for the distance BA?
Anyone wishing to pursue a BA distance degree needs to have passed their 10+2 from a recognized board such as CBSE, ICSE, or State Board. Along with this, a student also needs to have at least a minimum of 50% marks in any stream like science, maths, or arts.