BRAOU beckons

BRAOU invites applications for courses under faculties of arts, sciences, commerce and social sciences in Telugu, English and Urdu media

Distance education played a key role in it taking education to the doorsteps of millions of people who missed out higher education due to various reasons. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), the first Open University in the country had its share in the success.

The BRAOU that has provided that much needed additional qualification for people to succeed in life is now inviting applications for B.A, B.Com, B.Sc and B.Sc (Special – Drug Sciences) programmes under faculties of arts, sciences, commerce and social sciences in Telugu, English and Urdu media. The University promises a degree with substance with its flexible time schedules, one-year foundation course, comprehensive course materials, audio-visual teaching format and strong teaching and curricula methodologies.

“Students enjoy great freedom in choosing their subjects,” says the Director of Academics C. Puspha Ramakrishna. In first year, students of all the faculties have to undergo a one-year foundation programme. It not only equips the students with basic knowledge of social sciences, science and technology, English but also allows them to shift their stream of study when specialisation starts in second year.

“For example, a student who did his Intermediate with HEC group can also go for B.Sc if he gets 50 per cent marks in science subjects in the foundation programme,” she said. In the second year, students can choose three from a list of 25 subjects across the four faculties. The course material is a major strength for the undergraduate programmes here. “Many universities don’t provide basic books of the subjects even for postgraduate programmes. We distribute the materials prepared by best brains in the country,” says Vice-Chancellor, O.R. Reddy. Bipin Chandra, Romila Thapar and Sanjay Baru are among the authors of history text books of the university. He says that BRAOU could expand its reach thanks to the strength of the course materials. “Group-I aspirants also prefer our materials,” he stated. The schedules of exams and course completion are quite flexible for the courses, according to Controller of the Examinations, N. Venkatanarayana. Students can sit for the exams in May and December and can also choose their exam dates in the given schedule. The course can be completed in a period of nine years and students will get another nine years extension if needed.

Eligibility

The university supports students through 207 study centres across the State. At the centres, students can attend the weekend contact classes; improve their subject knowledge with audio-video recourses.

Those who have passed the university eligibility test between 2004 and 2007 or with qualification of Intermediate, Diploma, two-year vocational courses and ITI are eligible to apply.

Urdu medium student should have passed Fazil (Jadeed) exam conducted by Adbiyate Urdu, Hyderabad. The candidates, who want to take admission based on eligibility test of 2008, should be more than 18 years before July 1.

Students belonging to SC, ST and PHC categories and prisoners are given full fee concession, if they submit certificates of SSC, caste, unemployment and income. Rest of the students have to pay Rs. 950 for first year and Rs. 1,150 for second and final years.

The science students, except that of mathematics, have to pay Rs. 500 as laboratory fee.

The courses are taught in Telugu, English and Urdu media. In Urdu medium, only History, Political Science, Public Administration, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology subjects are available and B.Com course is not offered.

BRAOU has seven lakh students on its rolls and it is expected to receive nearly 90,000 applications for 2008-09.

“If students can utilise the courses, there is no difference between regular and our open degrees. Many students are doing well in entrance exams of other universities and jobs,” says the Vice-C hancellor.

The last date for submission of application forms is July 24 and it could be extended up to August 20, according to the university authorities. For admission details, contact on 040-23556503 or log on to ‘ www.braou.ac.in’.