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KSOU: fees, courses and admission

Karnataka State Open UniversityMysuru, Karnataka

State open universityDistanceOnlineSince 1996

Fees and rules checked on 21 October 2026

₹33,190MBA, first-year fee
₹9,540BA, first-year fee
38regional centres
NAAC A+valid to 18 May 2028

Admission: July 2026 distance admission closed on 13 October 2026. KSOU hasn’t announced the January 2027 cycle yet, though its 2026-27 fee order already covers one.

Overview

KSOU is Karnataka’s state open university, set up in Mysuru in 1996. It teaches by distance through 38 regional centres and also runs online BA, B.Com, MA, M.Com, MBA and M.Sc courses.

Type
State open university, Karnataka
Modes
Distance (ODL) and online
Sessions
July and January cycles
Study centres
38 regional centres, with learner support centres
Entrance test
Knowledge assessment test for the MBA

Courses and fees

MBA

DistanceOnline

2 years

₹33,190first year, distance

₹32,120 in year 2. Online MBA: ₹40,000 a year

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MCA

Distance

2 years

₹32,970first year

₹32,120 in year 2

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BCA

Distance

3 years

₹26,590first year

₹25,740 in years 2 and 3

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BBA

Distance

3 years

₹13,940first year

₹13,090 in years 2 and 3

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M.Com

DistanceOnline

2 years

₹13,940first year, distance

₹13,090 in year 2. Online M.Com: ₹20,000 a year

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MA (English, Kannada, Economics and more)

DistanceOnline

2 years

₹11,960first year, distance

₹11,110 in year 2. Online MA: ₹15,000 a year

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B.Com

DistanceOnline

3 years

₹10,090first year, distance

₹9,240 in years 2 and 3. Online: ₹12,000 a year

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BA

DistanceOnline

3 years

₹9,540first year, distance

₹8,690 in years 2 and 3. Online: ₹10,000 a year

Get fee details

Distance fees from KSOU’s fee order of 20 June 2026 for the 2026-27 July and January cycles; online fees from the KSOU Online site and prospectus. Each year’s fee covers tuition, admission processing, registration, skill development, library and alumni fees. Exam fees are extra: ₹1,650 a semester for MA, M.Com and MBA (₹1,900 in MBA semester 4), ₹2,800 for MCA, and ₹1,200 a year for BA and B.Com. Applicants who live or studied outside Karnataka pay a ₹2,200 eligibility fee.

Admission

  1. July 2026 cycle (distance)

    Closed on 13 October 2026, after an extension from 15 September.

  2. January 2027 cycle

    Not announced yet (checked 21 October 2026). We update this page when KSOU publishes the notice.

How to apply

1Register on the university’s website, fill in the form and upload your documents
2MBA applicants take the 50-question online knowledge assessment test
3Take your original documents to a KSOU regional centre or the Mysuru head office
4Pay the fee online, then collect your roll number, ID card and study material

Distance: the university’s website · Online courses: the university’s website · Learner support centres offer pre-admission counselling only; admission is at the head office or a regional centre.

Eligibility

  • MBA

    A degree from any recognised university, and KSOU’s 50-question online knowledge assessment test. All questions must be answered.

  • MCA

    Any bachelor’s degree with mathematics or statistics, or a two-semester PG diploma in computer science.

  • BBA

    Two-year PUC in Karnataka or an equivalent exam; from other states, 12 years of schooling.

  • MA, M.Com

    A three-year degree. Without the related subject, you join at Level 1 and must pass KSOU’s Master’s Preparatory Program exam (₹1,100). M.Com Level 2: B.Com, BBM or BBA.

Exams and study

Exams at a centre

KSOU fixes exam centres by student numbers and lists them on the university’s website; centres with under 100 students are merged into nearby ones. Phones are banned.

Study material

Printed material is collected from the regional centre or Mysuru head office at admission. Soft copies and assignments are on the KSOU Digital Academic Platform app.

Regional centres

38 regional centres across Karnataka handle admission, study material and counselling, with learner support centres below them.

UGC recognition. UGC-DEB’s 2026-27 list recognises KSOU for 40 distance (ODL) programmes: 35, including the BA, B.Com, BBA, BCA, MA and M.Com, up to January 2028, but the MBA and MCA only up to January 2027. KSOU is also on the list of universities entitled to run online programmes, for 10 courses including the MBA, M.Com, BA and B.Com.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance test for the KSOU MBA?

Yes, a 50-question online knowledge assessment test. The link is sent to your phone after you apply, and every question must be answered for admission to be approved. Any degree from a recognised university qualifies.

How much is the KSOU MBA?

The distance MBA is ₹33,190 in year 1 and ₹32,120 in year 2, ₹65,310 in all by our sum, plus exam fees of ₹1,650 a semester (₹1,900 in semester 4). The online MBA is ₹40,000 a year.

Can I join KSOU from outside Karnataka?

Yes, with a ₹2,200 eligibility fee for applicants who live or studied outside Karnataka. Distance admission and document checks happen at the Mysuru head office or a regional centre in Karnataka.

Where are KSOU exams held?

At exam centres KSOU lists on the university’s website before each exam, based on student numbers. PG diploma and certificate exams are held in Mysuru, Bengaluru, Dharwad, Kalaburagi and Udupi.

When is the next KSOU admission?

July 2026 distance admission closed on 13 October 2026. The January 2027 cycle hasn’t been announced (checked 21 October 2026). The online-programmes site still showed a July 2026 ‘open’ notice with no last date.

If KSOU isn’t the right fit

IGNOU, with January and July sessions, is the national government option. UGC-entitled private online MBAs start at ₹67,000 in total (Mangalayatan University, fee checked 17 October 2026).

Sources
  1. KSOU fee order for the 2026-27 July and January cycles, 20 June 2026 (the university’s websites), read 21 Oct 2026.
  2. KSOU admission notification for ODL programmes, 2026-27 July cycle, 20 June 2026; extension circular of 5 September 2026 (last date 13 October 2026); admission portal page, read 21 Oct 2026.
  3. KSOU prospectuses for the 2026-27 July cycle (MBA, MCA, M.Com, MA, BBA, BCA) on the university’s website, read 21 Oct 2026.
  4. KSOU Online home page and online programmes prospectus (the university’s website), read 21 Oct 2026.
  5. KSOU exam notification of 18 August 2026 (exam fees and centres); NAAC certificate of 19 May 2023 (the university’s website), read 21 Oct 2026.
  6. UGC-DEB list of HEIs recognised for ODL, 2026-27 (pp. 30-33), and list of HEIs entitled to run online programmes, 2026-27 (p. 18), read 21 Oct 2026.
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