ABOUT
Overview
NSOU - Netaji Subhas Open University (WBNSOU) is India`s leading State Open University. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose celebrated his 100th birthday in 1997. At a State ceremony, West Bengal`s Chief Minister said that an Open University will be established shortly and dedicated to Netaji`s illustrious legacy. Following his visit to the Open University in the United Kingdom, West Bengal`s Higher Education Minister championed the initiative. Under his direction, a ten-member steering group was formed, led by the late Dr Bhaskar Ray Chowdhury, former Vice-Chancellor of Kolkata University. Following this, on August 20, 1997, a State Act (W.B. Act (XIX) of 1997 and Recognized by U.G.C.) was passed in favour of establishing a University for Distance Education. Netaji Subhas Open University was founded in the historic edifice of Sri Sarat Chandra Bose, Netaji`s elder brother, by the splintered Netaji Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) and in accordance with the Act of West Bengal State Legislative Assembly. With effect from the July 1998 Semester, the University began operations only with the Bachelor`s Degree Programme in Arts & Commerce to give a chance for higher education in the vernacular medium to many underprivileged groups of prospective learners. It is the country`s tenth Open University and the ninth State Open University. Professor Radharaman Chakraborty, then-Director of NIAS, was selected as the university`s first Vice-Chancellor. To organise and monitor the activities of the newly founded University, an Advisory Board comprised of distinguished educationists and senior executives was formed. They completed the preparatory set-up required for the Open University`s operation, and in July 1998, 31 Study Centres began operations under Netaji Subhas Open University with a Bachelor Degree Programme (BDP) in Arts & Commerce. Since the January 1999 semester, 5 more study centres offering Arts & Commerce Courses have been created under the BDP.
AT A GLANCE
Key information
Established
1997
Ownership
Public / Government
Stream
Humanities
Location
Kolkata, West Bengal
ACADEMICS
Courses offered
27 programmes at NSOU
Undergraduate9
BA
B.A. in Bengali
BA
B.A. in English
BSc
B.Sc. in Geography (Hons)
BSc
B.Sc. in Mathematics (Hons)
BSc
B.Sc. in Physics (Hons)
BSc
B.Sc. in Zoology (Hons)
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Postgraduate7
M.A.
M.A in Education
M.A.
M.A. in Public Administration
M.Sc.
M.Sc. in Mathematics
M.Sc.
M.Sc. in Zoology
M.Com
Master of Commerce
M.Lib.I.Sc
Master of Library and Information Science
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Postgraduate Diploma8
PG Diploma
Post Graduate Diploma in Apparel Designing and Fashi...
PG Diploma
Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Management
PG Diploma
Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Front Office
PG Diploma
Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communi...
PG Diploma
Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling
PG Diploma
Post Graduate Diploma in Taxation
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Diploma1
School1
Listed on Campusbells since 30 Jul 2026·Last updated 29 Sept 2026