- ✓Which universities in Kerala offer online degree courses?
- ✓Does the University of Kerala offer online degrees?
- ✓Does Calicut University offer online courses?
If you live in Kerala, you have two kinds of choice: an online degree from one of Kerala's own universities, or one from any online-entitled university in India. Here is what Kerala's universities are entitled to offer online for 2026-27, programme by programme, from the UGC-DEB register.
Short answer: for the 2026-27 July session, the UGC-DEB programme register lists online programmes at three universities based in Kerala: Mahatma Gandhi University (13 entries), the University of Calicut (10) and the University of Kerala (4).
Sreenarayanaguru Open University offers 30 programmes by distance (ODL), not online. Because online programmes carry no territorial limit, a student in Kerala can also join any online-entitled university elsewhere in India.
- Mahatma Gandhi University: 13 online entries for 2026-27
- University of Calicut: 10 online entries (all distance mode in 2025-26)
- University of Kerala: 4 online entries
- Sreenarayanaguru Open University: 30 distance (ODL) entries, none online
- Studying from Kerala with a university elsewhere: allowed for online mode, Regulation 23(4)
Which Kerala universities offer online degrees for 2026-27?
The UGC-DEB HEI programme register records each entitlement by year, session and mode. These are the entries marked Online for universities based in Kerala, as named in the register:
| University | Undergraduate (online) | Postgraduate (online) |
|---|---|---|
| Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam | B.Com (Hons) General, 4 years; BBA, 4 years; BA (Hons) Political Science, 4 years | MBA; M.Com (Finance); MA in Economics, English, Sociology, Journalism and Mass Communication, Multimedia, Animation and Graphic Design; M.Sc (Statistics) |
| University of Calicut | B.Com (Hons), 4 years; BA (Hons) History, 4 years; BA (Hons) Sociology, 4 years | MBA (Human Resource Management); M.Com (Finance); MA in Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology and Arabic Language and Literature |
| University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram | B.Com (Finance); BBA (General) | MBA (General); M.Com (Finance) |
Mahatma Gandhi University and the University of Kerala carry the same online programmes as in 2025-26. The University of Calicut is the change: its 2025-26 entries were all in distance (ODL) mode, and for 2026-27 the register lists ten programmes in online mode and none in ODL.
The same university can hold a programme online one session and by distance the next. The mode column in the register is what counts for your admission.
What about Sreenarayanaguru Open University?
Sreenarayanaguru Open University (SGOU) is Kerala's state open university. For 2026-27 the register lists it for 30 programme entries, all in distance (ODL) mode. They include BA programmes in English, Malayalam, History, Economics, Sociology, Political Science and other subjects, plus B.Com, BBA, BCA, BSc (Data Science and Analytics), MA, M.Com, MBA and MCA.
Distance mode is not online mode. In ODL, the university runs admissions, contact classes and exams within its territorial jurisdiction, using study material and learner support centres. That suits a student who lives in Kerala and can attend contact sessions and exam centres in the state.
Can you join an online degree from a university outside Kerala?
Yes. Regulation 4(C)(i) of the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 says territorial jurisdiction does not apply to online programmes. Regulation 23(4) lets a learner residing within or outside India enrol in any online programme from an entitled university.
That widens the choice a lot. For 2026-27 the register lists 986 online programme entries across 145 institutions nationwide. Our pillar on online degree courses in India sorts them by programme, and our explainer on what online education means under UGC rules sets out how online and distance modes differ.
Are online degrees from Kerala universities valid?
Yes, when the entitlement covers your programme and session. Regulation 22 of the 2020 regulations treats an entitled online degree as equivalent to the same degree earned on campus. Regulation 23(2) protects your admission if the university loses entitlement in a later year.
Fees change each session and differ by university. Check the current fee on each university's official portal and keep the written fee schedule with your admission receipt. If you are weighing an MBA specifically, our guide to distance MBA options in Kerala covers that programme in more depth.
How to check a Kerala university's online programme
- Open the HEI programme list on deb.ugc.ac.in.
- Filter or search for the university.
- Find the exact programme and check the year (2026-27), the session (July) and the mode column.
- Create your DEB ID before you enrol.
Our step-by-step guide on how to check UGC-DEB approval walks through each field of the register.
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Sources
- UGC-DEB HEI programme register (HEI_Prog_List), entries for universities in Kerala for 2025-26 and 2026-27, read on 2 November 2026: deb.ugc.ac.in
- UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, Regulations 4(C), 22, 23 and Annexure III: deb.ugc.ac.in/Regulations
Checked against the UGC-DEB register on 2 November 2026. Programme names are given as the register lists them. Entitlements are granted by session and can change. Confirm the current position on deb.ugc.ac.in before you enrol.
Comparing online universities?
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Frequently Asked Questions
For the 2026-27 July session, the UGC-DEB programme register lists online programmes at three universities based in Kerala: Mahatma Gandhi University (13 entries), the University of Calicut (10) and the University of Kerala (4).
Yes. For 2026-27 the register lists four online programmes at the University of Kerala: B.Com (Finance), BBA (General), M.Com (Finance) and MBA (General).
Yes. For 2026-27 the register lists ten online programmes at the University of Calicut, including the MBA (Human Resource Management), M.Com (Finance), MA in Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology and Arabic, and four-year honours BA and B.Com degrees. In 2025-26 Calicut's entries were all in distance (ODL) mode.
Yes. Regulation 4(C)(i) of the UGC ODL and Online Regulations, 2020 says territorial jurisdiction does not apply to online programmes, and Regulation 23(4) lets a learner anywhere in India or abroad enrol. A distance (ODL) programme is different: the university must run admissions, contact classes and exams within its own territorial jurisdiction.
Not for 2026-27. The register lists Sreenarayanaguru Open University, Kerala's state open university, for 30 programme entries in distance (ODL) mode, covering BA, B.Com, BBA, BCA, MA, M.Com, MBA and MCA programmes. None is listed in online mode.
Yes, when the university is UGC-DEB entitled for that programme in online mode for your session. Regulation 22 of the 2020 regulations treats an entitled online degree as equivalent to a campus degree.
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