Online Education: Online learning is a relatively new form of education, but it has been around for quite some time. In recent years, particularly as a result of the worldwide pandemic coronavirus known as COVID-19, online learning has grown in popularity both in India and abroad.
During the pandemic, students have largely witnessed this mode of education, and most of the students have reacted positively. The learning experience of online education does not hold up students’ aspirations, but it actually aids in pushing them to go beyond the course contents.
The article effectively talks about online learning in India by communicating and discussing topics including;
- what is online education?
- Why online education is popular?
- All the benefits of online education?
- Top Online Courses & Online Universities in India
What is Online Education?
Whenever we hear the words “online education”, one of the first things we think of is something that will allow us to stay at home, and to study while using the internet as a learning tool. It’s true! It is probably true that one can possibly study from the comfort of their home with online learning, but it is not necessarily true that students should be at home when taking online classes or attending any learning sessions, since they can do this from anywhere, so the location part is not necessary.
Is it possible to learn online? If so, how does it work? With the advent of online education, students were able to enjoy a learning experience that was similar to both traditional education and distance learning. As a middle path, it was explicitly designed to meet the needs of aspirants who wished to attain standard education, but have not been able to do so due to major factors such as finances, time, or distance.
Full-time or part-time professionals, financially weak aspirants, and students living in rural regions are loving the online mode of education. The online learning mode has assisted them in obtaining a quality education and earning a degree in their desired fields. Over the past decade, many students have successfully reached their dream careers, and worked for top brands i.e., Wipro, Tata, Facebook, etc., at lucrative profiles.
Advantages of Online Education over Offline Learning
Online education becomes popular due to the phenomenal growth in the mindset of modern-world students. Most of the current-era students want to continue their academic journey simultaneously with professional growth.
Online education encourages this kind of perception and provides sufficient time for both so that individuals can manage their education, and employment comfortably.
It is not just about learning and earning that one must look at as positive or benefit of online learning in India, but there are numerous other advantages exists that one must also see before he/she may look to opt for online education as a partner in the learning journey. Some of the benefits of online education have been mentioned below.
- Cost-effective nature of the online program.
- Time-flexibility or saving opportunities.
- Introduction of technology.
- Development of qualities like self-management, and leadership.
Why Online Education is so popular?
Cost-effective Nature of the Online Program:
Most online learning programs are found to be more affordable than traditional or conventional modes of education. The cost-effectiveness factor in course fees enables students from low-income families who cannot afford traditional learning to apply for and study for online education programs in their desired fields.
TIme-flexibility or Saving Opportunities:
Time is everything. If you are given the opportunity to save it by nourishing your academics, what else do you want? The flexible nature of online education allows students to study on their own set of schedules rather than at a particular time. Due to this, most online learning students have been able to develop time management skills.
Any online education program does not require students to be present at the university campus and take offline classes. This is why students are able to save travel time that costs them even more than the money. Saved time can be effectively used for personality development or any other significant reason.
Introduction of Technology:
The arrival of online education aided students’ community from primary to higher school levels to understand, and use technology. When we look back exactly twenty years ago, we cannot find a similar revolution in the education space where learners are not only obtaining their coursework education but also other necessary skills with the introduction of technology.
The online education system assisted students in learning, processing, and using internet applications based on video conferencing, evolving their internet searching ability, and providing a more unique and satisfying learning experience than hardcopies of materials.
Students have been able to learn in-depth about any specific subject, which has aided them in being one or two steps ahead in academics. The evolution of different skills in learners due to technology opens up limitless possibilities in the future for them.
Development of Qualities Like Self-management, and Leadership:
We have talked about several advantages of online education until now, but things that we should have discussed at the start of the talk have been skipped over. Online education has had a significant and positive impact on students’ academic and professional standing.
Two factors in the form of self-management and leadership skills are fruitfully developed in the online education system. The development of management and leadership phenomena not only touches the personality development factor but goes beyond it, and takes individuals to a new level of self-solidarity, and confidence.
Difference between Online Education vs Offline learning
| Online Education | Offline Learning |
| During Online learning, students adapt a cycle of classes with a flexible time span | During Offline Learning, learners need to attend the regular classes |
| The study material is available in online media, like recorded lectures, PDFs | The study material in traditional education is available in hard copy |
| The finest advantage of online education is its cost-effective nature | Travel & other miscellaneous expense turns offline learning into a bit expensive |
| It become the best mode of learning when it comes to earning while studying | Offline Education is the best way to pursue skilled based courses |
How to Choose the right Online Courses & Universities in India?
If anyone is willing to study an online program in India, they can certainly do so by choosing a program, finding universities, and applying online. There are plenty of options in online education for students aiming for online diplomas, online certificate, and degree programs at the undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
Candidates can easily go for courses in the following fields arts, humanities, science, business, management, technology, commerce, data science, and so on. Some of the courses available for online learning in India comprise BA, Bcom, Bsc, MBA, Mcom, MA, MSc, etc. Which Universities offering online courses? The courses listed above are taught at well-known online universities such as Lovely Professional University, Manipal University, Jain University, and others.
Some of the top online courses, their details, and many other factors will be covered in the next section of the article; However, we will not stop there and continue to provide more necessary information including a list of online universities, their admission process, and so on.
Online Courses in India
Online education is a vast field of learning where students can find almost all courses from various domains.
| Online Undergraduate Courses | Fee |
| Online BA | Rs 30,000 to Rs 84,000 |
| Online BCom | Rs 30,000 to Rs 65,000 |
| Online BBA | Rs 30,000 to Rs 78,000 |
| Online BSc | Rs 30,000 to Rs 65,000 |
| Online BLIS | Rs 10,000 to Rs 36,000 |
| Online BTS | Rs 19,000 to Rs 49,000 |
| Online BCA | Rs 46,000 to Rs 98,000 |
| Online BSW | Rs 28,000 to Rs 56,000 |
| Online Master Courses | Fee |
| Online MA | Rs 20,000 to Rs 44,000 |
| Online MBA | Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.5 Lakhs |
| Online MCom | Rs 20,000 to Rs 56,000 |
| Online MSc | Rs 30,000 to Rs 69,000 |
| Online MSW | Rs 20,000 to Rs 45,000 |
| Online MCA | Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.2 Lakhs |
*Note- The fee of the online program specified above may vary as per the university/institute or by discipline.
Which online education courses are most popular?
The following list of online courses is considered one of the most popular in the student community.
- Bachelor of Arts (Online BA)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Online BBA)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Online BCom)
- Bachelor of Science (Online BSc)
- Bachelor of Computer Applications (Online BCA)
- Master of Arts (Online MA)
- Master of Business Administration (Online MBA)
- Master of Computer Applications (Online MCA)
- Master of Commerce (Online MCom)
- Master of Science (Online MSc)
Online BA Degree (Bachelor of Arts)
The online degree program for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) has a minimum duration of three years. The course focuses on theoretical education with the aid of core, and elective subjects including political science, social science, languages, and so on.
Online BA degree holders can pursue opportunities and sustainability in academic and professional fields. They can opt for advanced learning options such as MA, LLB, MJMC, BEd, and so on.
Writer, administrative assistant, office assistant, data entry operator, customer support executive, and other reputable job roles for BA online degree holders are available. Starting salaries for online BA-based professionals range between INR 3-4 LPA.
Applicants can apply to the Bachelor of Arts online degree program at Lovely Professional University, Amity University, etc. The average fee for a BA degree program ranges from INR 16,000 to INR 28,560 annually.
Online BBA Degree (Bachelor of Business Administration)
Bachelor of Business Administration commonly known as BBA is an undergraduate cum foundational degree for an employment opportunity in management and leadership roles. The bachelor’s degree program of three-year duration includes subjects such as management accounting, marketing management, security analysis, and more.
Anyone who passes the online BBA degree can look forward to getting a job in the profiles of business development executives, marketing executives, financial analyst, and so on. The packages for professionals in this field can round around INR 5-6 LPA.
Some of the top online universities to pick for the BBA degree programs are Chandigarh University, Dy Patil University, etc. The complete, but average, fee for the online BBA degree program is 80,000 to INR 2,60,000.
Online BCom Degree (Bachelor of Commerce)
Bachelor of Commerce, abbreviated, and famously knowns as BCom is a degree program of 3-year duration. The course arises to share valuable knowledge with conceptually organized factors based on the following subjects such as accountancy, business management, mathematics, taxation, finance, and so on.
Passing the online degree with BCom opens the door to a plethora of lucrative career opportunities, such as account executive, business analyst, financial planner, commerce teacher, and so on. Earning packages in the commerce field allow professionals to make up to INR 5-8 LPA at the beginning of their employment career.
There are numerous universities for the online BCom degree program, such as Amity University, IGNOU, Jain University, etc. The annual fee of the online BCom degree program is INR 4,000 to 16,000.
Online MBA (Master of Business Administration)
The Master of Business Administration or MBA is a postgraduate program of a 2-year duration. The course is very demanding in the online mode because it helps students develop ideal skills for job opportunities like manager, administrator, consultant, and so on, at respected, and popular brands in the country, and abroad.
At the start of their leadership and management roles, the employed professional can easily earn around 7-10 LPA. Some universities to be looked at for the online MBA degree program are Manipal University, NMIMS, Amity University, etc. The expected fee range for the online MBA program is around INR 25,000 to 54,000 annually.
Online MCA (Master of Computer Application)
Master of Computer Applications is an online advanced degree after BCA that provides an in-depth option to study subjects such as computer languages, advanced mathematics, computer architecture, and so on.
Once the online degree in computer science completes, students can go forward and grab job opportunities including software developer, data scientist, hardware engineer, web designer, etc. The salary of MCA degree-based professionals switches around INR 6-12 LPA.
Master of Computer Applications programs can be found at online universities such as Lovely Professional University, SRM University, etc. The fee for the online MCA degree program is INR 24,000 to INR 42,000 annually.
Top Online Universities in India
There are many online universities that are offering plenty of programs in different-different fields at the undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Some of the top filtered universities in India are listed below.
- Manipal University
- Lovely Professional University
- Amity University
Manipal University Online
Manipal University has begun the admissions process for the 2023 academic year, which will end on February 25, 2023. Applicants can apply to the online courses at Manipal, including BCom, BBA, MBA, MCA, and so on, by reaching out to the official website, and completing the online application process.
All courses of Manipal University are entitled by the University Grants Commission (UGC) which assures the authenticity, and certification of online programs. The eligibility process, courses fees, and others can be learned at the online Manipal University website.
Lovely Professional University Online
The Lovely Professional University of Online Education has extended the last date for admission form submission until 31 March 2023. Applicants who desire to apply for courses such as BCA, BA, MA English, MBA, MA Economics, etc., need to submit an online application with a registration fee of INR 500 before the deadline.
The admission will be fully offered on academic performance, and will not be considered at any level of entrance examinations. To know more about LPU Online, one can visit the official website.
Amity University Online
Amity University in its online mode comes up with various courses in management, information technology, commerce, arts & humanities, media & journalism, and so on. Candidates would find career-defining online programs including BBA, BCA, BCom, BA Journalism, Mass Communication, MBA, MCA, and so on.
The admission process of the Amity Online University is active, and running thus applicants can apply to their favorite programs as soon as possible. One can learn about the admission process at the official website of Amity Online.
