Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) is a public open university located in Hyderabad, in the Indian state of Telangana. It is named after Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution of India. The university was established to provide higher education through distance and open learning, with a focus on extending educational access to working adults, women, residents of rural areas, and learners who are unable to pursue conventional campus-based studies.
| Name | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University |
|---|---|
| Former name | Andhra Pradesh Open University |
| Type | Public open university |
| Mode of instruction | Distance and open learning |
| Location | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Named after | B. R. Ambedkar |
BRAOU was the first open university to be established in India, predating the national-level Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). It was originally founded as the Andhra Pradesh Open University by an Act of the Andhra Pradesh State Legislature, and was later renamed in honour of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the formation of Telangana in 2014, the university's headquarters in Hyderabad came under the jurisdiction of the new state.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programmes across disciplines such as arts, commerce, sciences, social sciences, and education. Courses are delivered through self-instructional printed material, audio and video lessons, contact classes at study centres, and increasingly through online and digital platforms. Examinations are conducted at designated centres located across the region it serves.
BRAOU operates a network of regional coordination offices and study centres affiliated with colleges, which serve as points of contact for admissions, counselling sessions, library access, and practical components of certain programmes.
As the pioneer institution of open and distance education in India, BRAOU served as a model for the subsequent establishment of state open universities and the national open university. Its founding marked an institutional shift in Indian higher education towards inclusivity, lifelong learning, and the use of multiple media for instruction. The university has been particularly significant for first-generation learners and for candidates seeking to upgrade qualifications while in employment.