Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) is a state open university based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It offers distance and open learning programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and research levels, with the aim of widening access to higher education for working professionals, rural learners, women, and other students who are unable to pursue conventional, full-time university study.
| Name | Tamil Nadu Open University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | TNOU |
| Type | State open university (public) |
| Mode of instruction | Open and distance learning |
| Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Jurisdiction | State of Tamil Nadu |
| Established by | Government of Tamil Nadu through a state legislative Act |
Open universities in India were conceived as a way of supplementing the conventional university system by delivering instruction through self-learning materials, contact classes, and study centres rather than through full-time campus residency. The model was pioneered nationally by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and subsequently adopted by several states. Tamil Nadu Open University was set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu as the state-level institution providing this mode of education to learners across the state.
The university is organised into schools of study covering broad disciplinary areas. Typical academic divisions in TNOU include:
Programmes are delivered in both Tamil and English to support learners from Tamil-medium backgrounds, and the university develops self-instructional study materials for use by enrolled students.
TNOU operates a network of regional centres and learner support centres (study centres) attached to colleges and other educational institutions throughout Tamil Nadu. These centres conduct counselling sessions, practical components, and term-end examinations, and serve as the local point of contact between the university and its students.
As the dedicated open university for Tamil Nadu, TNOU plays a role in: