Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of education that focuses on the pedagogy and andragogy, technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to students who are not physically "on site". According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “is a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.”

Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason including the taking of examinations is considered to be a hybrid or blended course of study. This emerging technology is becoming widely used in universities and institutions around the globe. With the recent trend of technological advance, distance learning is becoming more recognized for its potential in providing individualized attention and communication with students internationally.

Distance education dates to at least as early as 1728, when "an advertisement in the Boston Gazette[named] 'Caleb Phillips, Teacher of the new method of Short Hand" was seeking students for lessons to be sent weekly.

The University of London was the first university to offer distance learning degrees, establishing its External Programme in 1858. The Society to Encourage Studies at Home was founded in 1873 in Boston, Massachusetts. In Australia, the University of Queensland established its Department of Correspondence Studies in 1911. Another pioneering institution was the University of South Africa, which has been offering Correspondence Education courses since 1946. In New Zealand, university-level distance education or extramural study began in 1960 at Massey University. The largest distance education university in the United Kingdom is the Open University founded 1969. Spain's Public UNED was founded in 1972. In Germany the FernUniversität in Hagen was founded 1974. There are now many similar institutions around the world, often with the name Open University (in English or in the local language), and more than a dozen of them have grown to become 'mega-universities', a term coined to denote institutions with more than 100,000 students.

Distance Education Universities in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Orissa, Punjab, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.

Please click on a link below to access complete list of Distance Education Universities in the region.

Distance Learning Universities in Andhra Pradesh

1. Acharya Nagarjuna University Center for Distance Education (CDE)

Nagarjunanagar, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

2. Andhra University Schoo of Distance Education (AU SDE)

Waltair, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

3. Dr B R Ambedkar Open University (DBROU)

Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

4. English and Foreign Languages University School of Distance Education (EFLU SDE)

OU Campus, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

5. JNTU School of Continuing & Distance Education

Mahaveer Marg, Masab Tank, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

6. Kakatiya University School of Distance Learning & Continuing Education

Kakatiya University, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India

7. Osmania University - PGRR Center for Distance Education

Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

8. Sri Krishnadevaraya University Centre for Distance Education (SKUCDE)

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India

9. Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam Distance Education Centre

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

10. Sri Venkateswara University Directorate of Distance Education (SVU DDE)

Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

11. University of Hyderabad Center for Distance Education (UoH CDE)

University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

Distance Learning Universities in Bihar

1. Nalanda Open University

2nd/3rd Floor, Biscomaun Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna, Bihar, India

2. Patna University Directorate of Distance Education (PUDDE)

Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India

Distance Learning Universities in Chhattisgarh

1. Guru Ghasidas University Institute of Distance Education (GGU IDE)

Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India

2. Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University

Near Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Park, Vayapar Vihar, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India

Distance Learning Universities in Delhi

1. Delhi University School of Open Learning (DUSOL)

5, Cavalry Lane, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110007.

2. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Directorate of Open and Distance Education (GGSIU DODE)

Kashmere Gate, Delhi, India

3. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Maidan Garhi, Delhi, India

4. Jamia Hamdard Open and Distance Learning (JH ODL)

Delhi, India

5. University of Delhi School of Open Learning (UDSOL)

Nehru College Building, Delhi, India

Distance Learning Universities in Gujarat

1. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University

R.C. Technical Campus, Opp. Gujarat High Court, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Distance Learning Universities in Haryana

1. Chaudhary Devi Lal University University Centre for Distance Learning

Sirsa, Haryana, India

2. Kurukshetra University Directorate of Correspondence Courses

Kurukshetra University Campus, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

3. Maharashi Dayanand University Directorate of Distance Education, Rohtak

Rohtak, Haryana, India

Distance Learning Universities in Himachal Pradesh

1. Himachal Pradesh University International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL)

Himachal Pradesh University Campus, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

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