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Free courses, membership examinations, private study, test preparation, career programmes and routes to a university abroad. Fourteen ways to learn beyond the regular degree.

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Learning that sits outside the regular degree

Some people need a qualification they can earn while working. Some need a test score, a short skill course or a first step towards a university abroad. Others simply want to learn something new without paying for it.

This page brings those options together: fourteen kinds of programme in six groups. Each one says plainly what it is, who it suits and what you hold at the end.

Learn for free

Free Online Programs

India runs some of the largest free learning platforms in the world. Teachers from the IITs, IIMs, IISc and central universities record full courses, and anyone can enrol without a fee, an entrance test or an age limit.

PlatformRun byGood for
SWAYAMMinistry of EducationCourses from Class 9 to postgraduate level in almost every subject
NPTELThe IITs and IIScEngineering, science and management courses of 4, 8 or 12 weeks
SWAYAM PlusMinistry of Education with industry partnersJob-oriented courses built with companies. Many are free, some carry a fee
Skill India Digital HubMinistry of Skill Development and EntrepreneurshipShort skill courses for specific jobs and trades
e-PG PathshalaUGC and INFLIBNETReading material and lectures for postgraduate subjects
National Digital Library of IndiaMinistry of Education, hosted by IIT KharagpurBooks, lecture videos and old question papers in one search

International platforms such as Coursera and edX also let you follow many university courses free of charge, and charge only if you want the certificate.

What is free

  • Enrolling in the course
  • Video lectures and reading material
  • Weekly assignments and quizzes
  • The discussion forum where teachers answer doubts

What you pay for

  • The final examination, taken in person at a test centre, if you want a certificate. The fee is usually ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 for a course.

Can it count towards a degree?

Yes, at universities that have adopted the SWAYAM credit framework. UGC allows up to 40 per cent of a programme's credits to come from SWAYAM courses. Your own university decides which courses it accepts, so ask before you enrol.

How we help: with thousands of courses on offer, the hard part is choosing. We suggest courses that support the degree, job or admission you are working towards.

Qualify without attending college

Professional Institutions Membership Examinations

A professional institution is a society of people who practise the same profession. Many admit members by examination. You study on your own, sit the institution's papers and earn its membership grade, without leaving your job to attend a college.

Indian Institution of Engineers (IIE), New Delhi

IIE holds diploma-level and degree-level examinations in engineering disciplines twice a year. They are meant for people who could not join a polytechnic or engineering college, are already working in technical jobs, and now want to improve their qualifications and prospects.

1

Technical / Diploma Membership

DMIIE / DIPIIE / TMIIE

IIE's diploma-level examination. There are 27 papers in two parts. After clearing them you receive the technical membership certificate, and then submit a project report before applying for the final certificate.

Part I: 9 papersOpen to candidates who have passed S.S.L.C. and are 16 or older.
Part II: 18 papersAfter Part I, or directly with +2 / P.U.C. in the science stream, or a two-year NCVT ITI certificate.
2

Associate Membership

AMIIE

IIE's degree-level examination. Again there are 27 papers. After clearing them you receive the membership certificate, and then complete six months of practical training at an AICTE approved college before applying for the AMIIE certificate.

Section A: 9 papersOpen to holders of a diploma in engineering, or a pass in TMIIE Part II.
Section B: 18 papersTaken in your chosen engineering discipline after Section A.
3

Corporate Membership

MIIE (Master Member) and FIIE (Fellow Member)

Senior grades for experienced engineers, awarded on qualifications and professional standing.

Examinations
Twice a year
How you study
Self-study alongside your job. There are no regular classes to attend.
Exam centres
Chennai, Neyveli, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Tirupati
Suits
ITI and diploma holders, and technicians working in industry

Other bodies that examine for membership

  • ICAI Chartered Accountant (CA)
  • ICSI Company Secretary (CS)
  • ICMAI Cost and Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Indian Institute of Banking and Finance JAIIB and CAIIB for bank staff
  • Insurance Institute of India Licentiate, Associateship and Fellowship
  • Institute of Actuaries of India Actuarial examinations
  • Institution of Engineers (India) AMIE
  • IETE AMIETE in electronics and telecommunication

A membership certificate is not a university degree

It is awarded by a professional body, not by a university. IIE presents AMIIE as its degree-level qualification and DMIIE / DIPIIE / TMIIE as its diploma-level qualification, but each employer, university and authority decides for itself whether to accept them in place of a B.E. / B.Tech. or a polytechnic diploma. For engineering memberships in general, the government's blanket equivalence covers only candidates who enrolled with recognised institutions up to 31 May 2013. Find out how your certificate will be treated before you enrol, not after.

If you want a promotion or a new job

Ask the employer, in writing, whether it accepts the membership for the post. Private companies often do. Government and public-sector rules are stricter.

If you want to study further

Ask the university whether it admits membership holders to its M.E., M.Tech. or M.B.A. programmes. Policies differ from one university to the next.

If you plan to work abroad

Overseas employers and licensing bodies usually ask for a degree from a recognised university. Check with the assessing authority in that country first.

Qualify without attending college

Private / External Registration Programs

External student

A private student who is registered with a university for a degree, diploma or certificate, but studies independently somewhere else.

Who this is for

Many people had to stop studying for reasons that were not in their hands, and took whatever work was available. Some have built steady careers through hard work alone. Without a graduate or postgraduate degree, though, the next step up stays out of reach.

The external students scheme is for them: people who may be under-qualified, but are certainly not under-ambitious. It lets you sit a university's examinations and earn its award without enrolling as a regular student.

One thing to be clear about: an external student is not supported by a teacher. You study independently, using the university's syllabus and learning resources. It suits people who can keep to a timetable on their own.

How it works

  1. Choose the programmeWe check your earlier qualifications against the university's eligibility rules.
  2. Register as an external studentYou register with the university for the degree, diploma or certificate.
  3. Study on your ownYou follow the prescribed syllabus at your own pace, around your work.
  4. Sit the university examinationsYou appear for the same kind of examinations the university sets for the programme.
  5. Receive the awardThe university issues your mark sheets and certificate.

Faculties and levels

Commerce and ManagementM.B.A., M.Com., B.B.A., B.Com., Diploma
Engineering and TechnologyM.Tech., B.Tech., Diploma, Certificate
Information TechnologyM.C.A., M.Sc., B.C.A., B.Sc., Diploma
ScienceM.Sc., B.Sc., Diploma, Certificate
Arts and HumanitiesM.A., B.A., Diploma
EducationM.A., B.A., Diploma
LawLL.M., Diploma
Hotel Management and TourismM.Sc., B.Sc., Diploma
Fine ArtsM.F.A., M.P.A., B.F.A., B.P.A., Diploma
Allied Health SciencesM.Sc., B.Sc., Diploma
Secondary EducationS.S.L.C., P.U.C. (H.Sc.)
Skill EducationM.Voc., B.Voc., Diploma, Certificate

Before you register: what is open to external students differs from one university to another and from year to year. Qualifications that normally need laboratories, clinical training or a professional council's approval, such as engineering, law and health sciences, are not treated like regular degrees by every employer, university or council. Tell us what you need the qualification for (a government post, a promotion, further study or work abroad) and we will tell you honestly whether this route will serve that purpose.

Prepare for a test

Test preparation programmes

Universities, employers and visa offices name the tests they accept and the scores they want. We start from that requirement, then prepare you for the score. Both kinds of test have full details on our Test Preparation pages.

Language Proficiency Tests Preparation Programs

Tests that show you can study or work in another language. Most scores stay valid for two years.

  • IELTSStudy, work and migration in English-speaking countries
  • TOEFL iBTUniversity admission, especially in the USA and Canada
  • PTE AcademicStudy and visas for Australia, New Zealand and the UK
  • Duolingo English TestAccepted by many universities, taken from home
  • OETNurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals
  • GermanGoethe-Zertifikat, telc and TestDaF for study and work in Germany
  • FrenchDELF, DALF, TCF and TEF for France and Canada
  • JapaneseJLPT and JFT-Basic for work and study in Japan
See each language test in detail

Standardised Tests Preparation Programs

Admission tests that let universities compare applicants from different countries and boards on one scale.

  • GREMaster's and Ph.D. programmes, mainly in the USA
  • GMATM.B.A. and business master's programmes worldwide
  • SATUndergraduate admission in the USA and other countries

Not sure which test your university or employer wants? Our test finder asks two questions and shows the tests most often required.

Find the test you need
Grow in your career

Programmes for people already at work

Four kinds of programme that are often confused with one another. They differ in who they are meant for, how long they take and what you hold at the end.

Executive Programs

Management education built around a working week, with classes on weekends, in the evenings or online, and short stays on campus.

Meant for
Graduates with a few years of work experience who want to move into management
Usual length
3 to 12 months for certificate programmes; 1 to 2 years for an Executive M.B.A. or P.G.D.M.
You finish with
A certificate from the institute's executive education wing, or a degree or diploma
Where
IIMs, IITs, universities and leading business schools

Leadership Development Programs

Training in leading teams: making decisions, handling conflict, coaching others and communicating with senior management.

Meant for
New managers, team leaders and senior professionals taking on larger roles
Usual length
A few days to 12 months, often in short modules
You finish with
A certificate of completion. The value lies in the institute's name and what you can apply at work
Where
Business schools and management institutes. Employers often sponsor these

Entrepreneurship Development Programs

Practical training in starting and running a business: testing an idea, writing a business plan, registration, finance, and government schemes for small enterprises.

Meant for
First-time founders, people joining a family business, students with an idea
Usual length
A few days to a few weeks. Postgraduate diplomas run 1 to 2 years
You finish with
A certificate, a workable business plan and knowledge of where to seek funding
Where
National institutes such as EDII, NIESBUD and ni-msme, MSME development offices and university incubation centres

Skill Development Programs

Hands-on training for a specific job, from electrician and CNC operator to data entry, retail, beauty, healthcare assistant and IT support.

Meant for
School leavers, job seekers and workers who want a recognised skill certificate
Usual length
A few weeks to a year. ITI trades take 1 to 2 years
You finish with
A certificate aligned to the national skills framework (NSQF), assessed by a Sector Skill Council or NCVET-recognised body
Where
Skill India training centres, ITIs, NSDC training partners and apprenticeships with employers
Start in India, continue abroad

Three ways to add a foreign university to your degree

These programmes split your study between an Indian institution and a partner overseas. They cost less than a full degree abroad, because part of your time is spent in India. The difference between them is how much you study abroad and whose name is on the degree.

Twinning Programs

You enrol with an Indian institution and spend part of the programme, usually a semester or a year, at its partner abroad. The credits you earn there count towards your Indian degree.

Share of total credits, under UGC's 2022 regulations.

Degree from
The Indian institution
Suits
Students who want international exposure at the lowest extra cost

Global Pathway Programs

You study the first one or two years in India on a syllabus the foreign university has agreed to recognise, then transfer abroad to complete the degree. Common patterns are 1+2, 2+2 and 1+1.

A typical 2+2 bachelor's pathway. The split depends on the agreement between the two institutions.

Degree from
The foreign university
Suits
Students who want a foreign degree but need a more affordable or gradual start

Joint Degree Programs

The Indian and the foreign institution design the curriculum together and award one degree between them. You must earn a substantial share of your credits at each.

A close relative is the dual degree, where the two institutions award two separate degrees, with at least 30 per cent of credits earned in India.

At least 30 per cent of total credits at each institution, under UGC's 2022 regulations.

Degree from
Both institutions, on a single certificate
Suits
Students who want both names on their degree and a longer period abroad

Who may offer twinning and joint degrees

  • The Indian institution needs a NAAC score of at least 3.01, or a place in the NIRF top 100 universities, or in the top 1,000 of the Times Higher Education or QS world rankings.
  • The foreign partner must be in the top 1,000 of the Times Higher Education or QS world rankings.
  • Teaching must be face to face. These programmes cannot be offered online or by distance learning.

Ask these before you pay

  • Is the agreement between the two institutions current, and can I see which credits the partner recognises?
  • What will the years abroad cost in tuition and living expenses, on top of the Indian fees?
  • What marks and language score do I need to be allowed to transfer?
  • If my visa is refused or I choose not to go, can I complete a degree in India?

A student visa for the overseas part is a separate application to that country's authorities and is never guaranteed by the programme. For the study-abroad stage, see our Study Abroad page.

Short and seasonal

Weeks, not years

Short programmes will not replace a degree. They add something specific to it: a skill, a project, a first experience of a campus or a subject.

Summer Programs

Held during the long holidays, usually for two to eight weeks, at universities in India and abroad.

Summer schools
Short taught courses on a university campus in a subject you are curious about, often with credits or a certificate.
Research internships
Six to eight weeks working with a faculty member at an IIT, IISc, a central university or a national laboratory. Selection is competitive.
International summer schools
Two to four weeks at a university overseas, a good way to test whether study abroad suits you.
Pre-college programmes
For school students in Classes 9 to 12 who want to try design, coding, law, science or business before choosing a stream.

Short-term Certifications

Focused courses that teach one employable skill, lasting from a few weeks to about six months, online or in a classroom.

Technology
Programming, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cyber security, web development.
Business and finance
Digital marketing, accounting software and GST, financial modelling, project management, human resources.
Languages and communication
Spoken English, business communication, and foreign languages such as German, French and Japanese.
Industry and vendor certificates
Certificates set by technology companies and professional bodies, and tested by examination.

Choosing well: the name on the certificate matters. A certificate from a university, a national institute or a recognised industry body carries more weight with employers than one from an unknown provider.

Four questions to ask about any programme on this page

The programmes here are less tightly regulated than regular degrees, so it pays to ask more questions. These are the ones we ask on your behalf.

Who awards it?

A university, a government body, a professional institution, a company or a private trainer. The answer decides almost everything else.

Who accepts it?

The employer, university or authority you have in mind. Acceptance by one does not mean acceptance by all.

What does it lead to?

A job, a promotion, admission to a higher course, or simply knowledge. All are good reasons, as long as you know which one applies.

What does it cost in full?

Fees, examination charges, study material, travel and, for international routes, the cost of living abroad.

Questions students ask us

Are the free online courses really free?

Yes. On SWAYAM and NPTEL you can enrol, watch every lecture and complete the assignments without paying. A fee applies only if you want a certificate, because that requires a supervised examination at a test centre.

Will a SWAYAM certificate count towards my degree?

It can. UGC permits universities to accept SWAYAM courses for up to 40 per cent of a programme's credits, but each university chooses which courses it recognises. Check with your college before the course begins.

Is AMIIE the same as a B.Tech.?

No. AMIIE is a membership qualification awarded by a professional institution, and a B.Tech. is a degree awarded by a university. IIE describes AMIIE as degree-level, and some private employers treat it that way, but government departments, universities and overseas authorities apply their own rules. Ask the organisation that matters to you before you enrol.

Is a qualification earned through private study valid?

That depends on the university, the programme and what you need it for. An award is only as good as the university that issues it and the recognition that programme holds. Tell us your purpose, and we will check before you register.

What is the difference between a twinning programme and a joint degree?

In a twinning programme you earn up to 30 per cent of your credits abroad, and the Indian institution alone awards the degree. In a joint degree you earn at least 30 per cent of your credits at each institution, and both names appear on one certificate.

Can I do a twinning or joint degree programme online?

No. UGC requires these programmes to be taught face to face, in India and at the partner institution abroad.

I work full-time. Which of these can I realistically complete?

Free online courses, membership examinations, private study, executive programmes and short-term certifications are all designed to fit around a job. Use the "Working full-time" option in the finder at the top of this page to see them together.

I cannot find what I am looking for. Can you still help?

Very likely. This page covers the options we are asked about most often, not every one that exists. Call us or send the form below and tell us what you have in mind.

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