What is DU SOL?

The Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL) was established by The University of Delhi in 1962 and was previously known as The School of Correspondence Courses and Counting Education. The School offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a range of disciplines.

Students who enroll in SOL are not required to attend classes like regular DU students but instead participate in classes on weekends at the study centers assigned to them. DU SOL offers an alternative for students who have not been accepted into regular colleges at Delhi University. 

DU SOL admissions begin in June every year. Students can obtain the application form and prospectus from the North Delhi Campus Main Center or the South Campus Study Center in Moti Bagh, New Delhi. The application form for undergraduate programs is also available online at the DU SOL official website. 

It is one of the best schools for students interested in distance education. With the transition to technology-based student support, the university provides admissions cards with QR codes, demand letters, examination forms, and mark sheets online. The school also helps students by allowing them to download fee receipts, identity cards, etc., from its official website. 

DU SOL has taken initiatives to develop flipped-classroom technology by emphasizing audio-visual teaching-learning coupled with skill-based experiential learning in different study centers and providing open access to all audio lectures, video lectures, texts, and study material. The School has launched a Learning Management System (LMS) with a user-friendly Online Dashboard. 

Perks of DU SOL

Through open learning, education becomes more affordable, accessible, and desirable to people of all walks of life, leading to its democratization. It also allows students to learn about new businesses before committing to more traditional and expensive degrees. Students graduating from open schools have more opportunities to reflect on during their career development process and prepare for competitive exams. Students who enroll in open learning institutions have more time and energy to develop innovative ways to obtain a new skill. Homemakers, mothers, and others who have given up on their dreams of earning a degree for various reasons have a chance to pursue them again through DU SOL. Open learning eliminates geographical limitations, thus, students can study from home without worrying about attendance requirements. 

DU SOL – A Place for Everyone 

DU SOL enables students to enroll in remote courses that do not need them to attend daily lectures. On the other hand, other DU institutions do not work in this approach, as students are required to maintain a minimum attendance percentage to be eligible for examinations. 

The School of Learning (SOL) is known for supporting students who cannot register in a traditional school.Students are often unable to attend college due to geographical limitations or a lack of proper infrastructure. Thus, DU SOL benefits those who want to resume their studies. 

It enables people to start something new or advance in their careers. Many people opt for DU SOL over the traditional college system to obtain a degree as a backup plan for their future.

Attendance requirements in DU SOL are not mandatory, and an annual exams can be quickly completed. DU SOL classes are scheduled over the weekends or vacations to avoid disrupting the student’s everyday routine. The school provides study resources to its students, and examination questions are based on the study material.

DU SOL Courses

DU SOL UG Courses 2022

Course	Duration
BA (Hons) English	3 years
B.A Programmes	3 years
B.A (Hons) Political Science	3 years
B.Com	3 years
B.Com (Hons)	3 years

DU SOL PG Courses 2022

Course	Duration
M.Com	2 years
M.A History	2 years
M.A Hindi	2 years
M.A Sanskrit	2 years
M.A Political Science	2 years

DU SOL Courses – Short Term

Program	Duration
Sports and Event Management	3 to 6 months
Advertising and Marketing Communication	6 months
Learning Languages	1 year
Television & Web Journalism and Photography	3 to 6 months
Mass Communication	6 months
Media Studies	6 months
Tourism and Travel Management	3 to 6 months
Banking and Financial Service	6 months
Hindi Journalism	6 months
Computer Based Courses	2 months
Acting and Filmmaking	3 months

DU SOL – Eligibility Criteria 

Course	Eligibility
B.A. Programmes	General Candidates – 40% or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects.  OBC Candidates – 36% or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects.  SC/ST Candidates – A pass in 10+2 is required or an equivalent qualifying exam.
B.A. (Hons.) Political Science	General Candidates – 50% marks in aggregate or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams with 1 language and 3 academic subjects (vocational subjects not allowed).  OBC Candidates – 45% marks in aggregate or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams with 1 language and 3 academic subjects(vocational subjects not allowed). PwD Candidates – 47.5% marks in aggregate or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams with 1 language (only English) and 3 academic subjects (vocational subjects not allowed). SC/ST Candidates – A minimum pass in 10+2 is required along with 1 language (only English) and 3 academic subjects (vocational subjects not allowed).
B.A. (Hons.) English	General Candidates – 65% marks in aggregate or above required in 10+2 exams and 75% marks in English or 65% marks in Elective/Functional English provided a candidate has appeared in a paper in the subject of English carrying a credit of 100 marks along with 1 language & 3 academic subjects (vocational stream is not allowed).  OBC Candidates – 58.5% marks in aggregate or above required in 10+2 exams and 67.5% marks in English or 58.5% marks in Elective/Functional English provided a candidate has appeared in a paper in the subject of English carrying a credit of 100 marks along with 1 language & 3 academic subjects (vocational stream is not allowed).  PwD Candidates – 61.75% marks in aggregate or above required in 10+2 exams and 71.25% marks in English or 61.75% marks in Elective/Functional English provided a candidate has appeared in a paper in the subject of English carrying a credit of 100 marks along with 1 language & 3 academic subjects (vocational stream is not allowed).  SC/ST Candidates – A minimum pass in 10+2 is required along with 1 language (only English) and 3 academic subjects.
B.Com Programme	General Candidates – 40% or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects.  OBC Candidates – 36% or above required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects.  SC/ST Candidates – A pass in 10+2 is required or an equivalent qualifying exam.
B.Com (Hons.) Commerce	General Candidates – 55% or above in aggregate required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects and 60% or above in aggregate required in vocation stream in the qualifying exam.   OBC Candidates – 49.5% or above in aggregate required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects and 54% or above in aggregate required in vocation stream in the qualifying exam.  PwD Candidates – 42.5% or above in aggregate required in 10+2 exams or equivalent qualifying exams in the best 5 subjects and 60% or above in aggregate required in vocation stream in the qualifying exam.  SC/ST Candidates – A pass in 10+2 is required or an equivalent qualifying exam.
M.A. History	B.A. (Hons.) pass in History from Delhi University with 60% marks or above. For admission through entrance based, the following criteria are required – (i) B.A. (Hons.) History from the DU with 50% marks and less than 60%. (ii) B.A. (Hons.) History other than DU with 55% marks. (iii) B.A. (Pass) from DU with 55% or above marks and 55% in History. (iv) B.A. (Pass) from other universities than DU with 60% or above marks in aggregate. (v) B.A. (Hons.) in any subject except History from other universities and DU with 55% or above in the aggregate. (vi) B.Sc (Pass/Hons.), B.Com. (Pass/Hons) from other universities or DU with an aggregate 60% or above marks. (vii) Master’s degree in other than history subject from DU or recognized university with 65% marks in M.Com or M.Sc or with 55% marks in M.A. in social sciences or humanities.
M.A. Political Science	B.A. (Hons.) Political Science from Delhi University with 60% marks or above in honors.  For admission through entrance based, the following criteria are required – (i) B.A. (Hons.) Political Science from DU with 50% marks and above. (ii) B.A. (Hons.) Political Science other than DU with 55% marks or above. (iii) B.A. (Programme) from DU with 55% or above marks having political science subject with minimum 50% marks in Political Science. (iv) B.A. (Pass) from other universities than DU with 60% in aggregate and having Political Science as one of the subjects with a minimum of 60% marks in Political Science. (v) B.A. (Hons.) in Humanities and Social Sciences including L.L.B. / Journalism and Mass Communication / Education/ Sociology/ History/ Geography/ Literature/ English/ Modern Indian Languages/ Philosophy/ Psychology/ B.El.Ed. from DU with 55% or above marks in the aggregate. (vi) B.Sc. (Pass/Hons.), B.Sc Applied Sciences from DU with 70% marks, and B.Com. (Pass/Hons.) from DU with 75% or above marks in aggregate. (vii) B.Sc. (Pass/Hons.), B.Sc Applied Sciences from other universities with 75% marks, and B.Com. (Pass/Hons.) from other universities with 80% marks in aggregate. (viii) Master’s degree in other than Political Science subject from DU or recognized university with 70% marks in M.Sc or M.Com with 75% and 55% marks in M.A. Social Sciences or Humanities. (ix) B.A. (Hons.) in Humanities and Social Sciences including L.L.B. / Journalism and Mass Communication / Education/ Sociology/ History/ Geography/ Literature/ English/ Modern Indian Languages/ Philosophy/ Psychology/ B.El.Ed. from other universities with 60% or above marks in the aggregate.
M.A. Hindi	Minimum passing mark in bachelor’s degrees.
M.Com	The criteria for admission through an entrance, cum merit-based, is as follows – (i) Pass in B.Com (Hons.) from DU or other universities equivalent to DU with a minimum of 50% marks. (ii) Pass in B.Com (General) from DU or other universities equivalent to DU with a minimum of 55% marks. (iii) Pass in B.A. (Hons.) Economics from DU or any university equivalent to DU with a minimum of 50% marks. (iv) B.B.S., B.B.A., B.B.E., AND B.I.F.A. from DU or any university with 60% marks.

DU SOL Admissions

Students are admitted to the various undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by DU SOL on a merit-based basis, with their documents subject to verification and seats allocated according to the multiple cut-off lists published during the admission cycle.

Students can submit their application for all of the courses by following the process outlined below: 

1. Register on DU SOL’s official website – https://sol.du.ac.in/
2. Log in and complete the online application with the required information.
3. Attach the supporting documents and then click the submit button.
4. The application form needs to be saved after paying the registration fees.
5. Print the fee payment invoice and the DU SOL Student Identity card.
6. Visit the designated SOL center for document verification, 

DU SOL Documents Required for Admission 

1. Completed application form
2. Bank draft for admission confirmation fees
3. 2 recently clicked  passport-size photographs (1 for the Application Form and 1 for Student Identity Card)
4. Self-attested photocopies of passing certificates for Class 10 and Class 12
5. Original Transfer Certificate 
6. Self-attested photocopy of Reserve Category Certificate of the candidate, if applicable. 
7. Original Income Certificate (BPL Ration Card)
8. Disability certificate, if applicable
9. Aadhaar Card

DU SOL Fees

DU SOL Application Fee 2022

Candidates can pay the DU SOL 2022 application fee online or offline. The application fee can be paid using a debit card, credit card, or internet banking through an online payment gateway. Candidates from the reserved categories can pay the application fee in cash at the DU SOL counter. The admission fee for NHE and FSR candidates must be paid by demand draft at any nationalized bank made payable to the Executive Director, School of Open Learning, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, Delhi, India.

Category	Application Fee (₹)
Unreserved/OBC	500
SC/ST/PWD	250

DU SOL UG Course Fees

Name of Programs	Subjects	Course Fee (Per Year)
Category A (students residing in India)	Category B (students residing abroad)	Category C (Indian Nationals residing abroad)	Category D (PWD)
B.A. Program	Education, English, Hindi, History, Economics, Urdu, Mathematics, Nutrition and Health Education, Political Science, Sanskrit, Tamil, Punjabi.	₹ 3430	₹ 3230	₹ 10730	₹ 65
B.Com	Commerce	₹ 3530	₹ 3330	₹ 10830	₹ 65
B.Com (Hons.)	Commerce	₹ 3830	₹ 3630	₹ 11130	₹ 65
B.A. (Hons.)	English	₹ 3530	₹ 3330	₹ 10830	₹ 65
B.A. (Hons.)	Political Science	₹ 3630	₹ 3430	₹ 10930	₹ 65

DU SOL PG Course Fees

Name of Program	Subjects	Course Fee (Per Year)
Category A (students residing in India)	Category B (students residing abroad)	Category C (Indian Nationals residing abroad)	Category D (PWD)
M.A.	Sanskrit	₹ 4990	₹ 4490	₹ 13490	₹ 75
History	₹ 4990	₹ 4490	₹ 13490	₹ 75
Political Science	₹ 4990	₹ 4490	₹ 13490	₹ 75
Hindi	₹ 4990	₹ 4490	₹ 13490	₹ 75
M.Com	Commerce	₹ 5140	₹ 4640	₹ 13460	₹ 75

DU SOL Reservations 2022

• Due to DU SOL reservation policies, only SC/ST candidates are eligible to fill the seats reserved exclusively for them. If no seats are available for qualifying candidates from the aforementioned group, the seat exchange rules between ST and SC shall apply. If few seats remain unfilled, they will be considered vacant seats.
• Similarly, only applicants belonging to the OBC group are eligible to occupy the reserved seats. The university guideline states that if candidates in this category do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, their seats will be converted into general category seats.
• All foreign national candidates wishing to apply for admission to any course must register with the Foreign Students Registry. It is important to note that no college will enroll international students directly. 

The following table shows the reserved category seats for DU SOL as per Delhi University guidelines:

Category	Percentage of seats
Scheduled Caste	15% of the net intake of candidates in each course
Scheduled Tribe	7.5% of the net intake of seats in each course
Other Backward Classes	27% of the net intake of seats in each course
Sports/ECA Persons	5% of the net intake of seats in each course
Foreign Nationals	5% seats in the first year of each course
Persons with Disabilities (PWD)	5% seats intake as per the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017
Widows/Children of the eligible Armed Forces Personnel (CW)	5% of the seat intake for each course

Life of DU SOL Students

Here are 8 things that only DU SOL students can experience – 

1. Room for Ample Flexibility – Students prefer admission to the DU SOL because they are not restricted to a classroom. Students can study anywhere, at a suitable time. Additionally, students feel good being in DU SOL when they see the students of regular DU colleges get irritated by their college rules and examination process.

2. Students can earn while they learn – For students with talent and passion, the DU SOL offers them plenty of opportunities to pursue their passions and dreams.

4. Helpline Service Is Not Good – There is only a tiny chance that the Helpline Service will pick up the call. Students have to visit the DU SOL campus for doubts and information.

5. Miss The Regular College Life – DU SOL students miss the regular college life whenever they desire to participate in regular college activities, visit the typical hangout spots, and be a member of happening college clubs, committees & societies. However, they can attend every fest & annual function of any Delhi University college by showing their identity card. 

6. Book Bank (Library) – The DU SOL Book Bank provides books to underprivileged students. Furthermore, students are not required to return books immediately. Instead, they may deposit them after completing their exams.

7. No Gaps Between Exams – SOL does not offer gaps between exams and sometimes schedules exams on Sunday. Exams are held in the evening shift. As a result, students don’t have time to revise appropriately for the next day’s exam.

8. Exams Center Too Far – The exam center is always too far from residential areas. This is not a significant problem for honors students as their exams are held in the morning, but the students of other programs face difficulties reaching the exam hall in time as their exams are held in the evening.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Being a Student at DU SOL 

Here’s why students might want to consider pursuing higher education at DU SOL – along with the pros and cons.

Advantages of School of Open Learning (DU SOL)

1. Correct utilization of extra time – While the regular college students have to attend classes, class tests, and semester exams, the SOL students have the benefit of utilizing their time to pursue professional courses like CA and prepare for Competitive Exams like Banking, SSC, and Defence. Aspirants for government jobs generally opt for distance learning and concentrate on preparing for these competitive exams.

2. Self Appraisal – Students enrolled in a distance education program must prepare for exams and assignments on their own. Although they have access to teachers at study centers, they must become more self-reliant to cover the syllabus and pass the exams, enhancing their academic skills.

3. Focus on skill development – To develop interpersonal skills, students may enroll themselves in language or vocational courses. A successful career and employability will be enhanced with these additional skills. 

4. No worries about attendance – Regular degree students are required to meet the minimum attendance requirements, whereas there are no such requirements for the SOL students. Students pursuing courses at DU SOL are not mandatorily required to attend classes. 

5. No bi-annual exams – DU SOL students do not need to write exams every semester like regular college students because the school conducts annual exams. 

6. SOL Degree value Equivalent to Regular Degree – Employers generally don’t check whether a student earned a regular degree or an equivalent distance degree. Recruiters hire students based on their skills, abilities, and academic record.

7. Low percentage in Class 12, take admission in SOL without wasting a year – 

The candidate must obtain the necessary cut-off percentages to be admitted to a traditional program at DU. Every year, the cut-off goes exceptionally high due to a large number of applicants. Hence, DU SOL serves as an alternative for students who are unable to enroll in regular degree programs but wish to pursue higher education at Delhi University. 

Disadvantages of School of Open Learning (DU SOL)

1. No regular college life – Distance learners are unable to enjoy the perks of a regular college experience. DU SOL students often cannot actively participate in annual fests, college events, or activities like regular degree students.

2. No mentors – DU SOL students are not provided assistance from college faculty, and they will be expected to study independently.

3. Lack of career direction – Students enrolled in various programs at DU SOL generally work part-time jobs or prepare for various competitive exams. The lack of discipline due to a lack of regular college life prevents them from receiving the guidance and direction they need to reach their goals.

4. Lack of Interpersonal Skills – Interactions with classmates, faculty, and participation in campus events and activities enable students to develop interpersonal skills. Students in the DU SOL program are unable to develop these skills or people management skills due to the distance programs.

5. High Unemployment Rate due to lack of additional skills – Regular degree students have a plethora of opportunities but students pursuing degrees in distance mode lack interpersonal skills due to a lack of such opportunities, which further limits their chances of getting excellent job opportunities. 

Conclusion 

When considering higher education at DU SOL, prospective students should evaluate the above factors prior to enrolling. Additionally, they are advised to develop additional skills through vocational or other professional courses.

DU SOL Online classes

Students can join their DU SOL Online Classes at their convenience. Students must log in to their profiles on the official portal to participate in online classes.

DU SOL offers quality education to students who cannot attend regular classes. They are not required to attend offline classes, but attend classes online from the comfort of their homes and can access the schedule for their classes on the official website.

DU SOL Online Classes Schedule 2021

Students can choose which classes to attend based on the information provided in the DU SOL online Classes Schedule available on the website’s homepage. Students can also find this schedule through the student dashboard when logging in for their online classes.

The timetable provides students with the following information regarding DU SOL online classes.

• The date of the online classes
• Course catalog from which they need to choose their preferred courses 
• Year or Semester that they belong to
• The subject for which they wish to get the classes timings
• For each class, a schedule is provided along with the faculty in charge
• Finally, the online class login link is given.

DU SOL Online Classes Login

The official portal of DU SOL offers a platform where the students get notifications, mark sheets, placements, and information regarding online classes. By navigating to the page of online classes, students can choose a class for their specific subject. The Student Dashboard will contain login credentials of MS Teams for students accessing the course for the first time.

Online Classes through DU SOL Dashboard

Once students receive their Teams login and password, they can log in and attend classes via the DU SOL Online Portal by following the steps mentioned below – 

Step 1 – Go to the official website at https://web.sol.du.ac.in/home.

Step 2 – On the homepage, click on Student Dashboard.

Step 3 – To access the dashboard, students should enter their DU SOL roll number and barcode on the login page. 

Step 4 – Students will locate the Microsoft Team login id and password below the link to access the online classes on the page that opens.

Step 5 – Students will discover a link to download the Teams app if they do not already have it. 

Step 6 – After downloading the app via the link, students can return to the page and click on Online Class and Schedules to get started.

Step 7 – Select the subject and click the link to join.

Step 8 – Sign into Microsoft Teams using the login id and password, and navigate to the student profile.

The online class page will be displayed, and students can start their classes.

Benefits of DU SOL Online Classes

The DU SOL Online Classes provide several advantages to students. The following are some of the most typical advantages students gain from DU SOL online classes. 

Classes at Convenient Location

During pandemic situations, many students are hesitant to attend classes physically with other students. These students may study from the convenience of their own homes by taking online classes. It is also beneficial for working professionals to take online classes because they cannot attend regular classes. They may select an online class that fits their schedule and attend it whenever convenient. 

Device Flexibility

Not everyone has a desktop. Thus, the portal is compatible with all devices such as desktops, smartphones, and others. The Teams application is also available for smartphones, desktops, and other devices. Thus, students may begin and continue their online classes using any device. 

DU SOL Placements 

Delhi University’s School of Open Learning has established a placement cell for the benefit of its students with effect from September 4, 2018. The cell addresses the need to find a suitable placement after completing their courses. The Placement Cell at DU SOL offers students access to a fully functional website, which provides them with the latest information about job vacancies. Students are also updated about the latest placement activities via SMS, notifications, and links on the DU SOL portal. 

Career prospects after DU SOL

A student’s primary concern when considering a distance education degree is the degree’s value regarding employment prospects. From the perspective of a student, the worth of a degree is directly proportionate to its return on investment (ROI), which for the majority of students translates to favorable job placement following graduation.

Distance education offers good ROI

Statistics and surveys indicate that distance education still has a long way to go and achieve in terms of job placements after graduation. While distance education from DU SOL offers job opportunities, they may pale in comparison to those offered to Delhi University graduates. Nevertheless, distance learning degrees don’t fare too badly from a ROI perspective. Considering the affordable and cost-effective distance learning programs offered by DU SOL, the placements provided by them are good returns on the investment put in by students.

Working professionals can climb the corporate latter as they get benefit from the different specialized online programs available at DU SOL. Distance learning is among the most effective means to add a degree, skill set, or competence to one’s resume.  There are many universities in India that offer distance and online degrees, certificates, and diplomas that can lead to employment and possible professional growth after completing distance education.

Distance education for freshers vs. working professionals

The majority of distance education candidates are working professionals who wish to continue their education or upgrade their skills in order to promote their career. However, it is unrealistic to expect that a fresher armed with a distance learning degree will get hired by top companies right away. 

University placement cells can help with job placement

Distance education universities have now established placement cells that help place their students in reputed multinational companies, government jobs and non governmental organizations (NGOs). Registered students are provided employment counseling, job placement assistance, and even self-employment assistance from these placement cells.

Students of the DU SOL also benefit from the placement services received from the Delhi University’s  Central Placement Cell. Students pursuing distance education from SOL and regular programs from other colleges at Delhi University are treated at par and offered the same services by the CPC.

DEB accredited distance learning courses

The Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of the UGC states in its norms and guidelines that all distance education courses recognized by DEB are automatically recognized for employment in national government posts and services. Therefore, students should ensure that the course they intend to take is recognized and approved by the UGC before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions