Registrations go online

Speaking to the media at OU campus here on Monday, OU Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

S Satyanayarana said that for the first time applications have been introduced for applying for OUCET. “We receive thousands of applications on the final day of submission and to crack whip on the middlemen, online mode has been introduced. As internet connectivity is available in every village, it will be convenient for candidates to apply and they needn’t come to the university. Moreover, it helps in capturing the data easily with the online mode,” the VC said.

There is no offline mode of submission; the candidates should apply online only. “Like Dr B R Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) Andhra Pradesh State Eligibility Test (APSET), OU distance education (Prof G Ram Reddy Centre for Distance Education), will also introduce online submission of applications from the next year,” Satyanarayana said.

The notification will be released on today (April 8) and last date to register online without late fee is May 9. Candidates can register at www.ouadmissions.com and www.osmania.ac.in.

Students can also apply with late fee of Rs 250 till May 16.

Applicants can pay the registration of Rs 350 through AP Online, net banking etc. “For one subject the examination fee is Rs 350 and for an additional subject, Rs 200 would be charged. There is no limit on the number registrations. The exams will be held in Hyderabad centres only,” the VC informed.

The entrance tests to start from May 30. Candidates can download hall tickets from the websites. The results will be announced in the third week of June and counselling will commence in the first week of July.

The admissions will be for PG, PG diplomas and five year integrated courses offered by OU, Telangana University, Mahatma Gandhi University and Palamuru University for a total of 52 courses. Of 52 courses, 39 are PG, 10 PG diploma and three five year integrated programmes. There are 18,625 seats of which 4,867 are in the university colleges and remaining 13,758 are in affiliated colleges. To prevent malpractices, test booklets with A and B series have been introduced. To avoid impersonation left hand thumb impression of the candidate will be taken on nominal rolls/photo identity sheets.

“This year, a total 120 more seats with 40 each in MA economics, chemistry, library science and English were added to the Jogipet College,” the VC added.

On the enrollment in the higher education, Prof. Satyanarayana said that the university receives more applications in subjects like chemistry, mathematics and commerce and fewer for social sciences subjects. “The demand for the social sciences went down as number students taking up at graduation level declined. Not just in social sciences, seats in life sciences remained vacant in few district PG colleges. On other hand, there is a need to increase enrollment ratio, at PG level self financing seats remain vacant, despite fee reimbursement,” the VC said.

“When compared with the university’s science courses, the social science courses receive fewer applications, but when compared with other state and central universities the demand for an art’s seat is much higher in OU,” said Pratap Reddy, registrar, OU.

When asked about state bifurcation, the VC said that, it won’t have much impact on the entrance exam as most students focus on university campus and constituent colleges. “There is demand for seats in the campus and constituent colleges and students are not willing to join the private colleges outside Hyderabad because of lack of faculty, hostels and infrastructure,” Satyanarayana added.

On the Narsapur centre, the VC said that government hadn’t sanctioned budget yet.