One of the first universities to give the general public remote access to education is Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). Its primary goals when it was founded in May 1974 were to give everyone access to education and to support those unable to leave their homes or places of employment. The university has given working people access to education and placed girls right at their doorstep. With its innovative approach to professional, scientific, and technological education, AIOU is reaching out to even the most remote regions of Pakistan. British Prime Minister Harold Wilson first proposed the concept of distance education in the UK in the late 1960s. He believed that people who may have missed out on a better education because of an early job must be given the chance to further their education if they want to improve their knowledge and abilities in their free time during the nights at home.
When the AIOU was founded in 1974, it was the first Open University in Asia and Africa and the second globally. Thanks to it, millions of working people now have more opportunities, and it has grown into one of Pakistan’s leading educational institutions since then. The institution offers remote learning, which has given millions of people women in particular new options and systematically augmented the efforts of the federal and provincial governments without placing an undue strain on their resources. AIOU offers Master’s, MPhil, and PhD programs to develop professionals and enhance research capabilities in teaching and research institutions. The university has a well-established Institute of Educational Technology (IET) having in-house facilities for the production of TV, Radio, and non-broadcast programs.
Mission:
The university’s exclusive concentration is on raising the percentage of female literacy in the nation so that women may carry out their essential role in the process of advancement and development of the nation. The university makes special efforts for the poor and disenfranchised members of society to both empower them economically and reduce poverty in the nation.
Vision:
The largest distance-learning university in Asia, Allama Iqbal Open University, principally focuses on meeting the educational demands of the general public by blending geographical and temporal borders and offering high-quality instruction at everyone’s doorstep. Presently, the university provides exceptional educational possibilities in a wide range of exciting programs from enrollment to the doctorate to a staggering 1 million students.
Programs Offered:
Bachelor Programmes:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following Bachelor programs:
- BS Chemistry
- BS (Arabic)
- BS Islamic Studies(Quran And Tafseer)
- BS Islamic Studies(Shariah)
- BS Islamic Studies (General)
- BS Islamic Studies(hadith & Hadith Sciences)
- Bachelor of Dars-e-Nizami
- BS Instructional Design and Technology Program
- Bachelor in Mass Communication
- BS (Accounting & Finance)
- BS (Library and Information Sciences)
- BS (English)
- BS (Microbiology) 4 Years
- BS (Computer Science)
- BS Physics (4 Years)
- BS in Stat. (4 Years)
- BS (Environmental Sciences)
- BS Math(4 Years)
- BS Gender & Women Studies
- BS Urdu
- BS Mass Communication
- BS Economics
- BS Biochemistry 4 years
- BS ISLAMIC STUDIES (SPECIALIZATION IN SEERAT STUDIES)
- BS Islamic Studies (Specialization in Dars-e-Nizami)
- BS (4 years) Pakistan Studies
- BS Islamic Studies (Specialization in Dars-e-Nizami) for International Students
- BS Accounting & Finance (2.5 Years)
Masters Programmes:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following Masters programmes:
- MA Arabic
- MA Islamic Studies (Quran & Tafseer)
- MA Islamic Studies
- MA Hadith & Seerah
- MEd (DNFE)
- MA Education (DNFE)
- MEd In Science Education
- MEd Education
- MA Education
- Master of Arts (MA) Special Education
- MEd in Elementary Teacher Education (ETE)
- MEd In Special Education
- MSc Television Production Program
- MSc Mass Communication
- Master in Commerce (MCom)
- MA Urdu
- Master in Library and Information Sciences (MLIS)
- MSc Gender & Women Studies
- MA Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
- MBA 3-1/2 Human Resource Management (HRM)
- MBA 3-1/2 Banking and Finance (B&F)
- MBA 3-1/2 Marketing
- MBA 2-1/2 Information Technology (IT)
- MBA 2-1/2 Banking and Finance (B&F)
- MBA 2-1/2 Marketing
- MBA 3-1/2 Information Technology (IT)
- MBA Executive (Common Wealth Col. MBA/MPA)
- MBA 3-1/2 Rural Management
- MBA 2-1/2 Human Resource Management (HRM)
- MSc Sociology
- MSc Economics
- MSc Chemistry
- MSc Microbiology
- MSc Botany
- MSc Physics
- MSc Forestry Extension
- MSc (Hons) Agricultural Extension
- MSc (Hons) Livestock Management
- MSc (Hons) Rural Development
- MA History
- MSc Pakistan Studies
- MSc Statistics
- MSc Sustainable Environmental Design
- MSc Public Nutrition
- MSc Environmental Sciences
- MSc Mathematics
- MEd with Specialization in Elementary Teacher Education
MPhil / MS Programmes:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following MPhil / Ms programmes:
- MPhil Arabic
- Mphil Islamic Studies (Quran & Tafseer)
- Ms Shariah
- MPhil Islamic Studies (General)
- MPhil Education (Specialization in Distance and Non-formal Education-DNFE)
- MPhil Science Education
- MPhil Educational Planning & Management (EPM)
- MPhil (Education) ETE
- MPhil Teacher Education
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Special Education
- MPhil Mass Communication
- MPhil Iqbal Studies
- MPhil Urdu
- MPhil in Pakistani Languages and Literature
- MS Management Sciences
- MPhil Economics
- MPhil Chemistry
- MS (Computer Science)
- MPhil Physics
- MPhil History
- MPhil Pakistan Studies
- MPhil Statistics
- MS Environmental Design (Old Scheme For Continuing Students)
- MS Environmental Design (Revised Scheme For Fresh Admissions)
- MS Community Health & Nutrition (Revised Scheme)
- MS Community Health & Nutrition
- MPhil Math
- MPhil Education (Specialization In Elementary Teacher Education)
- M.Phil. Islamic Studies (specialization in Seerat Studies)
- MPhil Educational Leadership and Management (ELM)
- MS Commerce
- MPhil (Library and Information Sciences)
- MPhil English (Literatures)
- MPhil English (Linguistics)
Ph.D. Programmes:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following Ph.D. programs:
- PhD Islamic Studies (Quran & Tafseer)
- Ph.D. Shariah
- PhD Islamic Studies (General)
- PhD Islamic Studies
- PhD Education (Specialization in Distance and Non-formal Education)
- PhD (Education) with specialization in Science Education
- Ph.D. EPM
- PhD Teacher Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Special Education
- PhD Mass Communication
- Ph.D. Iqbal Studies
- Ph.D. Urdu
- PhD in Pakistani Languages and Literature (MPhil Based)
- PhD English (Linguistics)
- PhD (Business Administration)
- Ph.D. Chemistry
- Ph.D. Physics
- PhD in Agricultural Extension
- Ph.D. Statistics
- PhD (Food & Nut)
- Ph.D. History
- PhD Education (Specialization in Elementary Teacher Education)
- Ph.D. Islamic Studies (specialization in Seerat Studies)
- PhD Arabic (MPhil/MS Based)
- PhD Library and Information Sciences
- PhD (Computer Science)
- Ph.D. Mathematics
Step-certificate-courses:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following STEP / Certificate programs:
- Al Lisan Ur Arabi
- Arabi Bol Chal
- Lughatul Quran
- Arabic Teacher Training Course (ATTC)
- STEP (Management Science)
- STEP (Social Science)
- STEP (Community Education)
- STEP (Agricultural Sciences)
- STEP (Hotel Services)
- Certificate in Librarianship (CLS)
- Agricultural Courses
- STUDY OF SEERAT AL-NABI ﷺ” (Seerat Diploma Course)
- Certificate Course “STUDY OF SEERAT AL-NABI ﷺ”
Secondary-school-certificate:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following Secondary School Certificate programs:
- Matric (Dars e Nizami)
- Secondary School Certificate (Matric)
Higher Secondary School Certificate:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following Higher Secondary Certificate programs:
- Higher Secondary School Certificate (Dars-E-Nazami Group)
- Higher Secondary School Certificate in Commerce (ICom)
- Higher Secondary School Certificate (General Group)
B.Ed Programmes:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following B.Ed programmes:
- B.Ed Elementary Teacher Education
- B.Ed (1.5 Years)
- B.Ed (2.5 Years)
- B.Ed Secondary Teacher Education (4 Years)
- B.Ed (4 years) Elementary Teacher Education
- B.Ed (4 years) Specialization in Science Education
- B.Ed (Science Education) 2.5 YEARS
- B.Ed (4-Years) SLM
- B.Ed (1.5 Years) ELM
- B.Ed (4 years) Secondary Teacher Education
Post-graduate-diploma:
Allama Iqbal Open University offers the following Post Graduate Diploma programs:
- PGD in Early Childhood Education (PGD ECE)
- PGD in ELM
- PGD in EPM
- PGD Mass Comm
- PGD in Gender & Women Studies
- PGD in Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
- PGD in HRM
- PGD in (Criminology)
- PGD in Population & Development
- PGD (Computer Science)
- PGD in Environmental Design (For Dropout/Continuing Students)
- PGD in Dietetics for Dietitians (For Dropout/Continuing Students)
- PGD in Nutrition for Physicians (For Dropout/Continuing Students)
Admission Process & Eligibility Criteria:
For further details click here.
Online Apply:
For online application click here.
- The last date to apply online for the AIOU Admission 2024 for Matric & F.A. Programs is February 20, 2024.
- The last date to apply online for the AIOU Admission 2024 for BS/MPhil/PhD Programs is February 15, 2024.
- The last date to apply online for the AIOU Admission 2024 for Matric, F.A & I. Com Programs is March 05, 2024.
Fee Structure:
For further details click here.
Offered Scholarships:
Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) offers various scholarships to its students. Some of the scholarships offered by AIOU are:
1. Need-based scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students who are financially weak and cannot afford their education expenses. Students must be eligible for need-based scholarships to avail of this scholarship.
2. Merit-based scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance.
3. Scholarships for orphans: This scholarship is specifically for orphans.
4. Fee concession for poor and deserving students: AIOU provides admission fee concessions to poor and deserving students enrolled in the spring semester of 2023.
For further details click here.
Contact Information:
Address: Directorate of Students Advisory & Counselling Services, Gateway Block,Ground Floor, Allama Iqbal Open University, Sector H-8, Islamabad-44000
Phone # (051) 111-112-468
Website: http://support.aiou.edu.pk