Madras University Distance Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, lists fees for 14 programmes. The cheapest is Certificate Courses at ₹5,550, and the most expensive is Master of Science at ₹30,850. Every figure below is for the whole course, not one year — that single distinction causes more confusion than anything else on a fees page.
What Madras University Distance Education charges
Here is the full list. Where a programme shows a range, the fee depends on the specialisation or category you fall into.
| Programme | Duration | Tuition | Hostel & mess | Total course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | 3 years | ₹16,710 | — | ₹16,710–₹25,410 |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts | 3 years | ₹25,410 | — | ₹25,410 |
| Master of Arts | 2 years | ₹13,350 | — | ₹13,350–₹30,850 |
| Master in fine arts | 2 years | ₹30,850 | — | ₹30,850 |
| Bachelor of Commerce | 3 years | ₹19,650 | — | ₹19,650–₹21,750 |
| Master of commerce | 2 years | ₹13,350 | — | ₹13,350 |
| Bachelor in Computer Applications | 3 years | ₹27,510 | — | ₹27,510 |
| Master in Computer Applications | 2 years | ₹34,550 | — | ₹34,550 |
| Bachelor of Science | 3 years | ₹20,010 | — | ₹20,010–₹27,510 |
| Master of Science | 2 years | ₹15,350 | — | ₹15,350–₹30,850 |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | 3 years | ₹19,710 | — | ₹19,710 |
| Master of Business Administration | 1 - 2 years | ₹6,800 | — | ₹6,800–₹20,000 |
| Post Graduate Diploma | 1 year | ₹6,400 | — | ₹6,400–₹12,400 |
| Certificate Courses | 3 months - 1 year | ₹5,550 | — | ₹5,550–₹8,750 |
What each part of the fee is
- Tuition — the teaching fee. This is the part scholarships and category waivers usually reduce.
- One-time charges and deposits — admission fee, caution deposit and similar, paid once at the start. Deposits are usually refundable when you leave.
- Hostel and mess — your room and food. Charged separately from tuition, and only if you stay on campus.
- Other charges — exam fees, insurance, library and lab charges, and anything else billed per semester.
Working out your real cost
Take the total course fee, then add the things a fee circular does not: travel home a few times a year, books and equipment for your branch, a laptop if your course needs one, and everyday spending. For most students that adds a meaningful amount on top of the sticker figure over three or four years.
Then take away what you may not have to pay. Category waivers, income-linked concessions, merit scholarships and central schemes can cut tuition substantially — at some institutions to zero. Check the scholarships tab before you assume the full number applies to you.
Before you pay
- Ask which year the fee is for. Fees are revised most years, and a figure published for one batch may not be yours.
- Ask what is refundable. Caution deposits usually are; admission fees usually are not.
- Ask about the payment schedule. Whether it is annual or per semester changes what you need in hand on day one.
- Get it in writing. Whatever you are told at counselling should match the official circular.
About these figures
These fees come from Madras University Distance Education's own record and are updated as the college publishes new ones. A dash means that component has not been reported — not that it is free. Fees decide a lot, so confirm the current circular with the college before you pay anything.