Frequently asked questions.

Online programs (regulated under UGC ODL Regulations 2020) are fully digital — live classes, recorded lectures, online exams, a digital LMS. Older-style distance programs often relied on physical study material and in-person exams. The programs listed on StepUp Courses are online programs.

Per UGC's 2020 regulations, online degrees from UGC-DEB approved universities are treated as equivalent to regular degrees. Some universities note the mode of study on the certificate; others don't. If this matters to you, confirm directly with the university before enrolling.

The total fee we show is the tuition fee for the entire program, as published by the university. Universities may charge a separate one-time application fee and per-semester exam fee on top of this — always confirm the full breakup on the official university page or with our counsellor before paying.

Many programs support EMI through partner banks and NBFCs — check the "Loan facility" field on each program's detail page. Terms (tenure, interest, processing charges) vary by university, so confirm the exact structure with the university's finance team.

Some programs list scholarship availability — look for the "Scholarship" field on the program page. Eligibility categories and amounts vary by university and change between admission cycles, so treat it as a starting point and confirm the current terms with the university.

It depends on the university and program — some admit purely on merit (your previous qualifying marks), others require an aptitude test or accept CAT/MAT/XAT scores. Check the eligibility criteria on the specific program's page, since this is one of the fields that differs most between universities.

Minimum qualifying marks and stream requirements vary by university and program — some are more flexible than others, and a few relax the cutoff for reserved categories. Each program's detail pagelists its exact eligibility criteria; there's no single number that applies across all of them.

Most universities accept international students, typically requiring an equivalence certificate for non-Indian qualifications. Requirements differ by university, so confirm directly with their admissions office or ask our counsellor to check for the program you're considering.

Most universities run career services for online students — job portal access, resume reviews, and recruiter introductions — but this is generally not a guaranteed campus-placement pipeline like a full-time program. Where a university discloses an average starting salary for a program, we show it on that program's detail page; always ask for a placement report specific to the online cohort before relying on it.

Legally, the value is identical. Perception still varies by employer and industry — many employers now openly hire online-degree graduates, especially from well-known universities, while some traditional industries may still prefer on-campus degrees. Checking the LinkedIn profiles of a program's alumni is a reasonable way to gauge outcomes for a specific course.

Use our Compare Courses page to put up to three programs side by side on fees, EMI, eligibility, and loan/scholarship access. Still unsure? Talk to a free counsellor— they'll walk you through the trade-offs.

UGC-approved universities generally support the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) under NEP 2020, which stores credits centrally and can make transfers possible. In practice this is handled case-by-case — confirm with each university's admission office before applying.

UGC mandates a refund schedule for approved universities, generally offering a larger refund the earlier you withdraw before or shortly after a session starts, tapering off after that. Each university publishes its own exact schedule — always read the refund policy before paying.

Universities pay us a fixed listing fee — the same amount regardless of which program you pick. That's why we can show a budget diploma right next to a premium MBA without bias. If a course isn't a good fit for you, our counsellors will say so.