Nalanda Open University (NOU) is a university at Patna in Bihar state, India. It is the only university in Bihar providing education through distance and open education. With a vision of providing education to those who have been deprived of formal education, it follows the norms of flexibility with respect to eligibility, admission and course structure. Nalanda Open University has 28 study centers around Bihar and Jharkhand in cities like Jamshedpur and Ranchi and in important towns like Katihar and small towns like Bettiah, catering to the education needs of every section of the society.