NPTEL MOOC Courses: Registration Portal & Credit Transfer
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A score of 60 or above is the benchmark to earn domain certification across specialized tracks, giving learners recognized credentials across academia and industry. Below, you will find complete details regarding available online course lists, eligibility, duration, examination fees, domain paths, career benefits, and credit transfer procedures.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Coordinating Institutions | 7 IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Guwahati, Roorkee) & IISc Bangalore |
| Course Durations | 4, 8, or 12 weeks |
| Course Enrolment Fee | Free of cost |
| Proctored Exam Fee | Rs. 1,000 per course |
| Grading Breakdown | 25% online assignments + 75% final proctored exam |
| Exam Locations | 200+ cities in India (in-person proctored) |
| Eligibility & Prerequisites | No age limit, no entrance criteria, open to all learners |
List of NPTEL Online Courses
NPTEL offers certification courses across multiple disciplines, tailored for core engineering, basic sciences, law, and interdisciplinary studies. Courses are offered twice a year in the January-June and July-December academic semesters.
| Course Name | Coordinating Institution | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Spray Theory and Applications | IIT Madras | 4 Months |
| Introduction to Algorithms and Analysis | IIT Kharagpur | 12 Weeks |
| Medical Image Analysis | IIT Madras | 12 Weeks |
| Optical Engineering | IIT Madras | 12 Weeks |
| Foundations of Accounting and Finance | IIT Madras | 12 Weeks |
| Interactomics Basics and Applications – 1 | IIT Bombay | 12 Weeks |
| Partial Differential Equations | IIT Bombay | 12 Weeks |
| Semiconductor Optoelectronics | IIT Delhi | 12 Weeks |
| Classics in Neuroscience | IIT Madras | 8 Weeks |
| Practical Machine Learning with TensorFlow | IIT Madras | 8 Weeks |
| Domain / Stream | Featured Course Titles | Coordinating Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | Design of Fixed Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles / Drone Systems and Control | IIT Kanpur / IISc Bangalore |
| Agriculture | Food Oils and Fats: Chemistry and Technology / Micro Irrigation Engineering | IIT Kharagpur |
| Computer Science & Engineering | Theory and Practice of Modern Cryptography / Data Science for Engineers | IIT Kharagpur / IIT Madras |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | Remote Sensing and GIS / Environmental Geomechanics | IIT Guwahati / IIT Bombay |
| Chemical Engineering | Analysis and Modeling in Chemical Engineering / Chemical Process Control | IIT Roorkee / IIT Bombay |
| Law & Governance | New Labour Codes of India / Governance of Artificial Intelligence | IIT Kharagpur / NALSAR & IIT Madras |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | The Science of Happiness and Wellbeing / Sports Psychology | IIT Kharagpur / IIT Madras |
| Mathematics | Ordinary Differential Equations / A Primer to Mathematical Optimization | IIT Kanpur / IIT BHU & IIT Kanpur |
Eligibility and Duration
Course enrollment and video learning on NPTEL are completely open and free with no rigid pre-requisites, academic qualifications, or entrance exams. Learners spanning ages 13 to 86 have successfully enrolled in and completed NPTEL certification exams.
Courses are structured primarily into 4-week, 8-week, or 12-week modules depending on the depth of the curriculum. Select advanced subjects, such as Spray Theory and Applications, run across a 4-month duration. Enrolled learners can manage their active courses through the ‘My Courses’ portal link on SWAYAM.
Fees
Enrolling in courses, viewing video lectures, and accessing downloadable study material on NPTEL is completely free of charge. No tuition or registration fee is charged for attending classes.
For learners who opt to earn an official IIT or IISc certification, an optional in-person proctored certification exam is conducted for a nominal fee of Rs. 1,000 per course. Final score evaluation combines two components: online weekly assignments carry 25% weightage, while the final proctored examination carries 75% weightage. Examinations are held across designated centers in over 200 cities in India in two shifts.
| Evaluation Component | Weightage | Format / Conduct Details |
|---|---|---|
| Online Weekly Assignments | 25% | Submitted online on SWAYAM/NPTEL portal within designated deadlines |
| Final Certification Exam | 75% | In-person proctored exam at designated centers across 200+ cities in two shifts |
| Domain Certification Threshold | Average score >= 60 | Earned across specified core and elective courses in a domain |
How to Choose
Learners should select NPTEL courses based on their degree requirements, personal learning goals, or career track. College students seeking credit transfer under SWAYAM guidelines should verify that chosen courses fit their university’s curriculum and credit approval rules.
Students looking for comprehensive expertise in a specific subject area can pursue NPTEL Domain Certification. There are 44 domains available across 12 disciplines, requiring no extra fee beyond standard exam registration. Candidates must complete a designated combination of core and elective courses within a domain and maintain an average score of at least 60 across those courses to qualify.
Coordinating IITs, IISc, and College Local Chapters
| Institution | Role in NPTEL Initiative |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Founding member institution |
| IIT Delhi | Founding member institution |
| IIT Kanpur | Founding member institution |
| IIT Kharagpur | Founding member institution |
| IIT Madras | Founding member institution |
| IIT Guwahati | Founding member institution |
| IIT Roorkee | Founding member institution |
| IISc Bangalore | Founding member institution |
More than 7,900 colleges are associated with NPTEL as Local Chapters to support learners across India. Additionally, NPTEL collaborates with over 100 industry associates to align courses with workplace skill needs.
NPTEL Short-Term Programs and Professional Upskilling Courses
In addition to regular semester-length courses, NPTEL offers specialized short-term upskilling programs for professionals, educators, and advanced engineering students. For the July-December 2026 semester, proctored exams are scheduled for September 19-20 and October 16-18, 23-25, 2026.
| Program Title | Target Discipline / Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Strategic Leadership | Management and strategic decision making |
| Qualcomm’s Hexagon DSP and HVX Coprocessor | Next-generation embedded hardware applications |
| GenAI for Teachers: From Chalk to GenAI | Educational technology and generative AI integration |
| Career Development Series (AI, Team, Self, Communication) | Professional soft skills and workplace upskilling |
| AI-Enabled Intelligent Manufacturing | Digital transformation and industrial implementation |
How to Apply for NPTEL Online Courses Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Register Account on Portal: Visit nptel.ac.in, onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in, or swayam.gov.in and create a learner account.
- Explore Course Catalog: Browse over 3,000 available courses across engineering, humanities, basic sciences, and management offered by 7 IITs and IISc.
- Enroll Free in Selected Courses: Click enroll on any 4-, 8-, or 12-week course. Enrollment requires no prerequisites, entrance exam, or tuition fees.
- Complete Learning & Weekly Assignments: Watch video lectures and submit online weekly assignments on time. Assignments carry 25% weightage toward final marks.
- Register for Proctored Certification Exam: Opt for the optional certification exam by paying a nominal fee of Rs. 1,000 per course.
- Appear for In-Person Examination: Attend the in-person proctored exam at designated centers across 200+ cities with photo ID verification (exam carries 75% weightage).
- Receive IIT/IISc Certificate and Credit Transfer: Pass the exam to earn an official certificate issued by participating IITs/IISc, and apply for academic credit transfer through your college.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National coordinator overview, course timelines, and officia | SWAYAM NPTEL Coordinator Portal | swayam.gov.in |
Learners can manage enrolled courses on the SWAYAM portal via the ‘My Courses’ link at swayam.gov.in/mycourses.
FAQs
What are NPTEL MOOC courses?
NPTEL MOOC courses are free online certification courses developed jointly by seven IITs and IISc Bangalore, hosted on the SWAYAM portal across engineering, sciences, humanities, law, and management.
Are NPTEL courses free or paid?
Enrolling in and learning from NPTEL online courses is 100% free of cost. However, if a student wishes to take the optional proctored exam and receive an IIT/IISc certificate, a nominal fee of Rs. 1,000 per course is charged.
Is 60 a good score in NPTEL?
An average score of at least 60 qualifies a learner for NPTEL Domain Certification when maintained across a specified set of core and elective courses in a domain.
What are the requirements to complete an NPTEL domain?
To earn an NPTEL Domain Certificate, a learner must complete a specific combination of core and elective courses within a domain and achieve an average score of at least 60 across those courses.
Is the NPTEL exam easy to pass?
NPTEL exams evaluate learners through 25% weekly assignment weightage and 75% final proctored exam weightage. Consistent weekly assignment submission and thorough review of lecture content help learners successfully qualify.
How to login to NPTEL and access enrolled courses?
Learners can access NPTEL login on onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in or swayam.gov.in. After logging in, enrolled courses appear under the ‘My Courses’ link at swayam.gov.in/mycourses.
