The Certificate in Urdu Language (CUL) is a 6-month Open Distance Learning (ODL) programme offered by the School of Humanities at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. The programme carries 16 credits and is available in Hindi and Urdu medium. With a total programme fee of just Rs. 1,500 plus applicable registration and development fees, it is one of the most affordable language certificate programmes in India. The CUL programme is designed to help learners acquire fundamental skills in reading, writing, and understanding Urdu, including script writing, pronunciation, communication, and comprehension of Urdu prose and poetry. It is popular among Hindi speakers, government employees, students, and professionals who wish to learn Urdu for personal, academic, or professional purposes. The programme is available at an extensive network of over 100 study centres across India.
Admissions to the CUL programme are conducted twice a year - in the January session and the July session. For the January 2026 session, the last date for fresh admission has been extended to 30th March 2026. The July 2026 session admissions are expected to open in May 2026 with a tentative last date in August 2026. The programme is currently open for the January 2026 session.
Since this programme is offered in Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, students study through self-learning print materials. The programme is available at a large number of regional centres and study centres across India, including centres in Hyderabad, Karnal, Shimla, Jammu, Bangalore, Bhopal, Pune, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi, Srinagar, Dehradun, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Raipur, Nagpur, Noida, Trivandrum, Jabalpur, Rajkot, Darbhanga, Aligarh, Varanasi, Mumbai, Patna, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and many more. Students should visit the official IGNOU Admission Portal to check the complete list of study centres offering CUL in their region.
Key Points
- The programme is specifically designed for Hindi and Urdu speakers who do not know how to read, write, and correctly speak Urdu, making it ideal for beginners.
- The curriculum covers 2 courses: Script and Pronunciation (OUL-1) and Communicative and Comprehensive Skills (OUL-2), each carrying 8 credits.
- The programme is available at one of the widest networks of study centres among all IGNOU programmes, covering almost all states and union territories.
- The programme has a minimum duration of 6 months and a maximum duration of 2 years, offering flexibility to working professionals.
- Completing CUL makes students eligible for the Diploma in Urdu Language (DUL) programme at IGNOU, enabling a progressive learning pathway.
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