Stepping into an online degree program with Online Manipal is a turning point, and understanding what lies ahead can empower learners to navigate their way through their academic journey with confidence. Whether you’re enrolling into Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), or Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), this detailed guide walks you through every touchpoint of learner experience, from the moment you register to the day you receive your well-earned degree.
Registration and Onboarding: Your First Steps
The learning journey with Online Manipal begins when you submit an enquiry on onlinemanipal.com, followed by a consultation with a dedicated counsellor who assists you in selecting the right program. Once your choice is finalized, you complete the registration form, pay the application fee, and upload the required documents to the application portal. These documents then undergo multiple rounds of verification by the university to ensure all admission requirements are met, and upon successful validation, you are formally enrolled and ready to begin your program with confidence.
Once your documents are verified and your admission is confirmed, you’ll receive a welcome email containing your roll number, university email ID, and student portal login details – essentially everything you need to get started on your learning journey with Online Manipal.
Your Personal Mentor: A Guide Throughout Your Journey
A dedicated academic mentor is assigned from the university to each learner once their admission is confirmed. Each learner at Online Manipal is paired with a mentor who serves as a personal guide throughout the program. They will reach out to the students, making sure they feel welcomed and supported throughout the program journey from start to finish. In a nutshell, the mentor assigned will be the single point of contact throughout their academic journey.
A mentor will:
- Help you navigate the portal if you’re facing any difficulties.
- Ensure you’ve successfully logged in.
- Provide their contact info and how to reach them for future queries or concerns.
- Offer ongoing support throughout your entire program including timely nudges for class attendance, assignment submissions, examinations, along with comprehensive academic support.
Your mentor remains a valuable resource to whom you can reach out to directly whenever you need clarity or assistance during your time with Online Manipal.
Student Orientation Program – Getting Comfortable with Your Learning Platform
Online Manipal conducts regular jumpstart sessions that all new learners are required to attend as these help learners familiarize themselves with the Learning Management System (LMS) and other aspects of their academic journey. These sessions are held frequently across all three universities (MAHE, MUJ, and SMU), so if you miss one, you can attend the next available session. During these interactive sessions with the respective universities, learners will get an idea about:
- How to navigate the student portal.
- Essential features and functionalities of the LMS including how to access content, videos, attend classes, and participate in other academic activities.
- How to submit assignments, book examination slots, and make fee payments.
- How to raise tickets to the help desk and mentors for technical and academic support.
- Key updates from the university and program-related guidelines.
These sessions ensure that every student feels confident using the platform before diving into their coursework.
Also read: MUJ’s online students kickstart their journey with a virtual orientation
Student Induction Program: Welcome to Your Academic Home
Following the orientation sessions, you’ll attend a formal Student Induction Program (SIP). This virtual event is conducted by the respective universities and addressed by their leadership, who welcome new students and provide a comprehensive walkthrough of what the next two to three years will look like, similar to induction on campus.
During induction, you’ll also be introduced to the four-quadrant framework of online courses which divides learning into four key areas: E-Tutorials (audio & video content), E-Content (text/PDFs/simulations), Interactive Platform (interaction/doubt clearing), and Self-Assessment (quizzes/assignments).
You’ll also get to know about:
- Essential information and statistics about the university.
- Your program & course coordinators, and faculty members.
- The course structure for your specific program.
- What to expect (and what not to expect) during your learning journey.
After the general orientation, program coordinators also conduct separate sessions with students from their respective programs. For example, MBA students get to meet the MBA program and course coordinators to get to know program-specific details, course structures, and academic expectations.
Don’t miss: Transforming virtual learning the Online Manipal way
The Learning Journey: How Classes Work at Online Manipal
Once onboarding is complete, it’s time to dive into your classes! Online Manipal’s learning operates on a four-quadrant approach (which is covered in depth during orientation), providing a flexible yet comprehensive educational experience.
E-Tutorials
The e-Tutorials include well-defined video and audio content, enhanced with animations, simulations, and video demonstrations, all supported by language transcription.
E-Content and Study Materials
The e-Content includes self-instructional materials such as illustrations, case studies, presentations, and theory modules, together with a wide range of web-based resources. These comprise references, related links, open-source online content, videos, e-books, research papers, journals, articles, and insights into the historical development of subjects. Online Manipal doesn’t provide physical books; instead, all learning resources including e-books, PDFs, case studies, and reading materials are made accessible digitally on the LMS, allowing learners to access, study, and reference them anytime throughout their academic journey.
Live Classes and Discussion Forums
There are live classes on Microsoft Teams every weekend (Saturday and Sunday). You’ll get the class schedule in advance so you can plan and set aside time on your calendar. These sessions bring the classroom to you, where you can learn and engage to get the best out of your online degree. Alongside live, real-time classes, the LMS also hosts recorded sessions in a dedicated content bank. These recorded resources can be accessed anytime, allowing learners to revisit topics, reinforce understanding, and study at their own pace, while live classes enable real-time interaction and engagement. The dedicated faculties of the respective universities provide a discussion forum for doubt clarification for any queries that may arise post the live class sessions.
Assessments
Throughout your semesters, you’ll encounter various assessments to help gauge your understanding. These include short quizzes and MCQs, which are designed to reinforce your learning and track your progress. While the university conducts live classes, learners are expected to regularly engage with the e-Content and e-Tutorials to complete assignments and stay aligned with the coursework to meet all academic milestones on schedule.
Assignments: Demonstrating Your Understanding
Each semester, learners receive assignments for their subjects called internal assessments or IAs. These assessments are a crucial component of the evaluation, typically accounting for 30% of the overall grade, while practical subjects contribute 70% to the final grade.
The faculty will grade the assignments, and the scores will contribute to the learners’ final grade for the subject. Learners should complete all assignments within the stipulated time frame to stay on track with their academic progress at Online Manipal. To successfully clear a subject, learners must secure at least 40% in both the internal assessments and the term-end examinations.
The Online Examination System
All aspects of learning with Online Manipal are truly online, including examinations that you can take from the comfort of your home with a laptop and good internet connection. When it’s time for term-end exams, you’ll use the OEBS (Online Examination Booking System) portal to choose from a pre-defined list of slots to take your exams. Online Manipal will notify you when the portal is open, and you’ll need to book your exam slots in advance.
The exam process works as follows:
- Book Your Exam Slot: Select your preferred date and time on the OEBS portal.
- Receive Your E-Admit Card: After booking, you’ll receive a digital e-admit card.
- Download the Exam Browser: You’ll need to install SEB (Safe Exam Browser) to take your exams.
- System Requirements: Ensure you have Windows 10 or above and Chrome browser installed.
- System Compatibility Test (Mock Test): All learners are required to attend this mock test before their exams to ensure their system is compatible with SEB, preventing any issues during the final examinations.
- Appear for Your Final Exam: Log in at your scheduled time using your credentials. You will be remotely proctored throughout the duration of the exam.
- Practical Exams: Learners with practical exams must also follow these steps to ensure the successful completion of their examinations.
- Submit Your Exam: Complete and submit your exam through the system.
Everything is handled digitally, making the process streamlined and accessible from wherever you are. Walkthrough tutorials and detailed guides are also available to help you through each step of the exam process.
Also read: What is the examination process for online degree students?
Results
After completing your exams, you’ll receive your grades via email and can also check them on the LMS. If you don’t pass an exam, don’t worry – you can apply for a re-evaluation and then re-sit. This cycle of classes, assignments, and exams along with timely fee payment for the next semester– repeats each semester until you complete all requirements for your degree.
The Final Year Capstone Projects
Projects are a mandatory component across most programs and play a critical role in helping learners apply theoretical knowledge in a practical context. Whether the program is technical or non-technical, project work is included in building research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Across Online Manipal programs offered by Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal University Jaipur, and Sikkim Manipal University, two distinct project evaluation models are followed. In the traditional project model, learners submit details of an approved project guide, have their synopsis reviewed, complete and submit the final project report, and appear for a viva voce. In the Coursera-enabled capstone model, learners complete two to three university-curated capstone projects, submit a consolidated summary report, and share a reflection video capturing their learning journey and practical outcomes.
Both project models are designed to ensure learners gain practical exposure, structured learning, and industry-relevant skills that strengthen their academic and placement outcomes.
Help Desk: Support All the Way Through Your Journey
If you encounter any issues while learning at Online Manipal, such as your portal not working, not being able to log in, not getting an important email, or needing help with anything else, you can raise a ticket to the helpdesk right from the LMS. The support team will do everything they can to fix it as soon as possible so that nothing gets in the way of your education.
Student Engagement and Events: Beyond the Classroom
Your Online Manipal experience extends far beyond lectures and assignments. Throughout your two to three years of tenure, various events and engagement opportunities enrich your educational journey.
Annual Events and Networking
Online Manipal hosts events such as EKAM and PANORAMA every year where students come on campus to interact with their mentors, faculty members, and fellow students. These gatherings provide invaluable networking opportunities and help build a sense of community among online learners.
Campus Immersion: Experience University Life
Campus immersion programs such as ‘Bloomberg Market Concepts’ and ‘Computer Integrated Technologies Workshop’ provide you with the chance to visit the university campus, meet your classmates and professors in person, immerse yourself in the culture, and get certified. These engaging workshops fill the gap between online and traditional learning, making your time with Online Manipal memorable. Please note that these events are organized by the respective universities and are subject to change.
Recommended reading: Inside the Bloomberg Market Concepts Program at MUJ: What Students Can Expect
Career Services
Online Manipal provides comprehensive career support to all learners enrolled in its online degree programs, free of charge. Career Services begins with placement orientation sessions and continues throughout the program, offering live engagement sessions, skill-based certification modules, curated self-paced learning content, and industry interaction sessions to strengthen job readiness. Learners gain access to recruitment drives, job fairs (both virtual and in-person), and relevant job opportunities shared via the LMS and university email.
An interesting read: How does Online Manipal offer Placement Assistance?
The Final Milestone: Your Degree Certificate
After finishing all of your semesters, exams, and other prerequisites, you get your degree certificate from your university, which is the outcome of your hard work.
Convocation: Celebrating Your Achievement
You can visit the university’s campus (MAHE, MUJ, or SMU) and get your degree certificate in person at your convocation ceremony. This is a great way to celebrate this important achievement with other fellow graduates. The university will send your degree certificate to your communication address if you can’t make it to the convocation. This way, you can still get this crucial document no matter where you are.
Give this a read: The Tradition of Excellence Continues: MAHE’s 2nd Online Convocation
Your Journey with Online Manipal, Your Success
Every part of your Online Manipal adventure, from signing up to graduating, is meant to help you succeed. You have everything you need to do well in your program, including specialized mentors, a wide range of learning tools from all three universities, regular assistance from the help desk, and opportunities to be involved online and on campus.
Keep in mind that this path is yours alone. Take advantage of everything Online Manipal has to offer, stay in touch with your classmates and professors, and make the most of the freedom and chances that online learning gives you. Your degree is more than simply a goal; it’s a journey that will change your life and define your future.
Ready to begin your journey with Online Manipal? Your next chapter starts here.
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