Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University was setup in the year 1982 by an act of the Andhra Pradesh state legislature. Previously it was known as the Andhra Pradesh Open University.

The main objective of the University is to cater education to the all-possible students who want to upgrade themselves through distant education. The University has age relaxation and flexible course choices, method of learning and examination shedule.

This University is much applicable for already employed persons ,housewives and adults .It offers undergraduate and post graduate courses in various disciplines.The University provides printed study material and uses Radio, TV,film, audio cassette as the medium of spreading education.The universty also arranges practical classes along with the theoritical classes.The headqarter of the University is in Hyderabad and it has 117 study centers across the state.The main campus houses Administrative and Support Services Block, , Academic Branch and Library building, an extensive Open Plaza, a Conference Hall, Two Synergy Halls, the Grade building and an Auditorium Study Material House .To provide practical education there are the laboratory of Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Geology.Apart from that there are also a Multimedia Lab and A Language Lab.