Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) was established in July 1989 by the Act XX-(1989) of the Maharashtra State Legislature. This university is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Canada, conferred the prestigious  “Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement” for the year 2002 to this university. YCMOU is the first Open University in India which is honored with this prestigious award.

It is the fifth Open University in the country. A recent amendment in the act allows this university to establish study centers, even outside the state of Maharashtra.

The university provides relaxed entry procedures. However it does maintain its standards for examinations. The university may admit a student even when he is studying in another university / Board or is continuing his professional career. It also does not ask for documents like Transfer Certificate at the time of admission. At the same time the university takes all precautions (just as the other universities do) to ensure that the standards and quality of, education and exams, are preserved.

The Head office of the university is located at Nashik, India. The university operates through its eight Regional Centers (RCs) at Amaravati, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune and several Study Centers (SCs).