Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Admission 2026: Dates, Form, Online Process, Fees

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) admission 2026 for the Jan session is open for various Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, Certificate, and Doctorate programs offered in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online modes. The admission process is conducted online through the IGNOU admission portal, with selections based on merit in the qualifying examination or entrance exams for specific programs like BEd and PhD. Below are the details for eligibility, selection criteria, application process, and key dates for IGNOU admission 2026.

IGNOU Admission 2026 dates for the January Session to apply for all ODL and Online courses are listed in the table below.

IGNOU offers a Master of Arts (MA) program with a duration of 3 years. Admission to the BA course is merit-based. Students must have completed 10+2 or an equivalent qualification from a recognized board to be eligible. IGNOU BA fees is INR 12,900 to INR 31,800 for the entire program. Total BA course fees may vary depending on the chosen specialization. More detailed information is provided below.

IGNOU offers a Master of Arts (MA) program with a duration of 2 years. Admission to the MA course is merit-based. Students must have completed Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university to be eligible. IGNOU MA fees is INR 12,000 to INR 27,000 for the entire program. Total MA course fees may vary depending on the chosen specialization. More detailed information is provided below.

IGNOU offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a duration of 2 years. The MBA course is available in various specializations. Admission to the IGNOU MBA program is merit-based. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks. For SC/ST candidates, the minimum required marks are 45%. IGNOU MBA fees is INR 66,000 to INR 70,000 for the entire program. Total MBA course fees may vary depending on the chosen specialization. More detailed information is provided below.

IGNOU offers a BEd program (2 years) through an entrance exam. The eligibility criteria include a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree with 50% marks and teaching experience. IGNOU BEd fees is INR 60,000 for the entire duration. More details are below:

IGNOU offers various Diploma and Certificate programs with a duration ranging from 6 months to 2 years. These programs include courses such as the Advanced Certificate in Information Security (ACISE) and the Advanced Certificate in Power Distribution Management (ACPDM) and other courses. Admission to these programs is merit-based. The eligibility criteria depend on the selected course. Students must have completed 10+2 or hold a Bachelor’s degree, as required by the program. The IGNOU Diploma and Certificate course fees is INR 2,700 to INR 6,000. More detailed information is provided below.

IGNOU offers PhD programs (3–6 years) in various disciplines. Admission is based on an entrance test and interview. The eligibility criteria include a Master’s degree with 55% marks (50% for SC/ST). Fees vary by discipline. More details are below:

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) course has a minimum duration of three years and a maximum duration of six years. To secure IGNOU PhD admission 2026 go through the following criteria:

IGNOU PhD Eligibility Criteria 2026

• Candidates must have a Master's Degree or M.Phil Degree in the relevant field of study.

IGNOU PhD Selection Process 2026

• The selection for PhD admission is based on the IGNOU PhD Entrance Test.

Candidates are admitted on the basis of the marks secured in their last qualifying examination, through the IGNOU direct admission process. To secure admission, meeting the basic eligibility criteria is mandatory. The university also conducts entrance exams for admission to programmes like B.Ed, B.Sc Nursing and PhD. Once the candidates successfully passes the entrance test, they will then be eligible to apply for admission to IGNOU.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University application process is held in online mode via the official website. The steps are as follows:

• Step 1 - Visit the official website of IGNOU University (ignou.ac.in).
• Step 2 - Pick the 'Register Online' link, and choose your preference from the drop down menu. 
• Step 3 - Click on 'Fresh Admission' for new registrations; you will then be sent to the IGNOU admissions portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in).
• Step  4 - Fill out the form by clicking 'New Registration'/ If you are already a registered user, click the 'Login' option.
• Step 5 - Add your personal email address and mobile phone number; select a User Name and a Password.
• Step 6 - Press the 'Submit' button.
• Step 7 - Complete the IGNOU application form.
• Step 8 - Provide scanned copies of your original documents and upload them.
• Step 9 - Make the fee payment with a credit card (Master/Visa), a debit card (Master/Visa/Rupay), or through Net Banking.
• Step 10 - To view the IGNOU admission form preview, click the 'Next' option. 
• Step 11 - Print and save your form for future use.

Required Documents at IGNOU

• Educational Qualification Scanned copy (less than 200 KB).
• Scanned Copy of Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) (less than 200 KB).
• Scanned copy of work experience certificate (if applicable) (less than 200 KB).
• Photo and signature scanned copies (less than 100 KB).