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IGNOU admissions are open now for the 2026 session. It provides a wide range of UG, PG, diploma, certificate and PhD level in open distance and online mode. Candidates looking for admission, are required to fulfil the admission criteria set by the university. After filling out the criteria candidates must visit the IGNOU Samarth Admission Portal.
Indira Gandhi Open University conducted admission in two cycles annually i.e., January and July. According to the available web source, over 7 lakh students enrol in IGNOU open university programmes every year. The university conducts entrance exams for courses, such as BEd, BSc, Nursing and PhD.
IGNOU admissions are open now for the 2026 session. It provides a wide range of UG, PG, diploma, certificate and PhD level in open distance and online mode. Candidates looking for admission, are required to fulfil the admission criteria set by the university. After filling out the criteria candidates must visit the IGNOU Samarth Admission Portal.
Indira Gandhi Open University conducted admission in two cycles annually i.e., January and July. According to the available web source, over 7 lakh students enrol in IGNOU open university programmes every year. The university conducts entrance exams for courses, such as BEd, BSc, Nursing and PhD.
Updated on 27 May 2026
By Kartikay Sharma, Content Creator
IGNOU Delhi conducts admissions twice a year – January and July sessions.
Indira Gandhi National Open University has started the re-registration process for the July 2026 session for all ODL and Online programmes. Interested candidates can apply through IGNOU Official Website till 30 June 2026
IGNOU B.Ed 2026 Entrance Exam conducted on Mar 29, 2026
IGNOU June TEE 2026 exam form submission process for the June TEE 2026 has started. Students can apply till 26 April 2026, while applications with a late fee will be accepted from 27 April to 30 April 2026 at ignou.samarth.edu.in.
Indira Gandhi National Open University admissions are mainly merit-based.
IGNOU admission are conducted twice a year i.e., in the January and July session. The university allows candidates of any age to apply for admission. To be eligible to apply for IGNOU Delhi, candidates must meet the criteria set by the university. Indira Gandhi National University admission process includes online registration, documents submission, appearing in entrance exams and payment of the required fees. Candidates must apply through the official IGNOU admission portal for their chosen programme.
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Application | Online (Official IGNOU portals) |
| Admission Session | January 2026 (Fresh and Re-Registration) |
| Mode of Instruction | ODL / Online / Flexi-mode |
| Courses Offered | Certificate, Diploma, UG, PG, PhD and more |
| Entrance Requirement | Merit-based in most programmes (no separate entrance test) |
| Official Admission Portals | ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in (ODL) / ignouiop.samarth.edu.in (Online) |
IGNOU Delhi conducts admission twice in a year in January and July sessions. For January session 2026, the university officially released the admission schedule on its Samarth Admission Portal. Check the below table for IGNOU admission 2026 dates for January session:
| Admission Cycle | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Applications Open | 10 December 2025 |
| January 2026 | Last Date to Apply (except certificate and semester-based programmes) | 26 April 2026 |
| July 2026 | Applications Open | 25 May 2026 |
| July 2026 | Last Date (Without Late Fee) | 15 July 2026 |
| July 2026 | Classes Commence | October 2026 (Tentative) |
Note: IGNOU may extend the admission deadline for specific programmes. Applicants should verify updates only through the official IGNOU Samarth Admission Portal.
IGNOU eligibility and selection criteria 2026 depends on the selected course, every course and specialisation has their own eligibility and selection criteria. Check below the table for IGNOU eligibility and selection criteria 2026:
| Course Level | Eligibility | Selection Process |
| Certificate Courses | Minimum 10th/12th as per programme requirement | Merit-based/Direct online application |
| Diploma Courses | 10+2 or equivalent | Merit-based |
| UG Courses (BA, BCom, BCA, etc.) | Completed 10+2 from a recognised board | Merit-based |
| PG Courses (MA, MCom, MCA, etc.) | Bachelor’s degree from UGC-approved university | Merit-based |
| PhD Programmes | Master’s degree with minimum specified marks (e.g., 55% aggregate with relaxation for reserved categories) | Merit / PhD Entrance criteria per IGNOU guidelines |
Note: Most of the IGNOU courses do not require a separate entrance test except specific research or specialised categories where entrance tests may be conducted as per program rules.
IGNOU admission process is fully online. Candidates have to visit the official website of IGNOU delhi to fill the application form then upload required documents, pay the program fee and submit the form before the deadline. Check below the steps for IGNOU admission process 2026:
IGNOU requires scanned copies of some required documents in the process of admission. Check below the table for documents required for IGNOU admission 2026:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Passport-Size Photograph | Used for identity verification |
| Scanned Signature | Required for application authentication |
| Class 10 Mark Sheet & Certificate | Serves as proof of date of birth |
| Class 12 Mark Sheet & Certificate | Required for eligibility in undergraduate programmes |
| Graduation Mark Sheets & Degree Certificate | Mandatory for postgraduate admissions |
| Postgraduate Degree Certificate | Needed for PhD and other advanced programmes |
| Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) | Required to claim reservation benefits |
| PwD Certificate | Needed for disability-related concessions |
| Valid ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/PAN Card/Passport) | Used for identity confirmation |
| Experience Certificate | Required for selected professional courses such as B.Ed and Nursing |
| Migration/Transfer Certificate (if applicable) | Used for academic verification |
Document Upload Guidelines
IGNOU Scholarship 2026 includes fee waiver and examination benefits for eligible students especially those from reserved categories (SC/ST) and economically weaker backgrounds.
IGNOU students can also apply for central and state Government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal after taking admission. IGNOU itself does not offer general merit based scholarships for any course.
| Scholarship / Scheme | Who Can Apply | Benefit |
| SC/ST Fee Exemption Scheme | SC/ST students admitted in eligible programs | Tuition fee exemption as per government rules |
| Scholarships via National Scholarship Portal (NSP) | SC/ST/OBC/Minority/PwD/EWS students | Financial support from Central/State Government |
| Fee Support for Jail Inmates | Eligible students enrolled in IGNOU programs | Programme fee exemption as per IGNOU rules |
| Government Post-Matric Scholarships | Eligible reserved category students | Financial assistance as per government scheme |
IGNOU follows the reservation policy of the Government of India ;for admission where seats are limited and filled through merit or entrance list. The University reserves seats and provides extra benefits in merits and entrance exams. These reservation benefits are applicable in courses with a limited number of seats and where admission is competitive. IGNOU also provides minimum eligibility marks relaxations of about 5% for reserved category candidates in applicable admissions. Check the table below for details of IGNOU reservation policy 2026:
| Category | Reservation (% of Seats) | Remarks |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% | Reserved as per Government of India norms |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5% | Reserved as per Government of India norms |
| OBC – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% | Reserved as per Government of India norms |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% | Reserved as per Government of India norms |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 5% horizontal | Adjusted within respective category seats based on disability percentage |
| Other Special Categories | As per university rules | Includes war widows, Kashmiri migrants (where applicable) as notified by IGNOU |
Once the admission procedure is completed, applicants must check their IGNOU Admission Status 2026 regularly to ensure that their application has been accepted or not. The university provides updates on admissions via its official admission portal, e-mail ID, and SMS updates. It is suggested to applicants that they keep themselves updated about their admission status by checking online.
On an average, confirmation for IGNOU admissions usually requires 7 to 15 days; however, in some cases, it may take up to 30 to 60 days. Once the admission process is done, then students get confirmation emails at their registered e-mail ID as well as mobile number.
Follow the steps below to check your admission status online:
Note: The status page will display information such as your registered programme, admission status, and enrollment details.
Once your admission is successfully confirmed, you can:
Note: If your admission status is delayed, you should contact your Regional Centre or wait for official communication, as verification timelines may differ depending on the programme.
IGNOU Re-Registration 2026 is meant for students who are already enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programmes at IGNOU. Through the re-registration process, existing students can register for the next semester or academic year of their current programme to continue their studies without interruption.
While IGNOU offers a student-friendly admission process, there can be some difficulties that an applicant may face when getting registered and verified. Being aware of these challenges would help applicants make their admission process easier.
| Common Issue | Suggested Solution |
|---|---|
| Technical issues on the admission portal during deadlines | Submit the application early to avoid heavy traffic and server-related problems. |
| Payment transaction failures | Keep the payment receipt safe and retry using a stable internet connection. |
| Delay in admission confirmation | Regularly track the admission status through the official portal. |
| Wrong programme selection | Check eligibility criteria and programme details carefully before final submission. |
| Errors while uploading documents | Upload documents in the prescribed format with clear and readable quality. |
| Confusion regarding study centre allocation | Verify study centre details through the official portal or regional centre. |
| Lack of timely communication | Frequently check official notifications, emails, and SMS updates. |
| Incomplete application submission | Review all entered details carefully before submitting the form. |
IGNOU requires a one-time payment of INR 200 as a registration fee from each applicant. The said registration fee cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Once the application process is complete, applicants have to pay the program fees on a semester/annual basis to become eligible for the course. IGNOU provides a refund policy which varies according to the date of admission cancellation.
| Cancellation Timeline | Refund Details |
|---|---|
| Before the final admission date | Full refund of the programme fee after deducting the registration fee |
| Within 15 days after the last admission date | INR 500 will be deducted from the admission fee |
| Within 30 days after the last admission date | INR 1000 will be deducted from the admission fee |
| More than 30 days after the last admission date | No refund will be provided |
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