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IGNOU Admission 2026

New Delhi, DelhiPrivate
IGNOU Admission 2026
Admissions Open 2026-27

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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.

KS

Updated on 27 May 2026

By Kartikay Sharma, Content Creator

IGNOU Admission Updates 2026

  • 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 Highlights 2026

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.

ParticularsDetails
Mode of ApplicationOnline (Official IGNOU portals)
Admission SessionJanuary 2026 (Fresh and Re-Registration)
Mode of InstructionODL / Online / Flexi-mode
Courses OfferedCertificate, Diploma, UG, PG, PhD and more
Entrance RequirementMerit-based in most programmes (no separate entrance test)
Official Admission Portalsignouadmission.samarth.edu.in (ODL) / ignouiop.samarth.edu.in (Online)

IGNOU Admission Important Dates

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 CycleEventDate
January 2026Applications Open10 December 2025
January 2026Last Date to Apply (except certificate and semester-based programmes)26 April 2026
July 2026Applications Open25 May 2026
July 2026Last Date (Without Late Fee)15 July 2026
July 2026Classes CommenceOctober 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

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 LevelEligibilitySelection Process
Certificate CoursesMinimum 10th/12th as per programme requirementMerit-based/Direct online application
Diploma Courses10+2 or equivalentMerit-based
UG Courses (BA, BCom, BCA, etc.)Completed 10+2 from a recognised boardMerit-based
PG Courses (MA, MCom, MCA, etc.)Bachelor’s degree from UGC-approved universityMerit-based
PhD ProgrammesMaster’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 2026

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:

Documents Required for IGNOU Admission 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:

DocumentPurpose
Passport-Size PhotographUsed for identity verification
Scanned SignatureRequired for application authentication
Class 10 Mark Sheet & CertificateServes as proof of date of birth
Class 12 Mark Sheet & CertificateRequired for eligibility in undergraduate programmes
Graduation Mark Sheets & Degree CertificateMandatory for postgraduate admissions
Postgraduate Degree CertificateNeeded for PhD and other advanced programmes
Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)Required to claim reservation benefits
PwD CertificateNeeded for disability-related concessions
Valid ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/PAN Card/Passport)Used for identity confirmation
Experience CertificateRequired for selected professional courses such as B.Ed and Nursing
Migration/Transfer Certificate (if applicable)Used for academic verification

Document Upload Guidelines

  • Ensure all uploaded documents are clear and easily readable.
  • Upload files only in the prescribed JPEG or PDF format.
  • Follow the specified file size and dimension requirements.
  • Make sure all details match your official records and certificates.
  • Use a recent passport-size photograph with a plain background.
  • Keep both soft copies and printed copies of all documents for future use.

IGNOU Scholarship 2026

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 / SchemeWho Can ApplyBenefit
SC/ST Fee Exemption SchemeSC/ST students admitted in eligible programsTuition fee exemption as per government rules
Scholarships via National Scholarship Portal (NSP)SC/ST/OBC/Minority/PwD/EWS studentsFinancial support from Central/State Government
Fee Support for Jail InmatesEligible students enrolled in IGNOU programsProgramme fee exemption as per IGNOU rules
Government Post-Matric ScholarshipsEligible reserved category studentsFinancial assistance as per government scheme

IGNOU Reservation Policy 2026

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:

CategoryReservation (% 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% horizontalAdjusted within respective category seats based on disability percentage
Other Special CategoriesAs per university rulesIncludes war widows, Kashmiri migrants (where applicable) as notified by IGNOU

IGNOU Admission Status 2026

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.

  • Application Under Process: Means that your application has been verified yet.
  • Admission Confirmed: This means that your admission process is completed.

How to Check IGNOU Admission Status 2026?

Follow the steps below to check your admission status online:

  1. Visit the official IGNOU admission status portal.
  2. Enter your Enrollment Number, Control Number, or Programme Code.
  3. Complete the captcha verification process.
  4. Click on the “Submit” button.
  5. Select the “Know Your Status” option to view your admission details.

Note: The status page will display information such as your registered programme, admission status, and enrollment details.

What Happens After IGNOU Admission Confirmation?

Once your admission is successfully confirmed, you can:

  • Receive your Enrollment Number and student login credentials.
  • Access study materials in printed or digital format.
  • Contact your assigned Regional Centre or Study Centre for academic support.
  • Check assignment schedules, examination updates, and the academic calendar.
  • Start using IGNOU’s online learning and e-learning platforms.

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

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.

IGNOU Students Reviews 2026

IGNOU is a great option for students who can not attend regular classes and want a certified degree because the degree of IGNOU is valid and reputable.

AV

Anjali Verma

(BA Student)

I took admission in IGNOU because of its affordable free structure. The admission process was fully online and smooth. The exam schedule is clear and result are declared on time.

RK

Rohit Kumar

(MCom Student)

IGNOU helped me continue my study after my marriage because i can not go to college regularly because of my responsibilities so i choose IGNOU and it is a good decision for online education.

NS

Neha Sharma

(BCA Student)

IGNOU MBA is budget friendly compared to many private universities. Fees are affordable although IGNOU is a popular and well known University for its academic records.

AS

Amit Singh

(MBA Student)

Common Issues Faced During IGNOU Admission

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 IssueSuggested Solution
Technical issues on the admission portal during deadlinesSubmit the application early to avoid heavy traffic and server-related problems.
Payment transaction failuresKeep the payment receipt safe and retry using a stable internet connection.
Delay in admission confirmationRegularly track the admission status through the official portal.
Wrong programme selectionCheck eligibility criteria and programme details carefully before final submission.
Errors while uploading documentsUpload documents in the prescribed format with clear and readable quality.
Confusion regarding study centre allocationVerify study centre details through the official portal or regional centre.
Lack of timely communicationFrequently check official notifications, emails, and SMS updates.
Incomplete application submissionReview all entered details carefully before submitting the form.

IGNOU Admission Fees & Refund Policy 2026

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.

IGNOU Refund Policy 2026

Cancellation TimelineRefund Details
Before the final admission dateFull refund of the programme fee after deducting the registration fee
Within 15 days after the last admission dateINR 500 will be deducted from the admission fee
Within 30 days after the last admission dateINR 1000 will be deducted from the admission fee
More than 30 days after the last admission dateNo refund will be provided

Important Highlights

  • IGNOU offers an affordable fee structure across its programmes.
  • The refund policy is transparent and student-friendly.
  • Candidates who cancel admission earlier receive a higher refund amount.
  • No refund is applicable after 30 days from the last admission date.
  • Students are advised to withdraw their admission as early as possible, if required, to minimise deduction charges.

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