What is the Career Scope after Graduation from IGNOU?

Aayushi
Aayushi Madavi
Associate Senior Executive
5 mins readUpdated on May 9, 2025 12:55 IST
IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) is one of the largest, reputed and popular open and distance learning universities in India, offering over 200 courses to students in India and abroad. In this article, we will discuss some details about this open university and the career scope after graduation from IGNOU.
What can you expect in your professional life if you are a graduate from IGNOU? Learn here in this article. 
What is the Career Scope after Graduation from IGNOU?

Graduation from IGNOU

Career Scope after graduation from IGNOU: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is one of the prestigious universities in India. IGNOU, which is also the world‘s largest University, offers a number of courses across various streams. It is a Central University that was established by an Act of Parliament in 1985. Its objective is to provide education in the remotest corners of the country, especially to those who are underprivileged, those who have a other responsibilities and essentially those who are unable to pursue a regular, classroom education for whatever reason. Students can easily pursue any course in the distance learning format from IGNOU from wherever they are located and pace their lessons however they wish. With the rise of different platforms of online learning, such as MOOCs, distance education is being widely recognised in both public and private sectors.

However, a major concern that students have after completing graduation from a distance learning university is how much value the degree holds when it comes to seeking employment opportunities. For most of the students, a good placement after graduation depends on the value of a degree. This is because if a student invests time, energy and money in a course, s/he expects good returns from it. 

There are various universities in India offering distance education programmes to students. IGNOU remains the most popular choice for distance education due to it affordability and flexibility. In this article, we will learn what is the career scope for IGNOU graduates. Read further to learn more. 

Table of contents
  • IGNOU: Highlights
  • ROI on IGNOU Degrees
  • Distance Education from IGNOU
  • Validity of IGNOU degrees
  • IGNOU Placement Cell
  • IGNOU Placements Statistics
  • IGNOU Top Recruiters
View More

IGNOU: Highlights

Some general information about IGNOU is provided in the table below. 

Particulars

Highlights

Establishment year | Ownership

1985 | Government

Also known as

IGNOU, IGNOU University

Number of schools

21

Number of regional centres

67

Number of learner support centres

2,667

Number of courses offered

200+

Type of scholarships offered

Category-based, Need-based

Faculty members

800+

Mode of study | Application mode

Distance | Online

Official website

ignou.ac.in

Further in the article, let us discuss the scope after graduation from IGNOU.

Q:   What are the top 5 courses in IGNOU?
A:

One of the leading universities in India, IGNOU offers over 200 UG, PG, diploma, certificate and doctoral courses via open and distance learning (ODL) mode. Candidates interested in IGNOU admission can apply through the online admission portal for ODL programmes, i.e. ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. In addition, the university launched an Online Education portal under its umbrella and now, it offers more than 40 UG, PG, Diploma and Certificate courses via the same. 

Out of all these courses, some of the popular ones are listed below:

  • BA
  • BCom
  • BSc
  • MBA
  • B.Ed

Read more on top IGNOU courses

Q:   What all specialisations are available under the BSc programme at IGNOU?
A:

Indira Gandhi National Open University offers BSc and BSc (Hons) course across different durations. The course duration range from three to four years. Check out all specialisations available under BSc in the following table:

BSc Specialisations

General

Anthropology

Geography

Biochemistry

Applied Science-Energy

Physics

Food Safety & Quality Management

Mathematics

-

In addition to BSc, IGNOU also offers a UG BSc (Hons) programme across two specialisations, namely Anthropology and Biochemistry. 

Q:   Can I pursue 2 courses from IGNOU at the same time?
A:

As per the official brochure released, a student is allowed to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously through ODL / Online mode, as per the illustration given below.

CourseDetails
One certificate programme with any
other Programme
Admission in both programmes can be taken in the same
admission cycle
One UG + One PG ProgrammeAdmission has to be taken in two different
admission cycles
*Admission can be taken only in specified courses. Details
are available on IGNOU website
Two UG Programmes
Two PG Programmes

Certain programmes are not allowed under the simultaneous registration. Students are advised to visit
the official prospectus for the same. Additionally, there will be no change in the counseling/ assignment submission/ examination schedule in case dates for the above clash for the courses in which a student has taken admission.

ROI on IGNOU Degrees

As compared to the regular mode of education, distance learning is still less accepted in any industry in India. Job opportunities offered after a distance learning graduation course from IGNOU are not as lucrative as employment options through a regular course. However, if we consider the affordability and cost-effectiveness of IGNOU graduation programmes, then the placements that students get are actually good return on investment (ROI). Students are also free to apply to job openings other than that brought to them by the placement cell at IGNOU.   

However, once a student secures a job in any industry, their salary hikes, appraisals and overall growth depends on their performance at work and the varying opportunities that their workplace has to offer. A significant increase in salaries is also seen with added years of experience.   

Also Read: IGNOU Admission Procedure, Status & Registration

Distance Education from IGNOU

Pursuing a graduation course from IGNOU does not guarantee a job or regular income. But, it brings students at par with other regular graduates. Graduates from IGNOU are eligible to apply for jobs in both government and private sectors. Also, they are eligible to appear for various UPSC, SSC and banking exams.

Q:   Which core subjects are taught in the IGNOU BSc (H) Biochemistry course?
A:

IGNOU BSc course curriculum include subjects categories as core courses, discipline specific courses, ability enhancement courses, skill enhancement courses, and generic electives. Some of the core subjects included in the IGNOU BSc (H) Biochemistry course curriculum are:

  • Molecules of Life
  • Cell Biology
  • Proteins
  • Enzymes
  • Metabolism of Carbohydrates and Lipids
  • Human Physiology
  • Concepts in Genetics
  • Immunology, etc.
Q:   What are the generic electives offered in the IGNOU BSc (H) Anthropology course?
A:

The Indira Gandhi National Open University offers four generic electives to the BSc (H) Anthropology course aspirants. There is a certain credit attached with each of the subject. Apart from this, the course curriculum also includes ability enhancement compulsory course (AECC). The two AECC subjects included in the curriclum are Environmental Studies and English Communication Skills.

Q:   Which course should I pursue after completing MA in Hindi from IGNOU?
A:

You can do PhD in Hindi or an M.Phil in Hindi after completing an MA Hindi course from IGNOU. These courses are useful for you to pursue your career in the teaching profession. You can get a Lecturer job after completing the PhD in Hindi. You can also do an MBA in Finance or Marketing course after an MA in Hindi. If you do it from a reputed institution then there are more job opportunities. The above given are some of the best courses to pursue after an MA in Hindi. You can apply online or offline for admission to the course. The candidates with MA Hindi with 55% marks are eligible for the PhD in Hindi course. Admission to the course will be done through an entrance test and personal interview (on the research subject).

IGNOU study material: The study material provided by IGNOU for various graduation courses is prepared by academics who are experts in their respective fields. The worthiness of the study material can also be determined by the fact that it is used by various aspirants to prepare for national-level government exams like UPSC Civil Services, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS PO and IBPS Clerk.

Also Read: IGNOU vs SMU: Which is the Best University for Distance Education? 

Validity of IGNOU degrees

IGNOU is a trusted and accredited government distance education university. It is a central university which was established by an act of parliament in 1985. Therefore, a distance education degree from IGNOU is equivalent to a degree granted by any accredited university in India.

IGNOU Placement Cell

IGNOU has an active campus placement cell that conducts on-campus and off-campus placements for students at its headquarters and some regional centres. To stay updated on the placement drives conducted by IGNOU, candidates need to check the website regularly. However, the varsity also informs registered students via SMS or email regarding the placement drives that it conducts from time to time.

Various companies visit the campus of the university to hire graduates for different job roles. Some such companies that usually participate in the placement drive of the university include Axis Bank, Barclays, Genpact, IBM, Convergys, Wipro, Infosys, Shoppers Stop, British Telecom (BT), Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services, HDFC Argo, CYIENT, etc.  

Also Read: IGNOU Notable Alumni - Successful People who have Inspired Generations of Students  

In a nutshell, IGNOU is one of the largest government distance learning universities in India, which is known for its quality education. The degrees granted by IGNOU are valid and recognised not only in India but also abroad. However, the scope after graduation from IGNOU is limited as compared to graduation in regular mode. Having said that, securing admission at IGNOU to pursue graduation is a great option for students willing to complete a course without burning a hole in their pockets and without having to move. Many working professionals also turn to IGNOU to add on to their qualifications and upskill while pursuing their jobs. 

Also Read: How to Enroll for Admission to PhD at IGNOU?

IGNOU Placements Statistics

Some trends that are relevant to placements at IGNOU are mentioned in the table below. Students must note that the figures provided in the table are based on data collected over several academic years. For current and exact figures, they can visit IGNOU's official website. 

Particulars

Placement Statistics

Highest package

INR 3 LPA – INR 4 LPA

Average package

INR 15 LPA

Placement rate

Between 70% and 80%

IGNOU Top Recruiters

Some frequent companies that take part in IGNOU's placement process are mentioned in the table below. 

IGNOU Top Recruiters
Tata Consultancy Services Amazon
HCL Cognizant Technology Solutions
Accenture EY
Infosys American Express
Bharat Electronics Confidential
Wipro Technologies Amity University
Antares Systems Ltd. BT Group

Read More:

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About the Author
author-image
Aayushi Madavi
Associate Senior Executive
Aayushi is a BAJMC graduate and an ardent consumer of content with a keen passion for film, TV and books. She specialises in Mass Communication and Humanities related exams, entrances and courses.
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Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

Hi.

Yes, you can still apply for M.Com from IGNOU even if your graduation degree shows “ER” (Essential Repeat / Enrolled Result / Backlog) — but there are a few important points to note:

IGNOU Eligibility for M.Com

  • Basic Requirement: You must have a B.Com, BBA, or other recognised bachelor's degree fro

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered a week ago

Yes, the degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University is valid for CTET and other government jobs also. Candidates can get admission after clearing the IGNOU BEd Entrance Test.

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Indira Gandhi National Open University release the IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Syllabus. It includes 4 main and 1 subject-specific section.

Part A

  • General English Comprehension
  • Logical & Analytical Reasoning
  • Educational & General Awareness
  • Teacher-learning and the School

Part B

  • Subject-Specific Competence

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

No, NCERT books are good for conceptual clarity. But, to prepare for IGNOU Entrance Exam, extra study material is required. 

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Start with checking syllabus and pattern. Make a timetable and spend atleast 2-3 hours on every subject. Attempt past year and mock papers.

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, an IGNOU BEd degree is fully valid for government jobs in India, as IGNOU is a Central University recognised by UGC and DEB, and its degrees are treated as equivalent to regular degrees for all major government exams (UPSC, SSC, Teaching, etc.), provided you meet specific subject/marks criteria

...Read more

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

There are many books available in the market. These are some of the recommended books for IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam

Book NameAuthors/Publisher
IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam GuideR Gupta
IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Entrance GuideShubhkamna Publication
Teaching Aptitude and Aptitude for Entrance ExamsPaperback Publications
IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Parvesh Pariksha 2020 (Hindi)Arihant Publications
IGNOU BEd Entrance Test: Previous Years Papers (Solved) (Hindi)Ramesh Publishing House
IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Preparation GuidePaperback Publications
15 Practice Sets for IGNOU BEd Entrance ExamArihant Publications

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

The IGNOU BEd counselling begins after the IGNOU BEd entrance exam result declaration. The merit list is released based on which the candidates had to report with the required documents and fees at the chosen centre.

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10