How to Enrol for Admission to PhD at IGNOU?
PhD Admissions at IGNOU
How to Get Admission to a PhD Course at IGNOU? - The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is one of the most popular colleges in India. It is often the first choice for distance learning and online education. At IGNOU, they offer numerous programmes in numerous streams. They also offer doctoral-level courses or a PhD in various disciplines. Earlier, another doctoral-level programme, MPhil, was also offered at the university. However, MPhil is no longer recognised by the UGC. In this article, we will discuss the admission process for the PhD programme at IGNOU and more. To get admission to the PhD programmes at IGNOU, aspirants must fill an online application form (available on the IGNOU website for INR 1000). They must also have a master's in a relevant discipline to be eligible for the programme. Read further to learn more.
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PhD Course: Highlights
Some key information about the PhD programme at IGNOU is mentioned in the table below.
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Course Name |
Doctor of Philosophy |
| Course level |
Doctorate |
| Eligibility |
Through Fellowship: Master's in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks and cleared National level fellowship examination. Research Entrance Test: Master's in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks and cleared RET conducted by the university. |
| Duration |
3 years and a maximum of 6 years |
| Course Fee |
Up to INR 6 lakh |
| Average salary |
INR 5 to 10 lakh |
| Top Recruiters |
Government Departments, Research Institutes, Academic Institutions, Colleges and Universities |
| Entrance Exam |
|
| Job Positions |
Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Research Advisor, Research Consultant |
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IGNOU offers the following courses in PhD
At IGNOU, PhD programmes are offered in the following subjects.
| IGNOU PhD Courses |
|
|---|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture Extension |
Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology |
Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry |
Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science |
Doctor of Philosophy in Economics |
| Doctor of Philosophy in English |
Doctor of Philosophy in Extension & Development Studies |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Food & Nutrition |
Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Vocational Education |
Doctor of Philosophy in Geography |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Hindi |
Doctor of Philosophy in History |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Studies |
Doctor of Philosophy in Inter-disciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Mass Communication |
Doctor of Philosophy in Library & Information Science |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Management |
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing |
Doctor of Philosophy in Performing and Visual Arts with a specialisation in Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and Music |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Law |
Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Physics |
Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Education |
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration |
Doctor of Philosophy in Rural Development |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Geology |
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology |
|
In order to pursue a course in IGNOU, candidates need to clear an IGNOU PhD entrance exam, which will be followed by an interview round. Once both rounds have been cleared, the candidate is eligible for admission. More on the entrance test below.
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IGNOU PhD Eligibility Criteria
Before filling out the application form, candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria. If a candidate is found ineligible at any point in time during the admission procedure, the applicant will not be allowed to advance further in the process.
Yes, students could take direct admission to a lot of UG and PG programmes offered at IGNOU. IGNOU admissions for many undergraduate and postgraduate courses such as BSc, BA, BCA, MBA, MA, and MSc are based on the merit of the last qualifying exam. IGNOU admission is conducted twice a year. Students should apply for IGNOU admissions 2025 before the last date of admission.
The below-mentioned is the IGNOU admission video:
IGNOU offers only very selective programmes to international students through its overseas partner institutes. These partner institutes render student support services to such students. Such students aspiring to pursue IGNOU programmes must contact the concerned partner institute in their vicinity and fill out the admission form along with the requisite fees within the stipulated time. Click here to view the list of partner institutes along with their contact details.
PhD
- Candidates must have a master’s degree in the relevant discipline from a recognised university by the UGC.
- There is a relaxation of 5 per cent marks for reserved category candidates (SC/ST/OBC).
- Candidates holding an MPhil Degree (along with coursework and dissertation) or candidates who have cleared NET or any other equivalent examination must also appear for the entrance exam.
Also Read: IGNOU BA Economics Syllabus
How to fill the IGNOU Application Form for PhD Programmes?
To enrol for admission in IGNOU, the first process begins with the filling and submitting of the application form. Candidates can only apply online on the official website of IGNOU. However, candidates must note that application forms are available on certain dates before the session commences. The varsity will not accept application forms after the due date. The steps to fill the application form are listed below.
Step 1: Visit IGNOU's website.
Step 2: On visiting the website, candidates will have to click on the ‘admission link’.
Step 3: On clicking the ‘admission link’, the candidate will have to enter their respective email IDs and password. After registering, the candidate can then log in.
Step 4: On logging in, the candidate will have to click on the ‘apply now’ link. On doing so, the candidate can then fill in the application form.
Step 5: Candidates are advised to cross-check every detail that is being entered in the form. Once the applicant has filled the form, the candidate is required to upload a JPEG file of their respective passport-size photographs and signature.
Indira Gandhi National Open University has extended its application deadline from Jul 15 to Jul 31. Candidates seeking admission to the MA courses can apply in Jul session till the extended date. Additionally, the candidates who are pursuing the course can re-register as well. The IGNOU re-registration date is extended till Jul 31 as well.
Students who have applied for B.Ed, MBA or PB BSc Nursing must appear for the required entrance and check if they've qualified it. Followed by application, application fee payment and entrance, students who have completed their registration can check their status by entering their registration number on the IGNOU admission status page. The university also notifies students about their admission confirmation or rejection through an email and a text message in the next two months.
Step 6: Once all the details are filled in, the candidate can then proceed to pay the application fee, which is Rs 1000. The payment can be made online or offline.
Online: The candidate can pay the application fee online via credit card/ debit card/ net banking.
Offline: Demand draft, which can be sent to the university address.
Step 7: Once the formalities have been completed, the candidate is advised to take a printout of the application form for future reference.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam
Selection for admission to the varsity is done on the basis of the written entrance exam, which will be followed by an interview. Only those who clear the exam will be called for interviews. Candidates who have cleared NET (conducted by UGC/CSIR/ICAR) or any other equivalent examination will be exempted from appearing for the IGNOU entrance exam. Candidates need to keep in mind the following process for the entrance exam.
- IGNOU will release a list of candidates’ names who have been shortlisted for the entrance exam. Applicants can see the list, which will be available on the official website of IGNOU.
- Candidates who have been shortlisted for the entrance exam will be issued the admit cards a week prior to the IGNOU PhD entrance exam.
- Candidates must carry their admit cards to the test centres. Those who fail to do so will not be allowed to take the exam.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam Pattern
The test will feature MCQs. The test pattern is elaborated in the table below.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Syllabus | Research Methodology and Subject-Specific Syllabus of the Postgraduate Level (50% weightage for each) |
| Types of Questions | MCQs |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marking Scheme | 4 marks/ question, no negative marking |
Interview Round
Candidates who clear the written exam will be called for the interview/presentation round. The results of the written entrance exam will be declared on the official website of IGNOU. Candidates can check the result through the following steps:
Step 1: Visit the official website of IGNOU.
Step 2: The candidate will have to click on ‘Results’, which will be present under the banner at the top of the page.
Step 3: On clicking the ‘result’ link, the candidate will be directed to a new page. From there on, the candidate will have to search for the MPhil/PhD entrance exam result link.
Step 4: On finding the link, the candidate will have to enter the ‘application number and password’. On entering the details, the results will be available on the screen.
Names of candidates mentioned in the list will have to appear for the second round, which is the interview/presentation process. Candidates will have to carry their documents as well, such as:
- ID proof and photocopies
- Class 10 mark sheet and photocopy
- Class 12 mark sheet and photocopy
- Graduation certificates
Candidates who clear the second round (Interview/Presentation) will receive offer letters for admission at IGNOU.
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Contact Details
Address
Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi
Saket, Delhi
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?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
h
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
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
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No, NCERT books are good for conceptual clarity. But, to prepare for IGNOU Entrance Exam, extra study material is required.
A
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
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
A
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 Name | Authors/Publisher |
|---|---|
| IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Guide | R Gupta |
| IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Entrance Guide | Shubhkamna Publication |
| Teaching Aptitude and Aptitude for Entrance Exams | Paperback 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 Guide | Paperback Publications |
| 15 Practice Sets for IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam | Arihant Publications |
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
IGNOU BEd entrance test isn't difficult if you have prepared well for the exam. In general, this test falls under moderate difficulty level.
A
Contributor-Level 10
IGNOU registrations are closed for July Session. The university will conduct the PhD entrance test on Jan 5, 2026. The admissions for next session are likely to open soon.