IGNOU Opens PhD Admission 2025: Apply by October 31 at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in

The admissions will be conducted for PhD programmes in 24 disciplines, including English, Hindi, Commerce, Education, Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, and others.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has officially opened the registration process for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes for the academic year 2025. Aspiring candidates can apply online through the official portal — ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in — until October 31, 2025.

The admissions will be conducted for PhD programmes in 24 disciplines, including English, Hindi, Commerce, Education, Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, and others. A complete list of available subjects, eligibility criteria, and other details has been made available in the official prospectus released by the university.

PhD Entrance Test on January 5, 2026

IGNOU will conduct a national-level entrance test on January 5, 2026 (Sunday) from 2 PM to 5 PM across designated examination centres. The entrance exam will carry 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and will be of three hours’ duration. Shortlisted candidates will then be called for an interview/viva-voce conducted by the respective discipline-specific research committees.

Key Dates and Information

Event                                         Date

Application Start Date            July 19, 2025

Last Date to Apply                 October 31, 2025

Entrance Exam Date             January 5, 2026

Mode of Application               Online only

Application Fee                      ₹1000 (₹800 for SC/ST)

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have a Master’s degree in the relevant subject with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD categories). Those who have already qualified NET/JRF are also required to appear for the entrance examination.

How to Apply

Visit ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in

Click on “New Registration” or “Login” if already registered.

Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and research-related details.

Upload scanned copies of required documents.

Pay the application fee online.

Submit and download the confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates are advised to go through the official information brochure thoroughly before applying.

For further updates, visit the official IGNOU website or contact the university’s helpdesk at phdentrance@ignou.ac.in.