IGNOU Distance Education 2026: Courses, Fees, Admission and Results

Yes, IGNOU degrees, diplomas, and certificates are recognized by all member universities of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and are at par with qualifications from all Indian universities. The university is exempted from UGC ODL and Online regulations vide UGC letters dated August 2019 and March 2020. Its professional programmes hold approvals from statutory bodies such as AICTE, NCTE, and INC.

Candidates must apply online through the official Samarth portals for ODL, Online, or Ph.D. programmes. Applicants need to register by creating a username and password, filling academic details, and entering their APAAR ID. Scanned copies of photograph, signature, and educational documents must be uploaded before paying the registration fee online.

For the July 2026 session, the extended last date for fresh admissions to ODL and Online programmes (except semester and certificate courses) was 30th September 2026, while select online applications continued till 13th October 2026. Re-registration for existing students was also extended up to 30th September 2026 with a late fee of Rs. 200. Ph.D. registrations closed on 15th July 2026.

IGNOU delivers printed Self-Learning Material (SLM) to students enrolled in ODL programmes according to their academic calendar session. Students who opt for digital copies receive a fee discount and access material online via eGyanKosh or the IGNOU e-Content mobile app. Online programme learners do not receive printed materials and access all resources digitally through the Learning Management System.

Term-end examinations (TEE) are conducted twice a year in June and December across designated exam centres nationwide. For yearly programmes, June exams apply to the July session and December exams to the January session. For semester programmes, December exams apply to July admission and June exams to January admission. Students must submit required assignments prior to appearing for term-end exams.

Results for term-end examinations are published on the official portal following the conclusion of evaluation schedules. For the June term-end exams, results are typically declared by August, while for the December term-end exams, results are declared by February. Grade cards and provisional certificates are updated online after marks for theory, assignments, and practicals are compiled.

Students download digital study materials directly from eGyanKosh, a national digital repository hosting content across 22 academic schools. Learners in Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) programmes like BAG, BAH, BSC, and BCOMG can access soft copies without waiting for physical delivery. Digital eSLM materials are also accessible on the IGNOU e-Content mobile app for all registered learners. Selecting soft copy study material during registration yields a discount on the overall programme fee.

Official assignment question papers are published on the IGNOU Assignment Question Papers portal for all enrolled courses. Students must write clear, handwritten Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs), which carry 100 marks per course in programmes like Certificate in Russian Language (CRUL). Written assignments must be submitted directly at the student's allotted Study Centre to obtain an official receipt before filling out the term-end exam form. Learners must retain a personal copy of all completed assignments prior to submission.

Graduates obtain their original degree, diploma, or certificate by registering online through the IGNOU convocation portal or degree delivery portal. For the 39th Convocation held on 07 April 2026 for December 2024 and June 2025 TEE pass-outs, the fee is Rs. 600 for degree and diploma programmes, and Rs. 200 for PG Certificate courses. Candidates upload scanned copies of their IGNOU Identity Card and Provisional Certificate in JPEG format under 100 KB and pay via debit card, credit card, or net banking.

Term-end examination fees are neither refundable nor adjustable under any circumstances if a student skips or fails to appear for an examination session. Learners who miss an examination must submit a fresh exam form and pay the exam fee again for the next June or December TEE session. For students admitted from the January 2023 cycle onwards, theory exam fees are charged at Rs. 200 per course. Online form submissions and fee payments are completed on the examination registration portal.

Re-registration is completed online by existing students to enrol in their next academic year or semester through the IGNOU re-registration portal. For the July 2026 session, the submission deadline was extended to 30 September 2026 along with a late fee of Rs. 200 for all ODL and Online programmes. Learners log in using their username and password, select their required courses, and pay fees via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI like the BHIM App.

Students choosing digital soft copies (eSLM) receive a reduced fee structure where only the non-refundable registration fee is withheld upon admission cancellation. Digital materials are accessed instantly via eGyanKosh or the IGNOU e-Content mobile app without waiting for physical mail dispatches. Learners selecting printed Self-Learning Materials (SLM) receive physical books distributed between July and September for July session yearly programmes. Course materials cover over 2,500 courses organized across 21 Schools of Studies.

For students admitted from the January 2023 admission cycle onwards, the theory exam fee is Rs. 200 per course for Term-End Examinations. Practical exam fees and project evaluation fees are Rs. 300 per course for up to 4 credits, and Rs. 500 per course for courses exceeding 4 credits. Fees must be paid online through the examination registration portal while filling out the June or December TEE form. Receipts generated online must be attached to project submissions.

Students select their preferred examination centre code online on the examination registration portal while submitting their TEE application form. Examinees are permitted to take tests strictly at the exam centre specified on their official hall ticket issued by the Student Evaluation Division. Form submission and payment confirmation can be verified after 72 hours on the payment status search page by entering enrolment number and date of birth. Entrance test centres for Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing are selected similarly.

Learners request official academic transcripts and migration certificates online through the IGNOU Grievance Redressal And Management (iGRAM) portal. Students select categories such as 'Migration Certificate' or 'Official Transcript' from the query drop-down list and submit their registered enrolment details. Administrative service issues or credential verification requests can also be submitted to the Student Service Centre at Maidan Garhi by emailing ssc@ignou.ac.in or calling 011-29572513 during working hours from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Practical and lab components require a mandatory 90% attendance for practical counselling sessions conducted at allotted Learner Support Centres or Programme Study Centres. Practical exam fees of Rs. 300 (up to 4 credits) or Rs. 500 (above 4 credits for post-Jan 2023 batches) must be paid online during TEE form submission. Students must present their online payment receipts to examiners during practical assessments at assigned centres. Evaluation marks are forwarded directly to the Student Evaluation Division.

Learners in online (OL) programmes like BCA_NEWOL or MSWOL complete coursework and submit assignments digitally through the designated Learning Management System (LMS). No printed study material is dispatched for online programmes, and all digital resources are accessed on the portal. Term-end online examinations under e-VidyaBharti run in two daily slots: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM IST (morning) and 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM IST (evening). Hall tickets are downloaded online from the December 2025 E-VidyaBharati portal.

Registration fees paid during application are strictly non-refundable under any circumstances. If an admission cancellation is requested after admission confirmation, 15% of the programme fee up to a maximum ceiling of Rs. 2,000 is deducted. No fee refund is admissible if a cancellation request is submitted after 60 days from the admission closing date. Term-end examination fees paid for June or December TEE are also non-refundable and non-adjustable.

Students check their grade card and examination results online by navigating to the IGNOU Result portal. Select 'TERM-END-EXAM (TEE)' or 'RE-EVALUATION', choose the relevant examination session from the dropdown menu, and enter your 9-digit or 10-digit enrolment number. Results reflect both term-end theory marks and tutor-marked assignment scores evaluated under SED guidelines. For entrance tests like B.Ed. 2026, candidate marks are accessed similarly on the entrance result portal.

Students locate network centres through the official IGNOU administrative directory comprising 69 Regional Centres and over 2,000 Learner Support Centres pan-India. For central administrative assistance, learners can contact the Regional Services Division (RSD) at 011-29572412 or rsd@ignou.ac.in. Direct contact numbers for regional offices are available in the directory, such as Delhi 1 (011-26990083), Delhi 2 (011-23392374), Kolkata (033-23349850), and Mumbai (022-25923159). Seat allocations and counselling are managed by respective Regional Centres.

Learners log in to the IGNOU Student Portal (Samarth) using the username (8-16 characters) and password created during initial registration. Registered students use this login dashboard to check admission confirmation status, choose re-registration courses, and access exam payment links. If OTP delivery fails or login credentials are forgotten, students must contact their assigned Regional Centre for account credential resetting. A valid APAAR ID must also be linked on the portal.

Examinees must enter their enrolment number carefully on the answer sheet, writing an 'X' in the final bracket if using a 9-digit enrolment number instead of 10 digits. IGNOU does not provide supplementary answer sheets, requiring students to write on every line without leaving blank pages. Before submitting, students must ensure the answer sheet bears their signature, the invigilator's signature, and the exam centre stamp. Signing outside the prescribed column on the attendance sheet results in being marked absent.

Ph.D. admission for the July 2026 session required online registration on the Ph.D. admission portal by the deadline of 15 July 2026. Admissions comply with UGC Regulations 2022 across full-time and part-time categories, requiring UGC-NET qualification and an interview at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. Employed candidates must submit a formal employer No Objection Certificate (NOC). Admitted scholars must complete six months of mandatory coursework at the New Delhi campus with at least 80% attendance.

Applicants check their admission status online by logging into the designated ODL or Online admission portal using their registered username and password. After completing registration steps—including uploading passport photos under 100 KB and marksheets under 200 KB—students view application verification progress on their dashboard. If admission is cancelled due to submission of false or forged documents, all fees paid are forfeited without refund. Admitted students can subsequently access course details on the IGNOU Student Portal (Samarth).

Physical Self-Learning Material (SLM) distribution timelines are structured by academic session in the official Academic Calendar. For yearly system programmes, printed study materials are distributed between July and September for the July session, and between January and March for the January session. For semester system programmes, SLM distribution occurs during July-August (July session) and January-February (January session). Learners can monitor their dispatch progress online via the Study Material Status link on the university portal.

Learners apply for re-evaluation or official answer script photocopies online through the IGNOU result and evaluation portal after term-end results are declared. Requests must be submitted by choosing 'RE-EVALUATION' from the dropdown menu and entering the enrolment number. Evaluation processes are handled directly by the Student Evaluation Division (SED) at New Delhi. However, initial examination fees paid for June or December TEE remain completely non-refundable and non-adjustable regardless of re-evaluation outcomes.