IGNOU admission process for the January 2026 session has started for ODL and Online programmes. The last date to apply is 31st January 2026 for IGNOU Admission 2026 without a late fee. Interested candidates should apply for UG, PG, Diploma, or Certificate-based courses to have a flexible, easily accessible, and quality education.
Candidates must fulfil the eligibility criteria to have a successful admission to Indira Gandhi National Open University. For UG courses, applicants must have a 10+2 education and have a graduation degree for PG courses from a recognized university.
Eligibility Criteria for IGNOU Admission
Students who have other roles and responsibilities in life but are waiting for a great opportunity to pursue higher education, can take admission at IGNOU.
The university offers various courses in science, commerce, arts, management, and computer applications. The eligibility criteria for ODL courses are given below to check:
- Undergraduate Course: Candidates must have a 12th (Higher Secondary) education from a well-renowned board.
- Post-graduate Course: Graduated candidates with 40 to 50 percent marks can apply for IGNOU MA, MCom, and MBA courses.
- Diploma: A 12th-grade education is required for diploma courses.
IGNOU Admission Fees 2026
To take admission, candidates have to pay the registration fee along with the course fee at the time of the IGNOU admission process for the January 2026-27 cycle. The registration fee is INR 300 to 500 for the Open & Distance mode of Learning programmes, and it is a non-refundable fee. Students who want to cancel their admissions can do so; there is a refund policy, which includes instructions such as:
- If any candidates cancel the admissions process before the last date, IGNOU will refund the full fee through the digital transaction process.
- A deduction of INR 500 will be made from the programme fee if admissions are cancelled after 15 days from the deadline.
- No refunds will be issued after 30 days from the end of the admissions process.
IGNOU Admission 2026: How to Apply
The IGNOU form fill-up process is given below for the January 2026 academic cycle. Applicants must have a DEB or ABC-ID to be able to start the registration process.
Step 1: Visit the official portal of IGNOU at this link: https://www.ignou.ac.in/
Step 2: Click on the New Registration tab from the homepage.
Step 3: Create a user account by providing name, mobile no, and email ID.
Step 4: Then fill out the application form.
Step 5: Upload the relevant document and pay the fee via UPI or Net banking, Credit, or Debit Cards.
Step 6: Submit the form and take a printout in the end for future reference or usage.
Required Documents:
Scanned copies of these documents should be accessible beforehand to ensure a smooth process:
- Scanned Photograph (less than 100KB)
- Scanned Signature (less than 100 KB)
- Scanned copies of relevant education qualifications
- Scanned copy of work experience certificate (if any)
- Scanned copy of category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)
