IGNOU MA Political Science Admission 2026: Last Date, Eligibility, Fee

IGNOU MA Political Science Admission 2026: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science program in open & distance learning mode (ODL). Admission for the July 2026 session will begin soon at IGNOU, and it will continue till 31 May 2026*. The minimum duration of this program is 2 years, which could be extended up to 4 years. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree or a higher degree from a certified university are eligible to apply for this program.

The selection process is usually based on academic merit; no entrance exam is required for admission. The Distance MA Political Science program covers core subjects like International Relations: Theory and Problems, India: Democracy and Development, Social Movements and Politics in India, Social and Political Thought in Modern India and many more. An application fee is payable at the time of the application procedure, which costs around INR 300, and it is mandatory & non- refundable. IGNOU MA Political Science fees are INR 8,000 per year and INR 16,000 for the full course.

IGNOU MA Political Science: Latest Update

• Admission in the IGNOU MA Political Science course will begin soon for the July 2026 session. Students can apply until the final date of 31 May 2026*. Source
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has published a revised tentative date sheet for the June 2026 Term-end examination. The exam will start on 1 June 2026. Source

IGNOU MA Political Science Highlights points

About IGNOU MA Political Science

IGNOU MA Political Science (MPS) is a postgraduate-level programme with a course duration of 2 years. IGNOU does not follow a semester structure for this programme. MPS’ aim’s is to provide learners a sound base in political studies by an in-depth learning into a broad range of political phenomena at regional, national and international levels. In this program, students can learn about the skills in political analysis, as well as critical and analytical skills, and more similar skills.

IGNOU offers this course in 64 credits for both years. In the 2nd year, students have the option to choose their 32 credits.

IGNOU MA Political Science Eligibility

Candidates need to complete the eligibility criteria as mentioned in IGNOU’s guidelines. All interested candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any field/discipline from a recognized and UGC approved University board. They should have 50% aggregate marks. Eligible candidates must also have DEB ID, which is essential for applying for OL and ODL programmes. 

Reserved Category students (SC/ST/Other categories) get relaxation in marks and need 45% in their last qualifying exam. 

Those who do not have a DEB ID can create one through the UGC DEB portal, https://deb.ugc.ac.in/. 

IGNOU MA Specialization Fee Structure

IGNOU MA Political Science fee is INR 16,000 for the full program. IGNOU offers affordable and quality education through ODL and online mode. In addition to this, candidates also have to pay a registration fee of INR 500 and a Development fee as mentioned by IGNOU in its fee guidelines. Registration fee is non-refundable, not even after cancellation of admission. IGNOU Online offers Credit/Debit Card/Netbanking/UPI as its fee payment options, but does not offer you a No Cost EMI option for any online course.

All candidates have to pay the complete fees at the time of submitting the application form. They can later apply for the Government of India Scholarship at the NSP Portal after their admission is confirmed.

Refer to the table below for the detailed fee structure:-

How to apply for the MA Admission at IGNOU

Follow the given steps to apply online for admission in the MA Political Science from IGNOU:

Step 01: Go to the official website or the IGNOU Samarth Admission Portal. Then, complete your registration as a ‘New User’ by filling in your basic details.

Step 02: Log in again on the admission portal with the Username and Password received on the registered Email ID.

Step 03: Choose your preferred programme and start filling out the application form with the correct information.

Step 04: Then upload all required documents in scanned format. Documents should be scanned from the original only; otherwise, they will not be considered valid. 

Step 05: Now review your form carefully, then pay applicable fees through online payment mode (UPI/Netbanking/Credit or Debit card)

Step 06: Download a filled copy of the application form and wait for further updates from IGNOU.

Required Documents For IGNOU MA Political Science

• Applicant’s Recent  photograph
• Scanned signature
• 10th marksheet/certificate
• 12th marksheet/certificate
• Bachelor’s degree/Provisional certificate
• Government-issued ID Proof
• Category certificate (if applicable)

IGNOU MA Political Science Assignments

The overall performance of the candidate depends upon the IGNOU assignment which carries 30% of the total marks, all the candidate are mandatorily required to submit before the due date as per the guidelines given, without submission student are not allowed to sit for the TEE (Term End Examination).

Assignments consist of some questions that not only add to the evaluation but also help as a practical material for students and prepare them for their TEE. Students can submit assignments at their allotted study centre before the deadline date. Online or late submission is not allowed at the University. 

How to Download the Assignment Question Paper:

• Go to the official website of IGNOU.
• Click on Student Services.
• Then click on the ‘Assignments’ option from the dropdown.
• Select your programme and download the latest Assignment paper.

IGNOU MA Political Science Admission offline process

To apply offline, candidates need to follow these steps:

Step 01: Visit your nearest regional centre of IGNOU and collect the admission form from the Student Service Cell or any other admission window.

Step 02: Start filling in all required details carefully. If candidates make any mistakes, they can ask for another admission form.

Step 03: Now attach photocopies of all relevant and required documents like Government ID proof, 10Th/12th marksheet, Bachelor marksheet, Photograph, etc.

Step 04: Pay the programme fee, development fee and admission form fee through a Demand Draft and submit your form to the Student Service Cell.

NOTE: IGNOU may accept offline admission forms, but only at a few regional centres, as Offline submission is becoming less common. So, it is best advised to check first whether there is an offline admission applicable for the MA Political Science or not.

More IGNOU Courses

FAQs

Q: What is IGNOU MA Political science fees?

Ans: IGNOU MA Political science duration of this course is 2 years for the whole duration fees will be INR 16000/ for full course.

Q: Does IGNOU offer an MA in Political Science course?

Ans: Yes, IGNOU provides the MA Political Science course through distance education mode.

Q: Is an MA in Political Science from IGNOU worth it?

Ans: Yes, doing an MA in Political Science is worth it due to its low cost, and also it builds a foundation for competitive exams like UPSC.

Q: What salary can a student expect after completing IGNOU MA Political Science?

Ans: After completing an MA in political science, an individual can expect an entry-level salary of 3-5 LPA. Basically, it depends upon role, location and experience.

Q: Does IGNOU eGyankosh provide study material for every course?

Ans: Yes, IGNOU eGyankosh provide digital study material for every course, and also allows students to download study material.

Q: What is the last date to apply for IGNOU MA Political Science Admission 2026? 

Ans: IGNOU MA Political Science admission last date for the July 2026 academic year is 31 May 2026.