IGNOU PhD Admission 2026 has started for the January session. Interested candidates can register online and pay an application fee of INR 1000/- (non-refundable). Admission to the IGNOU PhD program will be done through the candidate’s performance in the UGC NET (JRF) examination, followed by an interview conducted by the University. The PhD program in IGNOU is offered both in part-time and full-time modes. The minimum duration of a PhD program is 3 years, and the maximum duration is 6 years. Students will be required to attend classes regularly and maintain 80% attendance (mandatory). To be eligible, students must have a 55% mark in their respective master’s degree from a recognized university. There is 5% mark relaxation for applicants belonging to SC/ST/EWS/OBC categories. The IGNOU PhD program will focus on academic writing, research, and field study. Students have to submit a thesis based on their original research. Students have to pay the IGNOU PhD fee of INR 17,850/– for 1st year and INR 8,400/- every year. The last date to apply is 31 January 2026. Check the latest updates on @ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in/.
IGNOU PhD Admission 2026: Latest Update
- Jan Update: IGNOU has published the list of selected candidates forthe PhD July 2025 session. Students can check the official notification for more information. Source
IGNOU PhD Admission Important Facts:
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy degree of IGNOU
Eligibility Criteria: Minimum qualification of a PG degree with a minimum secured marks of above 60%.
Entrance Test: An entrance exam is conducted by IGNOU, but exemptions may be given to candidates having valid scores in exams like GATE, GMAT, GRE, JRF (UGC/CSIR), or CAT.
Interview: Once the entrance exam is done, students have to appear for the IGNOU interview.
Important Dates: IGNOU PhD Admission for the January session 2026-27 has started from 20th December 2025*.
Application Process: IGNOU PhD admission 2026 will be completely online. Students can fill out the application form through the official website.
Duration: The minimum duration of IGNOU courses is 3 years, and the Maximum is 6 years.
Study Material: Students can download e-books and learning materials from the IGNOU Student Services Portal, the name of the portal is Gyankosh Portal.
IGNOU PhD Admission Course List:
| Ph.D. Program | |
| Ph.D. in English | Ph.D. in Statistics |
| Ph.D. in Hindi | Ph.D. in Computer Science |
| Ph.D. in Urdu | Ph.D. in Library and Information Science |
| Ph.D. in Sanskrit | Ph.D. in Education |
| Ph.D. in French | Ph.D. in Management |
| Ph.D. in Political Science | Ph.D. in Commerce |
| Ph.D. in Economics | Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality Services Management |
| Ph.D. in Sociology | Ph.D. in Environmental Science |
| Ph.D. in Psychology | Ph.D. in Development Studies |
| Ph.D. in Public Administration | Ph.D. in Gender and Development Studies |
| Ph.D. in Social Work | Ph.D. in Translation Studies |
| Ph.D. in Anthropology | Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication |
| Ph.D. in History | Ph.D. in Fine Arts |
| Ph.D. in Geography | Ph.D. in Music |
| Ph.D. in Geology | Ph.D. in Dance |
| Ph.D. in Chemistry | Ph.D. in Theatre Arts |
| Ph.D. in Biochemistry | Ph.D. in Vocational Education and Training |
| Ph.D. in Physics | Ph.D. in Home Science |
| Ph.D. in Mathematics | Ph.D. in Dairy Science and Technology |
IGNOU PhD Programs: Eligibility Criteria
For pursuing PhD from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), candidates must have a Master’s degree on any equivalent postgraduate qualification in the relevant field. Applicants also have to secure at least 50% aggregate marks in the last qualifying examination. Candidates who are belonging to SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories receiving a 5% of relaxation on marks. Taking admission in any PhD program, applicants must qualify for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Test. However, candidates who are already qualified for any entrance test like UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, JRF, GATE, need to appear for the interview/ viva. There is no age limit required for pursuing this program.
IGNOU PhD Fee Structure
Candidates wanting to apply for IGNOU PhD admission 2026 must check the fee structure carefully. Before, it is suggested that the fee structure be checked. IGNOU PhD Fee is divided into several categories, such as Course Work Fee, Registration Fee, Thesis Submission Fee, Examination Fee, and more. Each specialization has a fee structure is differs. Below is the general fee structure for PhD admission students:
| Fee Type | Amount |
| Registration Fee | INR 1,000 |
| Research Fee | INR 8,400 |
| Course Work Fee | INR 8,400 |
| Thesis Submission Fee | INR 5,000 |
| Examination Fee | INR 200 Each Subject |
| Application Fee | INR 1,000 |
| Tuition fee | INR 50,400 |
IGNOU PhD Admission Process
To get IGNOU PhD admission at IGNOU for PhD programs, students have to follow a successful admission procedure. IGNOU only accepts the application forms in online mode and it follows certain steps that are mentioned below-
- Visit the official IGNOU website https://www.ignou.ac.in/.
- Click on the registration button that is showing on the login portal.
- Make a username and password with 8 to 16 characters and submit.
- Students will get their usernames directly in their email.
- After getting the username, students are advised to log into the portal and start filling required details.
- Upload all the important documents, including scanned signatures, photo signatures, and all the academic certificates.
- After submitting all the documents, students have to pay the registration fee through online mode, and the university will only accept the application form once the fee payment is made.
- Click on the submit. After the final submission, take a screenshot or download the submitted form for future reference.
Admission Documents Required:
- 10th and 12th passing certificate
- Photographs
- Signature
- Bachelor’s mark sheet
- 2 years Master’s degree
- Category Certificate
- Adhaar Card
Entrance Exam for IGNOU PhD Admission
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) provides several PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) programs in Open & Distance Learning mode. The selection process of IGNOU’s PhD programs is truly based on the candidates’ performance in the UGC NET (University Grants Commission- National Eligibility Test) examination and the interview conducted by the university. IGNOU has divided candidates into 2 categories. Category A includes candidates who have qualified UGC NET with JRF (Junior Research Fellowship). These candidates must fill out the online PhD admission form and they will be directly called for an interview, which will have a 100% weightage. Category B includes those candidates who have qualified the UGC NET exam without a fellowship. They are shortlisted for the interview based on their UGC NET score, with the NET score given a 70% weightage and the interview a 30% weightage. The interviews are conducted only at IGNOU’s Headquarters, Maidan Gahri, New Delhi.
IGNOU Result Check
IGNOU Result Checking Process:
- Visit the official website of IGNOU
- Click on Student Services
- Then click on the Result button
- Select your course and click on “PhD admission result (July Session 2026)”
- Fill in your details in “Student Login.”
- Click on the Search button and view your result
FAQs
Q: What is the fee for IGNOU PhD admission in 2026?
Ans: IGNOU PHd fee is INR 17,850/- (1st year) and INR 8,400/- Re-Registration Fee each
year.
Q: What are the qualifications for a PhD in IGNOU?
Ans: PhD is the short form of Doctor of Philosophy. Eligibility: Students must have a required Master’s degree.
Q: Is a PhD from IGNOU valid?
Ans: Yes, a PhD at IGNOU(Indira Gandhi National Open University) provides a valid degree. IGNOU is a recognized central government university.
Q: Is IGNOU PhD Distance or Regular?
Ans: IGNOU provides PhD programs in both full-time and part-time formats. However, they don’t offer distance learning PhDs because these aren’t considered legitimate qualifications.
Q: How do I fill out the IGNOU Exam form?
Ans: University advice to all the students is that they can go to the students’ portal and register themselves and complete the exam form process.
Q: Why choose IGNOU PhD admission
Ans: Students can choose this course as it is affordable, offers flexibility through distance learning, and is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
