IGNOU PhD Admission 2025: Interview Result (OUT), Eligibility, Entrance, Fees

IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam July 2025 Session – The registration for the PhD programme at IGNOU for the July 2025 session is now open. Interested candidates can apply online through the official portal. The last date to submit the application is 31 October 2025. After registration, eligible candidates will be required to appear for an entrance examination (scheduled tentatively for early January 2026) followed by an interview for final selection. Candidates are requested to read this article carefully to know the complete details of IGNOU PhD Entrance Eligibility, Registration Procedure, Fees, Syllabus, Dates, and much more.

You Can Also Read:

• IGNOU Courses List 2024
• IGNOU PhD Entrance Hall Ticket 2024
• IGNOU PhD Entrance Result 2024

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) conducts the PhD entrance process for the July 2025 session. Admission to the PhD programmes is strictly on merit, based on the candidate’s performance in the Entrance Test and Interview (Viva) taken together. After the evaluation, IGNOU releases the final list of shortlisted candidates selected in their respective disciplines.

IGNOU PhD 2024: Highlights

Programme Name	IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam / PhD Admission
Mode of Exam	Written, expected as national-level test (100 MCQs) for those required; for many candidates with NET/JRF interview-only.
Type	Multiple‐Choice Questions (MCQs) for those who take the test.
Full-time / Part-time availability	Both Full-time and Part-time PhD programmes are offered.

Note: Both part-time and full-time students are required to attend classes at the allotted centers to complete their coursework as prescribed by the university. A minimum of 80% attendance in the coursework is mandatory to be eligible for the term-end examination.

IGNOU PhD Eligibility 2025

Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for the Ph.D. program:

1. Academic Qualifications:

   • • A 1-year / 2-semester Master’s degree after a 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor’s degree,
       or a 2-year / 4-semester Master’s degree after a 3-year / 6-semester Bachelor’s degree.

     • Alternatively, qualifications declared equivalent to a Master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body are also acceptable.

     • A minimum of 55% marks in aggregate, or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever a grading system is followed.

   • Relaxation:
     A relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade is permitted for candidates belonging to SC / ST / OBC (non-creamy layer) / Differently-Abled / Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories as per the Commission’s decision.
2. Special Conditions:

   • Candidates seeking admission after a 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor’s degree must have obtained at least 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade.

   • A relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade applies to SC / ST / OBC (non-creamy layer) / Differently-Abled / EWS and other eligible categories.

3. M.Phil. Holders:

   • Candidates who have successfully completed an M.Phil. programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade are eligible for admission to the Ph.D. programme.

   • Relaxation: A 5% marks relaxation applies for the same reserved categories listed above.

4. Foreign Qualifications:
   • Equivalent qualifications from accredited foreign institutions are accepted, provided that these institutions are recognized, approved, or accredited by a competent authority in their home country (as per UGC regulations).

IGNOU PhD Entrance & Admission Date 2025

Events	Official Dates
IGNOU PhD Online Application Start Date	19 July 2025 (registration began)
Last Date of IGNOU PhD Online Application	31 October 2025
Last Date of Correction in Application	To be Announced
IGNOU PhD Entrance Hall Ticket Release Date	To be Announced
IGNOU Phd Entrance Exam Date	5 January 2026 (tentative)
IGNOU PhD Entrance Result Date	To be Announced

 

How to Apply for IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2025?

Students can easily apply for the Ph.D. Entrance Examination through the online mode. Interested candidates need to follow these steps:

1. Access the Application Portal:
   • Click on the provided application link and select the “Online Application Form” for Ph.D. July 2025.
2. Registration:

   • Click on “New Registration” to begin the registration process.

   • Enter all required details such as name, valid email ID, and mobile number.

   • After registration, login credentials will be sent to your registered email and phone.

3. Fill out the Application Form:

   • Login using your credentials and complete the application form carefully.

   • Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, discipline preferences, and category information.

   • Double-check spellings, marks, and uploaded information before submission.

4. Upload Documents:

   • Upload a recent passport-size photograph (less than 200 KB) and a digital signature (less than 30 KB).

   • Upload scanned copies of relevant academic documents, experience certificates (if any), and category certificates in the specified format.

5. Review and Submit:

   • Carefully verify all entered details before final submission.

   • After submitting the form, download and save the confirmation page or take a printout for future reference.

6. Payment of Application Fee:

   • Pay the application fee of ₹1000/- online using Credit Card, Debit Card / ATM Card, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) or Net Banking.

   • The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

   • Applications will be considered complete only after successful payment.

7. Confirmation:

   • After successful submission and payment, candidates will receive a confirmation message via SMS and/or email.

   • If confirmation is not received within 24 hours, candidates must contact the Research Unit at researchunit@ignou.ac.in

8. Note Application Number:

   • Keep a record of your Application Number.

   • This will be required for future logins, downloading the Hall Ticket, and checking the Result.

Important Points:

• Online registration is mandatory; offline or printed applications will not be accepted.

• No documents are required to be physically submitted during the online application stage. All originals must be produced during the Interview.

• Category changes or modifications will not be permitted after successful submission.

• Candidates must apply for only one discipline per application form.

• The last date to submit the online application for the July 2025 session is 31 October 2025 (or 21 days from the official announcement date, as per IGNOU notice).

Click to Fill IGNOU PhD Online Application for 2025 (open)

IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam Structure 2025

Many students preparing for the IGNOU Ph.D. Entrance Exam have questions about the syllabus and exam structure. To help, we’ve clarified key details here for the July 2025 session.

Exam Format

The IGNOU Ph.D. Entrance Test 2025 will be conducted in offline mode (pen-and-paper test) and will consist of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).

• Total Questions: 100

• Marks per Question: 1

• Total Marks: 100

• Question Type: Objective (MCQ)

• Medium of Exam: English

Question Paper Division (As per UGC PhD Regulations 2022)

According to the Information Brochure for July 2025, the exam pattern remains aligned with UGC guidelines, divided as follows:

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +1 mark

• Negative Marking: X No negative marking (candidates are encouraged to attempt all questions).

• Qualifying Marks: 50% for General / OBC (non-creamy layer), and 45% for SC/ST/PwD/EWS candidates (as per IGNOU Research Unit norms).

Exam Duration and Timing

• Duration: 3 hours

• Timing: 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM (as per previous cycles and retained for 2025)

Additional Notes

• The entrance test is followed by a mandatory interview/viva-voce, where candidates are evaluated on research aptitude, subject knowledge, and proposal feasibility.

• Candidates who hold valid UGC-NET / CSIR-NET / JRF / GATE qualifications may be exempted from the entrance exam, but must still appear for the interview.

• The exam is conducted at selected IGNOU regional centres across India, with centres listed on the admit card.

IGNOU PhD Selection Process 2025

Candidates seeking admission to the IGNOU Ph.D. Programme for the July 2025 Session will undergo a two-stage selection process, as outlined by the university’s official Research Unit.

Stage 1: Entrance Test

• Eligible applicants who are not exempted under UGC regulations must appear for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Test 2025.

• The entrance test is objective-type (MCQ) and carries a total of 100 marks.

• The paper is divided equally between Research Methodology (50%) and Subject-Specific Questions (50%).

• The qualifying marks are:

  • 50% for General and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates

  • 45% for SC/ST/PwD/EWS candidates

• Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks will be shortlisted for the Interview (Stage 2).

Stage 2: Interview / Viva-Voce

• Shortlisted candidates must appear for an Interview/Viva-Voce conducted by the respective School of Studies.

• The interview assesses:

  • Research aptitude and conceptual understanding

  • Subject knowledge

  • Alignment of proposed research with the school’s areas of specialization

  • Feasibility of conducting research at IGNOU

• Candidates exempted from the entrance test (e.g., UGC-NET JRF, CSIR-NET JRF, GATE-qualified) are directly called for the interview.

Weightage Distribution

Final Selection & Admission

• After evaluating candidates’ scores from both stages, IGNOU prepares a discipline-wise merit list.

• The final list of selected candidates is published on the official IGNOU website and the Research Unit notice board.

• Selected candidates must complete document verification and pay the admission fee within the stipulated period to confirm their admission.

Important Notes

• Exempted candidates (NET/JRF/GATE-qualified) are not required to take the entrance test but must appear for the interview.

• All original documents (marksheets, certificates, and category proofs) must be produced during the interview for verification.

• Admission is strictly based on merit and subject to seat availability in the chosen discipline.

IGNOU PhD Courses List 2025

The IGNOU PhD program (Doctor of Philosophy) is the highest academic degree awarded to students, marking their expertise and research proficiency in a specialized field. This esteemed doctorate degree is conferred during the IGNOU Convocation, acknowledging the successful completion of rigorous research and coursework.

Eligibility and Admission Requirements for IGNOU PhD 2025

Eligibility criteria for the IGNOU PhD program vary by discipline, requiring most candidates to hold a master’s degree, with some fields recommending relevant professional experience. Admission to a PhD program at IGNOU mandates candidates to qualify in the IGNOU PhD entrance examination, followed by an interview process. Admission is competitive, with a final merit list generated based on entrance exam performance and interview scores.

Program Duration and Coursework Requirements

The IGNOU PhD program (Doctor of Philosophy) is the highest academic degree awarded to students, marking their expertise and research proficiency in a specialized field. This esteemed doctorate degree is conferred during the IGNOU Convocation, acknowledging the successful completion of rigorous research and coursework.

Eligibility criteria for the IGNOU PhD program vary by discipline, requiring most candidates to hold a master’s degree, with some fields recommending relevant professional experience. Admission to a PhD program at IGNOU mandates candidates to qualify in the IGNOU PhD entrance examination, followed by an interview process. Admission is competitive, with a final merit list generated based on entrance exam performance and interview scores.

The duration of an IGNOU PhD typically ranges from 3 to 6 years, depending on the chosen discipline and research scope. Throughout their studies, candidates (referred to as doctoral or PhD candidates) engage in advanced coursework, research projects, dissertations, or other significant research activities as part of their doctoral journey.

This IGNOU PhD program ensures comprehensive academic and practical training, preparing students to become experts in their fields while contributing to academic, scientific, and professional knowledge.

IGNOU offers a wide range of Ph.D. programs across various disciplines. Below is the list of available programs:

Program Code	Name of the Program
PHDPC	Ph.D. in Psychology
PHDAN	Ph.D. in Anthropology
PHDHIS	Ph.D. in History
PHDSOC	Ph.D. in Sociology
PHDBC	Ph.D. in Biochemistry
PHDCHEM	Ph.D. in Chemistry
PHDGEOG	Ph.D. in Geography
PHDGY	Ph.D. in Geology
PHDLS	Ph.D. in Life Sciences
PHDPH	Ph.D. in Physics
PHDSTAT	Ph.D. in Statistics
PHDMT	Ph.D. in Mathematics
PHDSK	Ph.D. in Sanskrit
PHDCS	Ph.D. in Computer Science
PHDES	Ph.D. in Education
PHDEV	Ph.D. in Environmental Science
PHDPVA	Ph.D. in Fine Arts
PHDPVA	Ph.D. in Theatre Arts
PHDPVA	Ph.D. in Music
PHDPVA	Ph.D. in Dance
PHDTS	Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality Service Management
PHDSW	Ph.D. in Social Work
PHDHC	Ph.D. in Home Science
PHDMGMT	Ph.D. in Management
PHDCOM	Ph.D. in Commerce
PHDFN	Ph.D. in Nutritional Science
PHDCD	Ph.D. in Child Development
PHDRD	Ph.D. in Rural Development
PHDVE	Ph.D. in Vocational Education
PHDDV	Ph.D. in Development Studies
PHDDE	Ph.D. in Distance Education
PHDITS	Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary & Trans-disciplinary Studies
PHDGDS	Ph.D. in Gender and Development Studies
PHDHIN	Ph.D. in Hindi

IGNOU PhD Entrance Hall Ticket 2024-2025 (Updated)

For the July 2024 session of IGNOU’s PhD programme, a public download link for the PhD Entrance Exam hall ticket has not been clearly confirmed on the official website.

For the July 2025 session, the hall ticket release date is to be announced.

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official IGNOU PhD portal (ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in)

IGNOU PhD Entrance Answer Key 2024-2025 (Updated)

For the July 2024 session, IGNOU released the provisional Ph.D. Entrance Test answer key for the exam held on 7th January 2024. The key was made available online until 3rd February 2024, and candidates could raise objections via entrancetest@ignou.ac.in

IGNOU PhD Entrance Result 2024 -2025 (Updated)

For the July 2024 session, IGNOU declared the PhD Entrance Test result on 28 February 2024.

For the July 2025 session, the result is yet to be published. Candidates are advised to regularly check IGNOU’s official “Announcements” page and the Research Unit section for the notice of declaration.

The candidates can check their PhD Entrance results by two methods. They can either check through Application Number and Password or Application Number and Date of Birth. Therefore, it is necessary that candidates should have their application number, correct date of birth, and security pin to download their Ph.D. Entrance scorecard on their device.

IGNOU PhD Interview Schedule 2024-2025 (Updated)

IGNOU has begun releasing the discipline-wise interview schedules for the PhD admissions for the July 2024 and July 2025 sessions. Candidates who have qualified in the entrance test (or are exempted) must check the official IGNOU website under “Research Unit → Interview Schedules” for their specific discipline’s interview date, venue, time, and reporting instructions.

For the July 2025 session, interview notices for several disciplines (e.g., Journalism & Mass Communication, Development Studies, Women’s Studies, Geography) were published in August-September 2025. Candidates are advised to act on the published schedule and arrive in time for document verification and the interview round.

Click for IGNOU PhD Interview Schedule 2024 (Released)

If your program is not available in the above list then do check this page on a regular basis to get the schedule of your Phd interview.

IGNOU PhD Interview Result 2024-2025 (Updated)

For the July 2024 session, IGNOU issued discipline-wise interview schedules and subsequently published final selection lists of candidates admitted to the PhD programme.

For the July 2025 session:

• IGNOU’s “Announcements” page shows a new entry: “List of Candidates selected for admission to Research Degree Programme for the July 2025 Session” (dated 06 Oct 2025) under the Research Unit.

Multiple discipline-wise interview schedules for July 2025 (English, Management, Psychology etc) have been published by the Research Unit.

Once the final merit list of selected candidates is uploaded, shortlisted candidates should follow the admission formalities: document verification, fee payment, joining the coursework as required.

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025: FAQs

Q1. Can I pursue a Ph.D. program at IGNOU?
Answer: Yes, eligible candidates can pursue a Ph.D. at IGNOU.

Q2. Is the IGNOU PhD program Distance or Regular?
Answer: The IGNOU Ph.D. is a regular research-based program, not a distance-learning course. All Ph.D. scholars are required to engage in regular research guidance, coursework, and interaction with their supervisors as per UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degrees) Regulations, 2022.

Q3. Is the IGNOU Ph.D. program offered Full-Time or Part-Time?
Answer: IGNOU offers both Full-Time and Part-Time Ph.D. programs.

• Full-time candidates include fellowship holders and research scholars.

• Part-time candidates are often professionals or faculty members in approved institutions.
  Both formats are valid and recognized across India under UGC norms.

Q4. Is the IGNOU PhD program Recognized by the UGC?
Answer: Yes. IGNOU is a Central University established by an Act of Parliament in 1985 and is recognized by the UGC. Its Ph.D. degrees are valid and accepted for academic, research, and employment purposes across India and abroad.

Q5. How can I get PhD from IGNOU?
Answer: To obtain a Ph.D. from IGNOU, you must pass the entrance exam, complete the interview process, and fulfill the coursework requirements (both theory and practical).

Q6. Do I Need to Pass Entrance for Taking Admission to PhD?
Answer: Yes, for most applicants, the IGNOU Ph.D. Entrance Test is compulsory.
However, candidates who are NET/JRF or GATE qualified are exempted from the entrance exam but must still appear for the Interview/Viva-Voce round for final selection.

Q6. What is the duration of the Ph.D. program at IGNOU?
Answer:

• Minimum Duration: 3 years (including coursework)

• Maximum Duration: 6 years (with an additional 2 years extension for women and PwD candidates)