IGNOU Admission January 2026: Last Date, Fees, Process (ODL & Online)

IGNOU has opened fresh admissions for the January 2026 session for notified programmes in Open & Distance Learning (ODL) and Online modes. Admissions started on 16 December 2025, and the last date to apply is 31 January 2026.

This is an excellent opportunity for students who missed the July 2025 session to apply for admission to the world’s largest open and distance learning university.

The IGNOU January 2026 Admission Cycle is open for Master’s Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates, and other programs in both Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Mode.

Read on to explore the updated procedure, eligibility criteria, and important dates for IGNOU Admission January 2026.

Also Read: IGNOU Syllabus 2026

IGNOU Admission 2026

The university has officially started the IGNOU Admission for the latest session called January 2026 on its scheduled date. The students who are interested in taking admission to IGNOU can now enroll in the current January 2026 session. IGNOU January 2026 Admission Session is open for the academic session 2025-26 for all IGNOU Courses.

Picking IGNOU for further education will never be the wrong choice. First of all, the degree attained from this institute is valid and considered equivalent to any accredited institute. Furthermore, it is a boon for students who are unable to start or complete their education for any of the reasons.

The university has brought down a higher level of education to its doors within an affordable IGNOU Fee Structure. Moreover, talking about the study materials, it would be hard to bring down IGNOU. The students who are diligently working for UPSC, Civil services, or any national examination put their fingers first on the IGNOU Study Material. All the students who want to replenish their educational career through distance mode must take note of the admission process carried out in IGNOU. We have brought together the entire information for your reference.

Name of the Portal	Official Website
IGNOU Admsision for ODL Programs	https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/
IGNOU Admission for Online Programs	https://ignouiop.samarth.edu.in/
IGNOU Admission for FLIP Programs	https://ignouflip.samarth.edu.in/
IGNOU Admission for International Students	https://ignouforeigniop.samarth.edu.in/

For all Programmes (except Certificate and Semester-based Programmes): 31 January 2026.

IGNOU Admission January 2026: Highlights

IGNOU’s January 2026 admission notification includes important updates for new applicants, including the introduction of the mandatory DEB ID requirement. Below is a summary of all major details.

IGNOU Admission Process 2026

As we all know that the IGNOU itself is known for its vast list of Open Distance Learning courses that are offered by the university in January as well as July sessions. So if you are interested in to admitted to IGNOU for one of the ODL courses then you can begin the process of filling the application online as the process to collect the applications is now officially started by the university.

To secure a valid spot in IGNOU, every student has to go through the process of online admission form submission. If needed, the option of offline form filling is also there. In this section, we are going to share the step by step process of the Admission procedure to be followed in IGNOU.

Required Documents (Scanned Copies)

• Photograph (less than 100 KB)

• Signature (less than 100 KB)

• Educational Qualification Certificates (less than 200 KB)

• Experience Certificate (if any) (less than 200 KB)

• Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) (less than 200 KB)

Create Your DEB ID (Mandatory for ODL/Online Programmes)

As per the directions of the University Grants Commission (UGC), creating a DEB ID is mandatory for admission to any of the ODL/Online Programmes offered by IGNOU. The DEB ID is a unique number and needs to be created only once.

To create your DEB ID:

1. First, create your ABC ID by visiting https://deb.ugc.ac.in/StudentDEBId.
2. Follow the step-by-step guidelines or video tutorial available on the website to create your ABC ID.
3. After obtaining your ABC ID, use it to create your DEB ID by following the instructions on the same portal.
4. Ensure you provide your email and mobile number during the DEB ID creation process.

Important: Keep your DEB ID ready at the time of filling out your online application for admission. The application will be processed only after validation of your DEB ID.

In case of any difficulties, please contact your nearest IGNOU Study Centre or Regional Centre for assistance.

Registration:

• Visit the official website at ignou.ac.in.
• Applicants must log in to the admission portal using the registered email address or username only.
• To start the process, it is essential to have a User id and Password so if you are a new student then you have to click on New Registration Link to proceed ahead.
• Fill up registration form including Username, Candidate’s Name, Email, Mobile Number, Password, and Captcha Code and click on register to get successfully register for the portal
• If you did not receive the registration OTP, you can use the Resend OTP option on the registration page (via the official link) to request a new OTP.

Login to Fill Online Application:

• Now, you have to login again using the details to fill out the form of admission.
• Check the program for which you are applying and then click on it.
• While filling out the admission form of IGNOU, keep your focus on mentioning each and every detail with utmost consciousness to avoid any errors or delay.
• On the section of photograph and signature upload, the same in this format is 100KB in size and JPG. Make sure the given specifications are met or else the upload process will get hindered.
• The declaration form will be seen on the screen, click on the checkbox after reading the details.
• It is the stage where you will get an extra chance to re-validate the data or details entered on the admission form. Hopefully, if you have made any mistakes, it is the best time to rectify them.
• Take the help of the online payment mode and carry on with the fee submission. The common ones are net banking, debit/credit card, etc.
• The payment of the fees will be considered successful, once you have received the SMS in your phone number. So, don’t be in a hurry and wait for it.
• Now, you will see a tab with Preview written on it; click on verify the form once again.
• It is recommended to take the hard copies of the submitted admission form because you will need them. Also, download and save the form on your laptop or PC for future use.

Payment Options

• Credit Card (Master/Visa)

• Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay)

• Net Banking

After completing the form and uploading the documents, review the Form Preview, and save/print a copy for future reference.

Also Read: What to Do after IGNOU Admission?

IGNOU Admission Fees Refund Policy 2026

As per the latest IGNOU notification, the Fee Refund Policy has been revised as follows:

a) The Registration Fee is non-refundable.

b) The programme fee paid shall be refunded in full if the cancellation request is made prior to confirmation of admission.

c) If the request for cancellation is received after confirmation of admission, an amount equivalent to 15% of the programme fee, subject to a maximum deduction of ₹2,000, will be deducted from the fee paid.

d) In case a student has opted for soft copy of the study material (SLM), the fee will be refunded after deducting the Registration Fee only.

e) If a student has availed fee exemption and has paid only the Registration Fee and Development Fee, then only the Development Fee will be refunded.

f) No refund of any fee will be admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admission for the concerned programme.

 Note: This notification supersedes all previous refund policies issued by IGNOU.

IGNOU Admission Status 2026

Once you have completed all your admission procedures and paid the fees then you may have to wait some time to get a confirmation message from your regional centre regarding your application. Candidates can check their application status after 10 days from the registration date to get status for it (Verification timelines can vary by Regional Centre and workload). The maximum duration for verification of your documentation is 40 working days.

• Click To Check IGNOU Admission Status January 2026

Candidates have to follow the admission status link to get brief details about their registration whether your admission is approved or rejected by the university and more details.

Open your wings and let your career fly without any restriction. It doesn’t matter if you are unable to reach the regular classes or could not continue your studies. Also, if the private college does not fit in your pocket, IGNOU will let you fly high in spirits. Follow up with the information about the admission process in IGNOU, and you will surely succeed in your academics without any doubt.

If candidates have any queries and questions related to IGNOU Online Admission then they can contact the department by available email support or phone support to get the answer to their questions.

IGNOU Admission Cycles 2026

IGNOU conducts admissions twice a year — January and July.

• January Cycle: Admission forms are accepted from November to February.

• July Cycle: Admission forms are accepted from May to October.

Some programs are available only in a particular cycle, so candidates must verify the availability before applying.

IGNOU Admission 2026: Eligibility Criteria

IGNOU is one of the largest open universities in India, which is now functioning at international levels as well. If you are among those who want to pursue any educational course through IGNOU, then we will be helping you with the eligibility elements of all of them.

Advanced Certificate	The student should have a 10+2 certificate or any equivalent certificate from a recognized institute.
Bachelor’s degree course	The student must hold 10 and 10+2 certificate
Post-graduate diploma	The student should have finished the graduation course to proceed with the post-graduation diploma in the same stream.
Master’s degree courses	The student should have completed a bachelor’s course from an accredited university
M.Phil courses	Students must have a Master’s degree with a score of 55% (minimum for general) while SC/ST/OBC candidates must have 50%.
Ph.D. courses	The student must have either Master’s degree or M.Phil degree with 55% of the marking minimum.

Thus, you are fulfilling the eligibility criteria depending on the course you have chosen; get along with the admission process right away. For further information, you should download the IGNOU Prospectus of the respective course through the website of IGNOU.

IGNOU Admission 2026: Last Date

IGNOU has announced the last date for submission of the online application form for the January 2026 session. Candidates should keep checking the official admission portal for any further updates or extensions. The date below applies to all notified ODL and Online programmes, except Certificate and Semester-based Programmes.

IGNOU UG Admission 2026

Pursuing an undergraduate course has become a must today for jobs. Having an undergraduate qualification is a must in major job categories throughout the globe. So, students who are not capable of pursuing the UG courses on a regular basis due to varied reasons can always pursue it from a distance learning option. IGNOU is one of the best choice for many students in this situation. The university offers more than 30 undergraduate courses for students in different streams.

Program	Eligibility Criteria	Fees Structure
BA	10+2 or similar	INR 4,500 per annum
BSC	10+2 or similar	INR 6,000 per annum
BCOM	10+2 or similar	INR 4,500 per annum
BBA	10+2 or similar	INR 10,000 per annum
BLIS	50% in Bachelors Degree + Diploma in Library Science OR 50% in Bachelors Degree + 2 years working experience in Library. SC/ST candidates can apply with 45% in Bachelors Degree and other above eligibility	INR 8,700 Total
BCA	10+2 or similar	INR 8,000 per semester

IGNOU PG Admission 2026

While the UG program is considered the minimum qualification for any career prospect, the PG programs are required for a higher career growth today. In this current situation of intense competition, higher education is required along with experience to prosper higher. So, many working professionals along with students pursue PG courses from IGNOU today. There is a huge list of PG courses available at IGNOU. You can choose from a wide range of options from diverse streams to proceed higher in your dream career.

Program	Eligibility Criteria	Fees Structure
MCOM	Bachelor’s Degree from a Recognized University	INR 9,700 per annum
MBA	50% marks in Bachelor’s Degree from General and 45% for Reserved Quota candidates	INR 15,500 for 1st, 2nd, 4th semester and INR 17,500 for 3rd semester
MEG	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university	INR 7,700 per annum
MHD	Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university	INR 7,700 per annum
MCA	BCA/ BSC/ B.E/ B.Tech + Mathematics in 10+2	INR 12,700 per semester
MLIS	Bachelor’s Degree in Library/ Information Science OR Associateship from DRTC or NISCAIR	INR 11,500 Total

IGNOU Admission 2026 for Entrance-Based Programs

Apart from the usual UG and PG courses, IGNOU also organizes several other courses too such as B.Ed., PhD in different subjects, and many more. However, to pursue these courses, the students have to appear in the entrance test apart from matching the eligibility criteria. IGNOU conducts entrance tests for some of its specific programs and courses. This category changes each year so you must go through the details carefully before applying.

Program	Eligibility Criteria	Fees Structure
Post Basic BSc Nursing	3 years Diploma in GNM + 2 years of experience	Rs. 23,000 per year
BEd	55% in Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree	Rs. 55,000 total
PhD	PG Degree from a recognized university	Rs. 16,800 per year

IGNOU Admission 2026 for Overseas Students

The university has now started the online admission portal for overseas students including SAARC, Non-SAARC, NRI, and FSRI candidates who are interested to take admission to IGNOU University. It is noted that the overseas portal is applicable for foreign candidates only so Indian residents should apply to the common admission portal.

Important Guidelines for IGNOU Overseas Students

IGNOU is now spreading its regional centers all over the world and is turning globally. An international student can take admitted to IGNOU without much ado as the process is seamless. An international student needs to have a valid VISA for the duration of the course, along with meeting the eligibility criteria and required documents. Also, the fee structure for the international student is different, and admission will be accepted through online mode.

IGNOU Admission 2026: FAQs

Q1. Can I Take Online Admission to IGNOU?
Answer: Yes.

Q2. Is the Offline Admission Mode Also Available in IGNOU?
Answer: You can contact the nearest regional centre of IGNOU for the availability of offline admission.

Q3. What are the Months of IGNOU Online Admission?
Answer: May to August for the July Session & November to February for the January Session.

Q4. Can I Take Direct Admission to IGNOU?
Answer: Yes, Candidates can take direct admission to the Majority of Courses except for Bed, BSC Nursing & Ph.D.

Q5. Do I Need to Submit a Hard Copy of the Application Form to IGNOU?
Answer: No. You don’t need to submit any printed copy of the application to IGNOU if you took admission through online mode.

Q6. Can I Take Admission in Any Session of IGNOU?
Answer: Yes, Candidates can take admission in the January or July session of IGNOU University. But few courses are offered only in one session so you must confirm before proceeding.

Q7. Is it possible to get admission to IGNOU after the last date?
Answer: If the university extends the last date, you can get admission. Also, most of the time, the university offers another deadline when you can get admission with a late fine. So, yes you may get admission even after the last date with a late fine, if the university permits.

Q8. What is the last date for IGNOU admission in 2026?
Answer: For fresh admission in the January 2026 session, the last date for submission of the online application (except for Certificate and Semester-based Programmes) is is 31 January 2026.

Q9. Can we apply for two courses at the same time in IGNOU?
Answer: Yes, you can apply for two courses at the same time in IGNOU.