Indira Gandhi National Open University, full form of IGNOU, is a Central Opening Learning University located at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, India. Established in 1985, IGNOU is regulated by the central Government. They aim to provide quality education to students who live far from the university or cannot attend college regularly because they earn for their families due to some financial issues. Its main office is in New Delhi. It serves around 3 million students. It is known for its excellence in Distance Learning and was awarded for the same by the Commonwealth of Learning [COL].
They aim to provide proper education to all and to serve the students with proper distance learning education facilities.
All the courses [whether Under-graduate or Post-graduate degrees/diplomas/certificates] are accredited by all members of universities of the AIU [Association of Indian Universities].
Also, UGC [University Grants Commission] accredits IGNOU as a Central University.
Being the first higher educational institute in the open distance learning mode or say, correspondence course, it has been accorded A+++ grade by NAAC [ National Assessment and Accreditation Council].
IGNOU HISTORY
The University was given the name after the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi when IGNOU Act was passed in 1985 by the Parliament of India.
The University started by offering only two subjects in the beginning (in 1987). Those two subjects were – Diploma in Management and Diploma in Distance Education.
In the year 1974, Government appointed a working group of 8 members to
coordinate and manage work including, admission procedure, age relaxation to be given, preparation of study materials, etc.
Administrative Authorities of the IGNOU University:
| Founder of IGNOU | Government of India |
| Chancellor | President of India |
| Vice-Chancellor | Prof. Nageshwar Rao |
| Pro- Vice Chancellor | Prof. Rajendra Prasad Das |
IGNOU Board of Management :
| Registrar (Administration) I/c and Secretary (Ex – Officio) | Dr. V.P.Negi |
| Secretary | |
| Former Vice-Chancellor(Member) | Dr. P.Prakash |
| Member | Prof. K.K.Aggarwal |
| Member | Dr. Subha Shankar Sarkar |
| Member | Prof. S.K.Yadav |
| Member | Prof. Jitendra Kumar Srivastava |
| Member | Dr. Bharat Bhushan |
IGNOU Planning Board:
| Vice-Chancellor | Prof. Nageshwar Rao |
| Professor | Prof. Swati Patra |
| Member | Dr. Sujata K.Das |
| Member | Prof. V. Venkaiah |
| Member | Dr. D.Subramanyam |
| Member | Dr. Nita Mathur |
| Member | Prof. Nawal Kishore |
| Member | Prof. Sudeep Ranjhan Jha |
| Member | Dr. Srikant Mohapatra |
| Member | Prof. Kailash Sodani |
| Member | Prof. Rama Shankar Dubey |
| Registrar | Dr. V.B. Negi |
| Director (In charge) | Dr. Pankaj Khare |
IGNOU OBJECTIVES:
1. Offer opportunities for higher education to willing candidates irrespective of their age, gender, language, disability, who are unable to join regular colleges and various other courses due to various reasons.
2. Reforms its programs to meet the needs of its diverse learners (yearly or as per the requirement.
3. Conduct weekly/monthly workshops or seminars for full-time and part-time candidates ( in any discipline).
4. Also gives weekly projects and assignments or practicals and exams to students.
5. Offers higher education at affordable costs to all.
6. Provide student support service networks throughout the world.
WHY IGNOU?
Placement Assistance:
In the year 2005, the Campus Placement Cell[CPC] was established to offer job opportunities to facilitate gainful employment to its students who have completed their graduation in any discipline or the final year students based on their academic performance. Their main purpose is to make the students eligible for the particular job ( through campus placements ) when needed, as it saves time.
The CPC acts as a mediator or interface between the industry and the students or alumni as they maintain the placement process like visiting companies, and making sure that the required resources are available to them.
They are also working on adding new initiatives to enable better placement opportunities for its students.
Online Academic Sessions:
Students who are unable to attend full-time courses have benefited from Distance learning programs. With distance education, emerging technology is widely used in Universities and even in schools. Classes are taken through the portal or through video conferencing software where students and teachers can easily interact with each other. For this, they need a computer and a good internet connection.
Projects and assignments work is also given to the students.
Work is either send via mails or portal.
Teams meeting apps, zoom, etc, make classes more interactive.
Distance learning allows students to continue with their studies without disturbing their busy schedule as they can take classes in the night as college also provides students with recorded videos as well as online study material.
- Learning :
Students can continue with their studies through Distance Learning Mode without disturbing their busy schedule, as one can watch recorded videos or download the study material, or even take live classes when possible, depending upon their situation.
So, their main purpose is to provide access to higher education to all the students through E-Learning methods.
Effective use of Multimedia, Mass Media, and the New Media that includes self-study print material provided by the university that contains both theory and practical notes, for example, through eGyankosh, students can download the syllabus and the study material required.
Students can also watch some of the videos provided on Youtube.
Many students have been benefited through Distance education as IGNOU provides digital learning with world-class technology.
The Initiative was taken:
To provide affordable access to quality education via a virtual learning environment for all the students.
To develop time management skills and other skills in students and to provide training to all by using innovative technologies.
Learning Material
You can also download the soft copy of the study material from the site, no fee is charged for the same. IGNOU offers E-Books so that students do not depend upon hard books. Even if you travel you don’t need to carry books with you, you can just read from the portal and prepare for the exam.
After paying the admission fees, about 15% fees are refunded to your account, if you select the Soft copy option there.
COURSES and FEES:
The University offers a range of undergraduate, post- graduate , and post- graduate diploma courses, etc.
The University provides both the options of online and distance education to its students, but the University is more centralized on distance courses.
The fee structure for UG, PG, Diploma, and Certificate Courses in IGNOU varies.
The fee structure depends upon the course. This University charges a reasonable fee for all courses. Also, the examination fees charged are basic and affordable.
For Under Graduate courses, the fee structure ranges between 8000/- to 70,000/-.
The payment mode is online now , due to covid.
For Master’s degree course the fees charged is between 10,000/- to 35,000/-
Here, Examination fees is different for all courses.
The Fee Structure for some of the courses are mentioned below:
IGNOU Fee Structure of some of the UG/Bachelor Degree Courses:
| COURSE | FEES |
| Bachelor of Arts(B.A.) | Rs.9,900/- |
| Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) | Rs.7,000/- |
| Bachelor of Science | Rs12,500/- |
| Bachelor of Social Work | Rs.16,800/- |
| B.A.Honours in Hindi | Rs.9,900/- |
| B.A.Honours in English | Rs.9,900/- |
| B.A.Honours in History | Rs.9,600/- |
| B.A.Honours in Political Science | Rs.9,600/- |
| B.A.Honours in Sociology | Rs.9,600/- |
| B.A.Honours in Psychology | Rs.11,400/- |
| B.A.Honours in Economics | Rs.9,600/- |
| B.A.Honours in Public Administration | Rs.24,000/- |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology | Rs.40,000/- |
| B.A. Vocational Studies in Tourism Management | Rs.12,000/- |
| Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Studies | Rs.10,200/- |
| Bachelor of Computer Applications | Rs.40,200/- |
| Bachelor of Education | Rs.55,000/- |
| Bachelor of Library and Information Science | Rs.77,000/- |
| BBA in Retailing | Rs.27,000/- |
| BBA in Services Management | Rs.27,000/- |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | Rs.27,000/- |
| COURSES | FEES |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Finance | Rs.6,000/- |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Corporate and Affairs and Administration | Rs.6,000/- |
| Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Cost Accounting | Rs.6,000/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU Master’s Degree Courses:
| COURSE | FEES |
| Master of Arts in Distance Education | Rs.3,700/- |
| Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Psychology | Rs.13,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Translation Studies | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Social Work | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Social Work in Counselling | Rs.12,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Economics | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in English | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Hindi | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in History | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Philosophy | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Political Science | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Public Administration | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Rural Development | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Sociology | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Business Administration | Rs.12,000/- |
| Master of Commerce | Rs.11,000/- |
| M.Com in Business Policy and Corporate Governance | Rs.7,000/- |
| M.Com in Finance and Taxation | Rs.7,000/- |
| M.Com in Management Accounting and Financial Strategies | Rs.7,000/- |
| Master of Computer applications | Rs.54,000/- |
| Master of Master of Library and Information Science | Rs.9,000/- |
| Master of Tourism and Travel Management | Rs.9,600/- |
| Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies | Rs.12,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication | Rs.12,000/- |
| Master of Arts in Sanskrit | Rs.13,200/- |
| Master of Science (Environmental Science) | Rs.15,000/- |
| Master of Arts (Entrepreneurship) | Rs.15,700/- |
| Master of Science (Information Security) | Rs.43,200/- |
| Master of Arts [Folklore and Culture Studies | Rs.5,400/- |
| Master of Arts [Drawing and Painting] | Rs.16,500/- |
| Master of Arts[Urdu] | Rs.12,600/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU Diploma Courses:
| COURSES | FEES |
| Diploma in Aquaculture | Rs.6,500/- |
| Diploma in BPO Finance and Accounting | Rs.19,200/- |
| Diploma in Creative Writing in English | Rs.3,800/- |
| Diploma in Critical Care Nursing | Rs,5,000/- |
| Diploma in Dairy Technology | Rs.15,200/- |
| Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education | Rs.2,000/- |
| Diploma in Fish Products Technology | Rs.2,000/- |
| Diploma in HIV and Family Education | Rs.3,000/- |
| Diploma in Teaching German as a Foreign Language | Rs.7,000/- |
| Diploma in Tourism Studies | Rs.4,200/- |
| Diploma in Urdu | Rs.1200/- |
| Diploma in Event Management | Rs.8,000/- |
| Diploma in Retailing | Rs.9,600/- |
| Diploma in Value Education | Rs.4,000/- |
| Diploma in Theatre Arts | Rs.6,000/- |
| Diploma in Modern Office Practice | Rs.6,000/- |
| Diploma in Horticulture | Rs,12,700/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU PG Diploma Courses:
| COURSES | FEES |
| PG Diploma in Translation | Rs.4000/- |
| PG Diploma in Counselling and Family Therapy | Rs.16,800/- |
| PG Diploma in Criminal Justice | Rs.10,800/- |
| PG Diploma in Disaster Management | Rs.5,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Educational Management and Administration | Rs.6,600/- |
| PG Diploma in Higher Education | Rs.3,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Information Security | Rs.21,600/- |
| PG Diploma in International Business Operations | Rs.9,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Pre Primary Education | Rs.9,600/- |
| PG Diploma in Women’s Gender Studies | Rs.7,200/- |
| PG Diploma in Book Publishing | Rs.8,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Education Technology | Rs.6,600/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma [Development Communication] | Rs.5,000/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility | Rs.6,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Computer Application | Rs.21,600/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma (Digital Media) | Rs.5,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Applied Statistics | Rs.6,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Social Work Counselling | Rs.13,200/- |
| PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication | Rs.12,500/- |
| PG Diploma in Library Automation and Networking | Rs.18,000/- |
| PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sales Management | Rs.8,400/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU PG Certificate Courses:
| COURSES | FEES |
| PG Certificate in Geo -Informatics | Rs.5,000/- |
| PG Certificate in Cyber Law | Rs.8,400/- |
| PG Certificate in Agriculture Policy | Rs.6,000/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU M.Phil.and Doctor of Philosophy Courses:
| COURSES | FEES |
| M.Phil in Distance Education | Rs.12,600/- |
| M.Phil in Economics | Rs.12,600/- |
| M.Phil in Geography | Rs.12,600/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Education | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Economics | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in English | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Law | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Hindi | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Mass Communication | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy Computer Science | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Geography | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Hindi | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in History | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Management | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Physics | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics | Rs.16,800/- |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality | Rs.16,800/- |
Fee Structure of some of the Advanced Certificate Courses:
| COURSES | FEES |
| Advanced Certificate in Information Security | Rs.4,500/- |
| Advanced Certificate on Environment | Rs.1,000/- |
| Awareness Program on Value Added Products from Fruits and Vegetables | Rs.1,000/- |
| Appreciation Course on Population and Sustainable Development | Rs.8,00/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU Ph.D. Courses:
| COURSES | FEES |
| Ph.D. Computer Science | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Chemistry | Rs.7000/- |
| Ph.D. in Civil Engineering | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Commerce | Rs.21000/- |
| Ph.D. in Economics | Rs.7000/- |
| Ph.D. in English | Rs.6600/- |
| Ph.D. in Education | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Geography | Rs.7000/- |
| Ph.D. in Geology | Rs.7000/- |
| Ph.D. in Hindi | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in History | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Law | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Library and Information Science | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Management | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Mathematics | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Physics | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Political Science | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D.in Psychology | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Social Work | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Sociology | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Statistics | Rs.7000/- |
| Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality | Rs.14000/- |
| Ph.D. in Vocational Tourism | Rs.14000/- |
Fee Structure of some of the IGNOU Certificate Courses:
| COURSE | FEES |
| Certificate in the Arabic Language | Rs.1800/- |
| Certificate in Business Skills | Rs.2500/- |
| Certificate in Communication and its skills | Rs.2500/- |
| Certificate in Fashion Design | Rs.5000/- |
| Certificate in Energy Technology and Management | Rs.3000/- |
| Certificate in the French Language | Rs.5500/- |
| Certificate in Front Office Operation | Rs.3000/- |
| Certificate in German Language | Rs.2500/- |
| Certificate in Human Rights | Rs.2400/- |
| Certificate in Information Technology | Rs.6000/- |
| Certificate in Japanese Language | Rs.54OO/- |
| Certificate in Spanish Language | Rs.2400/- |
| Certificate in Russian Language | Rs.2500/- |
| Certificate in Tourism Studies | Rs.1800/- |
| Certificate Programme in Library and Information Science | Rs.2000/- |
| Certificate in Co-operation, Co-operative Law | Rs.7,400/- |
| Certificate in Communication and IT Skills | Rs.5,700/- |
Entrance Examinations:
They also conduct Entrance tests for various subjects such as B.Ed, B.Sc. Nursing and MBA, Research Programs, etc.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
For bachelor’s degree courses – It is necessary to pass 10+2 examinations with a good percentage, from a recognized board.
For Master’s degree course or PG courses or PG Diploma or PG Certificate Courses – It is necessary to pass Bachelor degree with good percentage, and for from a recognized University.
STEPS TO FILL REGISTRATION FORM:
The registration process is the same for all the courses of IGNOU. Admission forms must be filled online.
For Online Registration, follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Open the official website.
2. Click on ‘Register Online’ and click on’ Fresh Admission’
3. Read all the instructions carefully before submitting the form, to avoid any misfortune.
4. Username and Password will be sent to you via e-mail or SMS.
5. Don’t forget your password as it will be used to log in.
6. Then, Click on the Tab – Registration and fill in all the required details.
7. Details to be filled in Registration Form:
A. Username
B. Full name of the Candidate
C. E-mail Address
D. Password
E. Mobile Number
Follow the given steps to fill the application form:
1. If you are applying for the first time, first Go to the Home tab and read all the details including eligibility criteria, fee details, etc. of the program you selected.
2. Also, you can download the Prospectus of the University and read all the RULES of the University mentioned.
3. Then click on the NEW REGISTRATION in the login area and fill in the required details.
4. Remember:
The characters in the Username must be between 8 to 16 characters.
5. Click on the SUBMIT button after filling in all the details.
6. If you have already registered just click the Login button.
7. Personal Details required to be filled in the application form:
A. E-mail Address
B. Mobile Number
C. Category
D. Religion
E. Marital Status
8. Programme details required to be filled in the application form:
A. Mode of study
B. Programme Type
C. Programme Enrollment
D. Region Code
E. Medium
F. Programme study center code
9. Qualification details required to be filled in the application form:
A. Qualification
B. Year of Passing
C. Percentage of Marks
D. Main Subjects
E. Board Code
F. Board Roll Number
G. Duration
10. Candidates should keep the following documents scanned beforehand, to upload:
A. Scanned copy of signature [less than 100 KB].
B. Scanned Photograph [ less than 100 KB].
C. Self-attested copy of candidate’s class 10th mark -sheet [ less than 200 KB].
D. Self-attested copy of candidate’s class 12th mark- sheets and certificates. [less than 200 KB]
E. Scanned copy of Category Certificate [SC/ST/OBC][less than 200 KB].
F. Scanned copy of Age proof [less than 200 KB].
G. Scanned copy of BPL Certificate[ Below Poverty Line, if any] [Less than 200 KB].
H. Enter active E-mail id and phone number.
I. If applying for PG Course, Self -attested copy of graduation mark -sheets
J. Self-attested copy of Income Certificate.
12. Fee Payment Method:
A. Debit Card
B. Credit Card[Master/Visa]
C. Net Banking
D. UPI
NOTE :
Fee Cancellation or Refund of Fee:
The fees once paid will not be refundable under certain conditions.
After submitting the application form, within 15 days from the last date of submission, the fee paid will be refunded after a deduction of rs.500.
Conclusion:
Though it is believed that more importance is given to regular colleges than distance learning but IGNOU focuses on maintaining the same standards in case of both.
The degree from IGNOU is acceptable everywhere,[i.e. in overseas and foreign Countries]. Furthermore, the degree from this University is also approved by the Government of India, DEC, AICTE, etc.
It enhances better opportunities for those who do not have access to physical learning. Through distance learning mode they can study at their convenience at affordable costs through video conferencing or recorded videos of lectures that are provided to them by the University in the portal.
Students tend to take admission here as many students live far from the university and some students also prepare for the Competitive Examination due to which they are unable to attend classes regularly.
Even covid19 has led students to shift to distance learning.
When covid-19 was started, the online class assessments were taken daily, even exams were conducted online[ not on the university campus, following the rules of Pandemic].
IGNOU Student Service Center:
To solve queries of students and to guide them.
Helpline Number:
For Registration related queries – 011-2957130, 011-29571528
For queries related to Practical marks – 011(29572212)
For queries related to Exam Form, Hall Ticket – (011) 29532088
Students can also send their Problems or queries to Student Service Center, IGNOU, through SMS, e-mails, contact number, online-portal such as PG Portal, UGC Portal, Ingram Portal, etc
E-MAIL -csrs@ignou.com
IGNOU Student Support E-mail – ssc@ignou.ac.in
IGNOU iGram or Complain Portal – igram.ignou.ac.in
Website – http://igram.ignou.ac.in
Address – IGNOU main road, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi
Pin code – 110068
Phone – 011 2953 5438