Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has officially opened applications for its PhD programmes under the July 2026 session. The online admission portal went live on June 10, 2026, and candidates have until July 1, 2026 to submit their applications. The university is offering PhD admissions across 36 disciplines spanning sciences, humanities, social sciences, management, performing arts, and more, all conducted in regular (conventional) mode at the IGNOU campus in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
How to Apply
Candidates can submit their applications exclusively through the online portal at https://ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in/. No offline or hard-copy applications will be accepted. The non-refundable application fee is ₹2,000 per discipline. Candidates wishing to apply to more than one discipline must submit separate applications for each.
Full List of 36 PhD Disciplines
IGNOU is inviting applications in the following programmes:
Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Public Administration, Bio-Chemistry, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Life Sciences, Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Computer Science, Education, Distance Education, Environmental Science, Fine Arts, Theatre Arts, Music, Dance, Social Work, Management, Commerce, Nutritional Sciences, Child Development, Home Science, Vocational Education, Development Studies, Gender and Development Studies, Translation Studies, French, Arabic, and Journalism & Mass Communication.
Admission Categories
Admissions are processed under four categories based on qualification:
- Category I – UGC-NET with JRF: Selection based solely on Interview/Viva-Voce performance.
- Category II & III – UGC-NET Qualified: 70% weightage to NET score, 30% to Interview.
- Category IV – University-level Entrance Test: Candidates must secure a minimum of 50% in the entrance test to qualify for interview. Final merit is calculated as 70% entrance test + 30% interview.
Candidates appearing under Category IV must select “NOT APPLICABLE” against the UGC NET JRF option while filling the application form. The syllabus for the entrance test is available separately on IGNOU’s official website.
Seats are filled in the order of priority: Category I → II → III → IV.
Interview & Selection Process
Interview/Viva-Voce is mandatory for candidates under all categories and will be conducted exclusively at IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. No TA/DA is provided. Candidates will be evaluated on:
- Research Methodology — 40%
- Subject Domain Knowledge — 40%
- Communication Skills — 20%
For Category IV, candidates are shortlisted for interview in a 1:5 ratio against available seats. The final merit list is prepared based on combined scores and the Government of India’s reservation policy. Results will be published only on the IGNOU website — no individual communication will be sent.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (or equivalent grade) in the relevant discipline from a recognised university. Those from SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/Differently-Abled/EWS categories are eligible for a 5% relaxation.
Alternatively, candidates with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 75% marks (50% for reserved categories) are also eligible to apply directly for PhD without a Master’s degree, as per UGC Ph.D. Regulations, 2022.
Discipline-specific eligibility requirements vary — for instance, Computer Science (PHDCS) requires a valid NET score in addition to an MCA/M.Sc./M.Tech degree, and Nutritional Sciences (PHDFN) requires UGC-NET in Home Science.
Programme Structure
- Duration: Minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years (women candidates and PwD with 40%+ disability get an additional 2 years)
- Modes: Full-Time and Part-Time (employed candidates need an NOC from their employer)
- Course Work: Mandatory for all admitted students; conducted during the first six months at IGNOU Campus, New Delhi, with 80% attendance compulsory
- Hostel: Not available — candidates must arrange their own accommodation in Delhi
Total Seats: 310+ Across Disciplines
The university has announced a combined total of over 310 seats across all 36 disciplines. Disciplines with the highest seat counts include Distance Education (24 seats), Life Sciences (19 seats), Education (18 seats), and Management (22 seats). All admissions follow the Government of India’s reservation policy, with 5% horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
Compliance with UGC Regulations
All PhD programmes are offered in compliance with the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022 and its amendments. IGNOU, ranked No. 1 under the Open University category in NIRF and holding NAAC A++ accreditation, reserves the right to revise any part of the admission brochure, with updates published on its official website.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
| Online application opens | June 10, 2026 |
| Last date to apply | July 1, 2026 |
| Application portal | https://ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in/ |
| Application fee | ₹2,000 (non-refundable) |
For queries, candidates may write to researchunit@ignou.ac.in (Monday–Friday, excluding Gazetted holidays) or visit the official IGNOU website at www.ignou.ac.in.
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