IGNOU PhD Admission 2025: Entrance Exam, Last Date, Fee

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025: The application form for IGNOU PhD admission is expected to open around 30 October 2025, and the last date to apply will likely be 25 November 2025. Applicants can apply online via the official website, www.ignouadm.samarth.edu.in. When applicants apply for admission, they have to pay a non-refundable application fee of INR 1,000. After selection in the course, they have to pay the annual course fee is INR 17,850.

PhD is a doctoral degree for those who want to pursue a career in the field of assistant professor and/or research field. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers PhD programs in 35+ disciplines, like Dance, Hindi, English, Management, Science, Home Science, Commerce, Social Science, Humanities, and Tourism. The program usually takes a minimum of 3 years to complete and can go up to a maximum of 6 years. To be eligible for an IGNOU PhD, the candidates generally need to have a Master’s degree in a related subject. Also, they need to pass the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam (UGC NET/JRF).

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Importants Points

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025

Admission to the PhD program at IGNOU will open on 30 October 2025, and the deadline is 25 November 2025. IGNOU PhD registration fee is INR 1,000, and the course fee is INR 17,850. To begin the PhD admissions process, candidates must go to IGNOU’s official website, ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The university offers phd admission based on the applicant's performance in the national-level entrance exam, like UGC NET/JRF or CSIR NET/JRF. The basic admission requirement is a bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks from a recognized university.

IGNOU PhD Application Form 2025

For those looking for a PhD at IGNOU, the application forms for the upcoming session are expected to be available on the website on 30 October 2025. Applicants can submit their applications by 25 November 2025. To be eligible, applicants need to have completed a Master’s degree and to qualify the entrance exam UGC NET/JRF or CSIR NET/JRF.

At the time of filling up the application, a non-refundable fee of INR 1,000 is required to complete the application, which students can pay online using options like UPI, Netbanking, or debit/credit card. It is also important to have all necessary documents ready during the application process. This includes a valid ID, educational certificates, a recent passport-size photo, signature, proof of date of birth, and category or disability certificates (if required). The university offers a 5% reservation for candidates with at least 40% disability.

IGNOU PhD Eligibility Criteria 

IGNOU offers a wide range of PhD programs in many interesting subjects, including English, Hindi, Science, Home Science, Commerce, Social Science, Dance, Management, Tourism, etc. Candidates generally need to have completed a Master’s degree. IGNOU also accepts scores from national entrance exams like the UGC NET/JRF or CSIR NET/JRF, which are conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). If the candidate belongs to the SC, ST, OBC, or EWS category, they will get a 5% relaxation in marks. 

When it comes to the Master’s degree itself, IGNOU considers two different types for PhD admission. For example, if the candidate is having a one-year Master’s degree obtained after a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, along with qualifying NET/JRF, he/she is eligible to apply. Similarly, if the candidate has a 2-year Master’s degree following a three-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, and has also qualified NET/JRF exam, that would also be accepted by the university for PhD admission.

IGNOU PhD Admission Process 2025

The university will open the PhD admission form on 30 October 2025. Students who are willing to pursue a career in research or higher education may apply for the course through the official website. IGNOU PhD last date is expected to be on 25 November 2025 for the upcoming academic session. Students are required to have at least a Master’s level qualification to apply for the course. Steps to complete the PhD admission process are:

IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2025

To pursue a PhD at IGNOU, one must have to qualify the UGC NET/JRF or CSIR NET/JRF exam, which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These national-level exams are usually held twice a year, and the upcoming exam is expected in the last week of June 2025. A PhD is an advanced degree in a particular area of study. IGNOU provides PhD in a number of areas, including English, Hindi, Science, Home Science, Social Science, Management, Commerce, etc.

The candidate can apply for the UGC NET/JRF exam by early May, with an application fee of INR 1,150 for General category candidates, INR 600 for OBC/EWS, and INR 325 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Once they have cleared the NET/JRF exam, the university calls candidates for a PhD interview based on their scores in the exam and the availability of seats in the subject chosen by them. The university releases offer letters to selected candidates only. For any other information, students can reach out to the IGNOU Research Unit at [email protected].

IGNOU PhD Syllabus 2025

At IGNOU, the PhD program includes a special ‘coursework’, which gives a theoretical understanding to the scholars. It is divided into two parts, and every student has to complete the coursework before starting their thesis work/research work. 

• Part I of the coursework is all about Research Methodology in which students learn how to conduct research effectively. During the coursework, scholars learn about qualitative and quantitative methods of research, and how to collect and analyse the data as per the requirements of the study.

• Part II of the coursework focuses on the specific subject the candidate is enrolled in. This part of the coursework gives a comprehensive understanding of the chosen area before conducting their research. 

IGNOU PhD Fee Structure 2025

IGNOU PhD fee is categorised into registration fee, coursework fee, and thesis submission fee. For the upcoming academic session 2026-27 IGNOU PhD fee is given in the following table:

*Note: The information is liable to change, depending on the academic year.