IGNOU PhD Admission 2025: IGNOU Doctor of Philosophy offers advanced research opportunities across multiple disciplines like Home Science, Sanskrit, Child Development, Women’s Studies, etc. IGNOU PhD program needs 3 to 6 years duration to complete. It includes common subjects like Research Methodology, Data Collection, Educational Theories, Thesis Writing and more. IGNOU PhD admission 2025-26 form will open soon. IGNOU offers PhD in regular mode to students.
Eligibility criteria to pursue this program requires a postgraduate degree or an M.Phill in a relevant field for PhD subject with at least 55% marks from a recognized educational board. Students can apply and submit application forms on IGNOU website with registration fee of INR 1000 @ignouadm.samarth.edu.in/phd/index.php. Average annual IGNOU PhD fees range between INR 14,000 to INR 36,000. IGNOU PhD Admission for the academic year 2025-26 is going on. The last date will be October 31, 2025. The admission process is considered on the basis of the entrance exam conducted by IGNOU. Students can download the admit card from the official website using their login details. Candidates will get help in research projects through expert guidance.
IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Important Points
- Course Full Name: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at IGNOU
- About: IGNOU’s PhD program offers advanced research opportunities across 30+ specializations. Admission is based on an entrance exam followed by an interview, targeting those looking to excel in academic and research careers.
- Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have a master’s degree with at least 55% marks from a recognized university.
- Average Salary: Candidates must earn a minimum wage between INR 6 LPA to INR 15 LPA.
- How to Apply: Interested students can fill out the IGNOU registration form from the official website.
- Approx. Fees: INR 42,000 to INR 1,08,000 for 3 years, varying by specialization.
IGNOU PhD Admission Latest Updates
- IGNOU PhD Admission session will be conducted from October 2025. Students can apply by visiting the IGNOU PhD Samarth portal.
- IGNOU 2025 PhD Admission: Students must open IGNOU Phd admission 2025 apply online portal for subjects like History, Sociology, Psychology, etc.
- IGNOU Ph.D.: Subjects include Research Methodology, Data Collection, and Thesis Writing. Approx. Fee: INR 16,000 to INR 36,000 per year.
IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Highlights
| Duration of the Course | 3 years |
| Maximum Duration | 5 years |
| Minimum Age | No limitation |
| Maximum Age | No limitation |
| Course Fee | INR 14,000/- to INR 36,000/- per year |
| Eligibility | Passed post-graduation |
| Available Medium | English |
| Admission | IGNOU Admission |
| IGNOU Official Website | ignou.ac.in |
IGNOU PhD Admission 2025
Indra Gandhi National Open University is offering a PhD course. It is a 3-year program that is extendable up to 5 years. Students can choose various doctorate specializations like Chemistry, Anthropology, Geography, Hindi, & many more. PhD from IGNOU offers regular classes to students with the help of IGNOU study centres and regional centres.
Eligibility Criteria IGNOU PhD
To get Admission, Students have to achieve a minimum of 55% of marks in their postgraduate degree. Students may also apply after an M.Phill degree.
Students can also be admitted directly after a bachelor’s degree. For admission after 4-year/8-semester program students should have 75%. There is no age limit for IGNOU PhD admission 2025.
Reservation and Relaxation
A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade will be provided to the candidates who belong to the reserved category including EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PWD.
IGNOU PhD Fee Structure
PhD degree programs at IGNOU with coursework fees for the first year are INR 16,800 to INR 36,000/- per year. This fee depends on the program chosen by the student. For filling out the application for this program, INR 1000/- will be required. IGNOU support online fee submission using a Credit Card / Debit Card/ Online Banking. During IGNOU term end examination for PhD subjects an exam fee of Rs. 200/- is collected per theory subject
IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Process
Admission to IGNOU PhD is divided into a 3-part process. Students can register by visiting the admission portal. IGNOU has made a separate PhD admission portal. This course is offered in regular mode. January 2025 session is part of the IGNOU 2025-26 admission cycle. For IGNOU PhD admission 2025 and apply online for this regular course.
After the registration, students will have to appear for an entrance examination for PhD course. IGNOU PhD entrance exam eligibility is same as the admission process. Students must be a PG degree holder with minimum 55% marks (for reserved category it is 50%). The entrance exam will carry a weightage of 70% for the final merit list for IGNOU PhD admission 2025. Remaining 30% marks will depend on the interview process. Students can also use NET score as the entrance exam score for IGNOU PhD admission.
After the entrance test results, IGNOU will conduct interviews for candidates. The list for candidates selected for IGNOU PhD will be released online on @ignou.ac.in IGNOU PhD interview schedule 2025 will be released online after the entrance exam result. After this counselling and interview process, the final IGNOU PhD admission merit list will be announced on the official IGNOU website. Applicants need to follow the online admission process to reserve seats for doctoral degree programs as instructed below.
How to Fill IGNOU Ph.D. Application Form 2025
- Students need to visit IGNOU PhD admission portal 2025.
- Before applying for the PhD admission, students must register for the admission process by clicking on “Register Now“.
- Log in with the new username and passwords after the registration process.
- Start filling the application form by providing details like name, address, education history.
- Upload the documents on the admission portal.
- Pay the application fee for IGNOU PhD admission for the amount Rs. 1,000/-.
- Submit the IGNOU admission form 2025.
Documents Required
- Photographs
- Signature
- 12th passing certificate
- Bachelor’s mark sheet (scanned copy)
- Master’s mark sheet (virtual scanned copy)
- IDs aadhar, DL, etc
- Category Certificate (if required)
Documents Needed For PhD Interview
- Original identity proof
- Copy of duly filled Application form downloaded from Samarth Portal.
- 10th Pass certificate which is the date of birth proof
- Graduation Mark Sheet
- Post graduation Mark Sheet
- UGC-NET scorecard
- 3 Passport Size Photographs
IGNOU PhD Fee Refund
Students can cancel their PhD admission by contacting IGNOU. In such conditions IGNOU allows students to get a refund of their fee via the IGNOU fee refund policy. In this policy IGNOU has detailed the percentage of the amount of the IGNOU course fee that will be refunded to them after the cancellation of their admission. IGNOU PhD course also follows the IGNOU admission cancellation and fee refund process. Below are the detail of the amount students can expect when applying for IGNOU course fee refund –
| IGNOU PhD Fee Refund Policy | ||
| Stage | Amount Refunded | |
| Before the final admission | 100% PhD fee is refunded | |
| Before 60 days from the last date of admission |
PhD Fee amount is refunded after a 15% fee deduction. Maximum deduction of Rs. 2,000/-.
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| After 60 days of the closing of admission process |
No Refund of the IGNOU PhD fee amount
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How to Apply for PhD Fee Refund
- Open the email account used during PhD admission process.
- For IGNOU PhD admission cancellation, a mail must be sent to @canceladms@ignou.ac.in.
- In the email candidate should mention their name, course (PhD) and enrollment number.
- IGNOU will reply and start the refund process.
IGNOU PhD Courses List
Indira Gandhi National Open University offers loads of options for students at the doctoral level. It provides specialized programs in professional courses such as Social Work, Rural Development, Home Science, etc. IGNOU PhD admission 2025 is also available in language courses like Hindi and Sanskrit. Students can also apply for niche subjects like Music, Dance, Child Development, etc. IGNOU PhD seats subject wise allocation is done by IGNOU admission committee.
IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Subject List
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S.No. |
Subject |
Code |
Vacancy |
Eligibility |
| 1 | Psychology | PHDPC | UR=08 EWS=02, SC=04, ST=01, OBC=06, Total=21 | Possesses Master’s Degree in Psychology or a related field from a recognized University/Institute |
| 2 | Anthropology | PHDAN | UR=04, EWS=00, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=05 | Masters in Anthropology (M.Sc. or M.A.) |
| 3 | History | PHDHIS | UR=04, EWS=00, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=10 | Master’s degree in History |
| 4 | Sociology | PHDSOC | UR=03, EWS=01, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=02, Total=06 | Master’s degree in Sociology |
| 5 | Bio-Chemistry | PHDBC | UR=04, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=10 | Master’s Degree from a recognized university or equivalent in Biochemistry/allied subjects |
| 6 | Chemistry | PHDCHEM | UR=03, EWS=00, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=04 | M.Sc. Chemistry from a recognized University/Institute or equivalent |
| 7 | Geography | PHDGEOG | UR=07, EWS=01, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=04, Total=15 | M.A./M.Sc. in Geography, Earth Systems Science, or Geospatial Technology |
| 8 | Geology | PHDGY | UR=04, EWS=00, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=09 | Post-graduation in Geology or related fields |
| 9 | Life Sciences | PHDLS | UR=08, EWS=02, SC=03, ST=01, OBC=06, Total=20 | MPhil degree or Post Graduate degree in Life Sciences |
| 10 | Physics | PHDPH | UR=03, EWS=00, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=04 | Master’s Degree in Physics from a University recognized by UGC |
| 11 | Statistics | PHDSTAT | UR=02, EWS=01, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=02, Total=08 | Master’s degree in Statistics/Applied Statistics |
| 12 | Mathematics | PHDMT | UR=01, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=04 | Master’s or MPhil degree in Mathematics |
| 13 | Hindi | PHDHIN | UR=01, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=01, Total=05 | Master’s Degree in Hindi |
| 14 | Sanskrit | PHDSK | UR=01, EWS=00, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=02, Total=05 | Master’s Degree in Sanskrit or Acharya or equivalent |
| 15 | Development Studies | PHDDV | UR=03, EWS=00, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=02, Total=07 | Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Economics and UGC NET in Economics |
| 16 | Computer Science | PHDCS | UR=07, EWS=01, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=04, Total=15 | MCA/M.Sc. in Computer Science/IT or ME/MTech in Computer Science/IT |
| 17 | Interdisciplinary & Trans-disciplinary Studies | PHDITS | UR=07, EWS=01, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=05, Total=16 | Master’s Degree and UGC NET in relevant disciplines |
| 18 | Environmental Science | PHDEV | UR=08, EWS=02, SC=03, ST=01, OBC=06, Total=20 | Master’s Degree in Science/Engineering |
| 19 | Social Work | PHDSW | UR=04, EWS=02, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=12 | Master’s Degree in Social Work |
| 20 | Nutritional Science | PHDFN | UR=02, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=00, OBC=02, Total=06 | M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition/Dietetics/Public Health Nutrition with UGC NET |
| 21 | Child Development | PHDCD | UR=09, EWS=02, SC=04, ST=02, OBC=06, Total=23 | Master’s in relevant Home Science/Child Development fields with UGC NET |
| 22 | Rural Development | PHDRD | UR=01, EWS=01, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=03 | Master’s Degree and UGC NET in Social Work/Sociology/Economics, etc. |
| 23 | Home Science | PHDHC | UR=03, EWS=01, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=10 | Master’s Degree in Home Science with specialization in relevant fields |
| 24 | Management | PHDMGMT | UR=04, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=10 | Master’s Degree in Management or allied areas; CA/CS/CMA qualifications also eligible |
| 25 | Commerce | PHDCOM | UR=04, EWS=01, SC=02, ST=01, OBC=03, Total=11 | Master’s Degree in Commerce; CA/CS/CMA qualifications also eligible |
| 26 | Vocational Education | PHDVE | UR=05, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=02, Total=10 | Master’s Degree and UGC NET in relevant disciplines |
| 27 | Education | PHDES | UR=10, EWS=03, SC=04, ST=02, OBC=07, Total=26 | MA (Education) or M.Ed. |
| 28 | Fine Arts | PHDPVA | UR=01, EWS=00, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=02 | Master Degree in Fine Arts |
| 29 | Theatre Arts | PHDPVA(T) | UR=04, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=00, OBC=02, Total=08 | Postgraduate in Theatre Arts |
| 30 | Music | PHDPVA(M) | UR=05, EWS=00, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=06 | Master Degree in Music |
| 31 | Dance | PHDPVA(D) | UR=03, EWS=00, SC=01, ST=00, OBC=01, Total=05 | Master Degree in Dance (All forms) |
| 32 | Gender and Development Studies | PHDGDS | UR=04, EWS=01, SC=01, ST=00, OBC=02, Total=08 | Master’s Degree in relevant fields with demonstrable evidence of teaching/research/publications in the area |
| 33 | Tourism and Hospitality Service Management | PHDTS | UR=03, EWS=01, SC=00, ST=00, OBC=02, Total=06 | Master Degree in Tourism/Hospitality/Hotel Management |
| 34 | Distance Education | PHDDE | UR=07, EWS=02, SC=03, ST=01, OBC=06, Total=19 | Master’s degree and NET in any discipline; preference for MADE, MA (Education), or M.Ed. |
IGNOU PhD Entrance Examination
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) approves admission to the doctoral degree program on a combination of performance in the entrance test, academic exam, and personal interview. IGNOU Ph.D. entrance test is conducted offline across the country in selected test centers. It is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and it lasts for 3 hours (180 minutes). The entrance examination fee is INR 1000/- for the IGNOU PhD in the 2025 session. Admit cards for the entrance tests are released online on the official IGNOU website before 20-15 days of the exam. IGNOU PhD entrance exam questions test students’ general aptitude and subject specific knowledge.
A merit list is prepared to shortlist students who have qualified the entrance examination. Afterward, the interview round will be conducted for these students. After this whole process, final selection list will be provided for the selected students.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam Syllabus
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam syllabus has been released for IGNOU admission 2025-26. It can be found on the information handbook (prospectus) for July 2025 PhD admission. Many subjects are common across all the subjects like Research Methodology. Students can use this list to prepare for the IGNOU PhD entrance exam 2025. Major syllabus for IGNOU PhD entrance test is given below for different subjects.
Ph.D. in Hindi Entrance Exam Syllabus
| Course Name |
| Reseach Methodology (शोध प्रविधि ) |
| History of Indian Literature (हिंदी साहित्य का इतिहास ) |
| Modern Hindi Poetry (आधुनिक हिंदी कविता ) |
| Language Science and Hindi Language (भाषा विज्ञान और हिंदी भाषा) |
Ph.D. in Statistic Entrance Exam Syllabus
| Course Name |
| Probability |
| Research Methodology |
| Algebra |
| Differential Equation |
IGNOU Ph.D. in Computer Science Entrance Exam Syllabus
| Course Name |
| Research Methodology |
| Discreet Structures and Optimization |
| Programming Languages and Computer Graphics |
| Database Management Systems |
Note: Full syllabus can be found on the IGNOU PhD July prospectus.
FAQs
Ques.) What is the eligibility criterion for getting admission to a PhD? Program at IGNOU?Ans: Students interested in the Ph.D. program from IGNOU must have a post-graduate degree in a relevant subject. Candidates with less than 55 percent marks in their previous degrees cannot apply for this course.
Ques.) What are the specialization areas for the IGNOU Ph.D. program?
Ans: The specialization areas for IGNOU PhD admission Programs include Geology, Women’s Studies, French, Mass Communication, Journalism Statistics, Biochemistry, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, and Gender Development Studies.
Ques.) In how many cities in India does the IGNOU Ph.D. entrance test take place?
Ans: IGNOU entrance test for Ph.D. degree takes place in thirteen cities, including Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Lucknow, Mumbai, Trivandrum, and Patna.
Ques.) Is a Ph.D. degree from IGNOU worth it/valuable?
Ans: Ph. D. degree from IGNOU is accepted for any government jobs in India. So IGNOU Ph.D. degree is worth it and valuable.
Ques.) How to get admission in phd in IGNOU?
Ans: To get admission in phd in IGNOU candidate needs to clear the IGNOU PhD entrance Exam and Interview that is organised by the IGNOU. A candidate has to clear both rounds to get admission in phd in IGNOU. If a Candidate JRF selected exam conducted by the CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) will get Rs 31000/- for 2 years as a Junior Research Fellowship stipend.
Ques.) Is IGNOU PhD Distance or Regular?
Ans: IGNOU PhD in full-time and part-time modes. IGNOU does not offer a distance PhD as it is not a recognized and valid degree.
Ques.) Where to fill IGNOU PhD Admission Form?
Ans: To fill IGNOU PhD Admission Form students to directly register on IGNOU website and after that fill the application form and upload necessary documents and pay the application fees and finally submit the application form.
Ques.) Can I pursue a PhD after completing MA from IGNOU?
Ans: Yes, it’s possible to pursue PhD after a Master’s degree (MA) from IGNOU. But PhD requires Master’s degree with a minimum of 55% marks.
Ques.) What is the IGNOU PhD entrance exam 2025 date?
Ans: IGNOU PhD entrance exam 2025 academic year tentative date is February-March 2026.
Ques.) Can I do phd after a Master’s degree (MA) from IGNOU?
Ans: Yes, you can pursue a Ph.D. after completing a Master’s degree (MA) from IGNOU
