IGNOU PhD Admission 2025-26 | Last Date, Eligibility & Entrance Exam

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025-26: IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) provides a variety of PhD programs for those seeking to pursue advanced qualifications for the Session 2025-26.  Admission process for the IGNOU PhD program will start on 28 November 2025* and the expected last date to apply online will be 31 January 2026* for the session 2025-26. The admission process involves the scores from the last qualifying exam and the entrance exam.

Applicants are required to have a master’s degree or an equivalent with at least 55% marks from a reputed university/institute. For further details and information about the admission process, candidates are encouraged to visit the IGNOU’s official website, ignou.ac.in. 

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025:

IGNOU offers a flexible admission process for its PhD specialized programs, allowing candidates to apply either online or offline. Admission allotment is based on the marks obtained in the UGC NET/JRF Entrance exam. Candidates can apply for IGNOU PhD entrance exam (UGC NET/JRF or CSIR NET/JRF) on 28 May 2025* and the last date to fill out the application form will be 20 June 2025*. The online registration fee for the PhD program is around INR 1000. Students can use various payment options such as UPI, Credit/Debit Card, NEFT, and many more. It is recommended to check the academic prospectus for the PhD program in IGNOU’s official website.

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Important Dates:

IGNOU PhD Admission 2025 Eligibility Criteria 

Applicants who want to study PhD courses at IGNOU shall make sure they match all basic admission requirements. Applicants have to apply before the deadline specified by IGNOU. Here are some essential criteria to remember when applying for admission:

• A master’s degree in a specified stream or an equivalent is needed to get admission to a PhD program at IGNOU. 
• Candidates belonging to the general category should have a minimum of 55% marks, and those who belong to the reserved category shall score at least 50% marks. 
• Applicants can enrol in the PhD program at IGNOU without any age restrictions.

IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2025

IGNOU PhD admission entrance exam (NET/JRF exam) is to be held in the expected month of July 2025. Applicants can apply for NET/JRF exam from 28 May 2025* and the last date to submit the application form will be 20 June 2025*. Candidates shall appear in an entrance exam because there are only a limited number of seats available in the program. IGNOU itself conducts an entrance exam for its various PhD programs. Applicants are mandated to appear in an entrance exam as selection is based on their performance in the written exam. Candidates who score at least 50% in their entrance test are eligible for an interview. PhD entrance exam is based on the pattern of CSIR/UGC entrance exam held on the national level. 

IGNOU PhD Fee Structure

A wide range of disciplines are offered through PhD programs such as Dairy Science and Technology, Commerce, Environmental Studies, Law, Nursing, Education, Biochemistry, Food and Nutrition, Development Studies, and many others. An academic fee may vary for these specializations. It’s advised to go through the annual fee structure of a selected course. An average PhD fee may range between INR 9500 to INR 18000. Given below is the list of specialized course along with its annual fee structure: 

How to Apply for IGNOU PhD Admission 2025: 

For those applicants who aim to study a PhD program in a specific field can enroll themselves at IGNOU. One shall make sure they follow the simple steps given below for an application process: 

Step 1: Candidates shall visit the official web portal of IGNOU using any search engine.

Step 2: It’s instructed to read carefully each detail including fee structure, eligibility criteria, and duration.

Step 3: Proceed further to the admission homepage and click on the “Register Now” button.

Step 4: Generate a new applicant ID by filling in name, ID proof, email address, and contact number.

Step 5: Now, enter details like applicant ID and password to log in.

Step 6: Fill out all mandatory details carefully without making any errors.

Step 7: Attach all the academic and personal certificates as specified in the prospectus.

Step 8: Deposit a registration fee using a specific payment mode.

Step 9: Click on the “Submit Now” tab.

Step 10: Make a copy of the final registration form for future reference.

Documents Required

Some of the important certificates required to be uploaded while filling out a registration form are as follows: 

• Candidates scanned photograph
• Scanned Signature
• Caste Certificate (if mandatory) 
• Scanned copy of 10th certificate
• Scanned copy of 12th certificate
• Scanned copy of bachelors and PG marksheet 
• Candidates birth certificate
• Copy of Identity proof 
• A scanned copy of Experience letter
• Migration Certificate
• Domicile Certificate 

IGNOU PhD Course Career Opportunities 

A majority of PhD scholars after completing this program, choose to work in leading academic institutes of India and abroad. Some of the leading institutes that hire these scholars are Delhi School of Economics, Indian Institute of Management at various locations, Indian Institute of Technology at various locations, Madras School of Economics, NABARD, and National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). Those who want to get employed can choose to become Technical writer, Professor, Faculty Position, Research Associate, and many more. A basic pay scale offered for these job roles vary between INR 8 LPA to INR 12 LPA annually.

IGNOU Other Courses: