The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has officially opened admissions for the July 2026 academic session from 25 May 2026. Students across India can now apply online for undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, PG diploma, and certificate programmes through the official portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The last date to apply is 15 July 2026 and the application fee is Rs 300 (non-refundable).
IGNOU is one of the largest open universities in the world, serving over 4 million active learners annually. It offers more than 339 programmes across 21 Schools of Studies, covering disciplines from arts, commerce, science, management, education, social work, journalism, tourism, and technology.
Courses Open for July 2026 Admission
Popular undergraduate programmes include:
- BA, B.Com, BCA, BBA, BSW, BLIS, BEd, B.Sc across multiple specialisations
- BEd requires a valid entrance exam score for admission
Popular postgraduate programmes include:
- MA, M.Com, MSc, MBA, MCA, MSW, MLIS, MAJMC
- MBA under IGNOU is offered in multiple specialisations including Finance, HR, Marketing, and Operations
Diploma and PG Diploma courses are available in areas like Journalism, Tourism, Hospital and Health Management, Computer Applications, Early Childhood Care, and Maternal and Child Health.
Who Can Apply
- UG Programmes: Class 12 pass from any recognised board. Most programmes have direct merit-based admission with no entrance exam
- PG Programmes: Graduation degree from a UGC-recognised university
- BEd and PhD: Require qualifying entrance examination scores
- No age bar for most IGNOU programmes, making it ideal for working professionals, homemakers, and students at any stage of life
APAAR ID Now Compulsory
A major update for 2026: the APAAR ID (Academic Bank of Credits) is now compulsory for all IGNOU admissions. Candidates must generate their APAAR ID before starting the application. This is linked to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) framework under NEP 2020, which enables credit transfer across institutions.
Important Deadlines
- Fresh Admission: Open now, last date 15 July 2026
- Re-registration (existing students): Last date 30 June 2026
- Application fee: Rs 300 online through the Samarth portal
- IGNOU June TEE 2026 Assignment Submission: Last date 31 May 2026 (today — submit immediately if pending)
- June TEE 2026 Exams: Begin 1 June 2026 and run till 21 July 2026
IGNOU degrees are fully recognised by the UGC, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and Distance Education Bureau (DEB) and are accepted for government jobs, private sector employment, and higher education admissions across India. Students should apply through ignou.ac.in or the Samarth portal and avoid any unofficial admission agents.
