IGNOU July 2026 admission — apply by 13 October
Indira Gandhi National Open University
- Location
- Distance and online; study centres across India
- Last date
- 13 Oct 2026
- Qualification
- Programme-wise. Read the eligibility line on the programme page before paying.
- Age limit
- Not printed as one national cap on the July 2026 portal banner.
- Vacancies
- Seat count is programme-wise, not one national total on the portal.
- Pay / stipend
- Not a stipend. Programme fee is on each programme page.
- Experience
- Not required for a fresh UG or PG admission.
- Application fee
- Registration fee is non-refundable. Programme fee is programme-wise. Cancellation after confirmation: 15% of programme fee, ceiling Rs 2,000. No refund after 60 days of the closing date.
- Selection
- Online form, document upload, fee payment, then confirmation on the Samarth portal.
Official Details
IGNOU July 2026 admission is still open on both official Samarth portals. Last date for submission of applications, except certificate and semester-based programmes, is 13 October 2026. ODL portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Online programmes portal: ignouiop.samarth.edu.in. Both banners print the same last date.
What IGNOU actually does
Indira Gandhi National Open University is a central university. It teaches through open and distance learning (ODL) and through fully online programmes. You do not sit in a regular college classroom for the whole degree. Study material, assignments and term-end exams are the clock. A study centre is for counselling and exams, not a hostel seat.
This window is the July 2026 cycle, extended again. It is not a new January cycle. If you already have a confirmed admission in this cycle, do not file a second form for the same programme.
What kind of seat this is
Fresh admission to UG, PG, PG diploma and diploma programmes offered in ODL and online mode for July 2026. Certificate programmes and semester-based programmes are outside this extension. The ODL portal also names four programmes that are not in this window: PGCMDM (PG Certificate in Medical Management of CBRNE Disasters), CESEIHI, CESEIVI and CESEIID.
Who should apply — and who should skip
Apply if you want a recognised distance or online degree, you meet the eligibility printed on that programme page, and you can finish the form before 13 October 2026. The online portal asks for a valid APAAR ID. If APAAR creation is stuck, use the help link on the portal before the last day.
Skip if you need a certificate programme, a semester-based programme, or one of the four named exclusions. Skip if you want a campus hostel and a regular college timetable. Skip any WhatsApp link that is not ignou.ac.in or the two Samarth URLs above.
Dates and fee
| Item | On the official portal |
|---|---|
| Cycle | July 2026 |
| Last date | 13 October 2026, except certificate and semester-based programmes |
| ODL apply | ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in |
| Online apply | ignouiop.samarth.edu.in |
| Registration fee | Non-refundable |
| Programme fee | Printed on each programme page, not as one national slab |
| Cancel after confirmation | 15% of programme fee deducted, ceiling Rs 2,000 |
| Late cancel | No refund after 60 days of the closing date of admissions |
Available positions
1. ODL programmes — July 2026 Programme-wise
Eligibility criteria
Eligibility, duration and fee are printed on the programme page inside ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Read that page before you pay. Certificate and semester-based programmes are excluded from the 13 October extension. PGCMDM, CESEIHI, CESEIVI and CESEIID are named as not covered on the ODL portal.
No category-wise vacancy split is printed on this notice.
2. Online programmes — July 2026 Programme-wise
Eligibility criteria
Same last date on ignouiop.samarth.edu.in: 13 October 2026, except certificate and semester-based programmes. A valid APAAR ID is required on this portal. Programme fee is on the programme details page.
No category-wise vacancy split is printed on this notice.
Educational qualifications
| Track | Degree / marks | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| ODL July 2026 | As printed on that programme page | Not certificate, not semester-based |
| Online July 2026 | As printed on that programme page | APAAR ID; same exclusion |
Selection
- New registration on the correct portal (ODL or online).
- Pick the programme and read eligibility and fee.
- Upload documents and pay.
- Save the confirmation. A paid form is not the same as a confirmed admission.
How to prepare (free, official)
How to apply without getting played
- Open only the two Samarth links. Do not pay a “counsellor” who asks for UPI to a personal account.
- Match the programme code with the eligibility line. A similar name can be a certificate, which is outside this date.
- Save the acknowledgement. If you cancel after confirmation, 15% of the programme fee can be cut, up to Rs 2,000. After 60 days from the closing date, the portal says no refund.
FAQs
What is the last date?
13 October 2026, except certificate and semester-based programmes.
Who can apply?
Anyone who meets the eligibility on the chosen programme page. This page cannot list every IGNOU course. The programme page wins.
How many seats?
Not printed as one national total. Intake is programme-wise.
Where do I apply?
ODL: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Online: ignouiop.samarth.edu.in.
What is the fee?
Programme fee is on the programme page. Registration fee is non-refundable. Cancellation after confirmation deducts 15% of the programme fee, ceiling Rs 2,000.
Can final-year students apply?
The portal banner does not print a single final-year rule. Open the programme page. If it wants a completed degree, a result-awaited form will not pass.
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Applicant Safety
Always verify notices on the official institutional website. Campus Reality only lists public notifications.
- Double-check deadlines.
- Never pay fees through unverified third-party links.
- Read the official PDF carefully before applying.