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REGISTRATION
RECOGNITION
GENERAL
ELIGIBILITY
ADMISSION CATEGORIES
ENTRANCE TEST
INTERVIEW/VIVA-VOCE
MERIT AND SELECTION
COURSE WORK
FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME Ph.D.
DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME
FEES AND FINANCIAL MATTERS
RESEARCH SUPERVISION
HOSTEL AND ACCOMMODATION
APPLICATION RELATED
IMPORTANT ADVICE TO APPLICANTS
Help Center - Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, it is mandatory to register on the PhD Admission Portal. Applications are received online only. There is no provision for offline submission. For any assistance please contact the Research Unit
Yes. The Ph.D. Programme of IGNOU is offered in accordance with the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022 and amendments issued from time to time. Further, the IGNOU Research Ordinance governing the Ph.D. Programme has been duly approved by the competent authorities, including the President of India in the capacity of the Visitor of the University.
No. The Ph.D. Programme is offered through Regular Mode only under the following categories:
• Full-Time Ph.D.
• Part-Time Ph.D. (for eligible employed candidates only)
No. The Ph.D. Programme is administered through the Schools of Studies at the IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi.
A candidate should possess:
• A two-year Master's Degree after a three-year Bachelor's Degree; OR
• A one-year Master's Degree after a four-year Bachelor's Degree,
with at least 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade.
A relaxation of 5% marks is available to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/PwD categories as per UGC Regulations.
No. There is no upper age limit prescribed for admission to the Ph.D. Programme.
No. Candidates must possess the prescribed educational qualifications on or before the last date of submission of the application form.
Admissions are conducted under the following categories:
Category-I: UGC-NET with JRF
Category-II: UGC-NET (Eligible for Assistant Professor and Ph.D.)
Category-III: UGC-NET (Eligible for Ph.D. only)
Category-IV: University-Level Entrance Test followed by Interview
No. Selection for those having UGC-NET with JRF is based on Interview/Viva-Voce only.
Yes. Candidates under Categories II and III are eligible.
Yes. Such candidates may apply under Category-IV and appear for the University-Level Entrance Test.
The Entrance Test consists of:
• Research Methodology – 50%
• Subject-Specific Knowledge – 50%
Candidates must secure at least 50% marks in the Entrance Test. Relaxation for reserved categories shall be applicable as per UGC Regulations.
Candidates qualifying the Entrance Test shall be called for Interview/Viva-Voce in the ratio of 1:5 against the number of available seats.
Yes. Interview/Viva-Voce is mandatory for candidates under all admission categories.
• Research Methodology– 40%
• Subject Knowledge– 40%
• Communication Skills– 20%
At IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
No. No TA/DA shall be admissible.
Original Photo ID and original academic documents.
Category UGC-NET with JRF UGC-NET Qualified
Weightage Interview Only 70% NETScore + 30%Interview University Entrance Test 70% Entrance Test + 30% Interview
1. UGC-NET with JRF
2. UGC-NET(Assistant Professor & Ph.D.)
3. UGC-NET(Ph.D. only)
4. University Entrance Test Candidates
No. Admission depends upon merit, availability of seats, reservation policy and availability of suitable research supervision.
Yes. Successful completion of Course Work is mandatory.
At IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi.
Normally during the first six months after admission.
Yes. A minimum of 80% attendance is mandatory.
No. Physical attendance is compulsory.
Yes
Eligible employed candidates who can devote sufficient time for research and whose employer permits them to pursue doctoral studies.
Yes. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) in the prescribed format is mandatory for Part-Time candidates at the time of Interview.
Three years.
Six years.
Yes. Women candidates and PwD candidates (40% or more disability) may be granted an additional period of two years.
₹2,000/- (Non-refundable)
Yes. Eligible research scholars may avail:
• IGNOU Research Fellowship (IGNOU-RF)
• UGC-JRF
• CSIR-JRF
• DST-INSPIRE
• ICSSR Fellowship
• ICMR Fellowship
• Other fellowships as per eligibility.
Candidates may indicate their research interests. However, allocation of Supervisor is made by the concerned School/Doctoral Research Committee based on expertise and availability.
No. Qualifying the Entrance Test does not guarantee admission. The University reserves the right not to fill some or all seats if suitable candidates are not available.
No. Hostel facilities are presently not available for Ph.D. scholars.
Yes. Separate applications and application fees are required for each discipline.
Only as per provisions available in the admission portal before final submission/payment.
The list of selected candidates shall be published on the official IGNOU website.
✓ Applying without checking discipline-specific eligibility
✓ Uploading unclear documents
✓ Providing incorrect NET/JRF details
✓ Ignoring admission-related notifications
✓ Submitting incorrect category certificates
✓ Choosing a research area unrelated to academic background
✓ Proposed area of research
✓ Research methodology
✓ Subject knowledge
✓ Recent developments in the discipline
✓ Research aptitude
✓ Communication skills
✓ Feasibility of the proposed research