Criteria of selection

Ph.D. program admission at IGNOU is done by entrance exam scores. This national-level entrance exam follows the CSIR/UGC pattern. Candidates scoring a minimum of 50% on the exam will be shortlisted for interviews, with up to five times the number of available seats. To put it simply, the Ph.D. entrance exam at IGNOU is quite challenging.

Eligibility Criteria

PG Passed

Check the points below to know more about the eligibility criteria of the programs-
- Candidates must have a postgraduate degree in the relevant field.
- For general category candidates, a minimum of 55% marks in their post-graduation is required. Reserved category candidates get a 5% relaxation, which means they need 50% marks or more.
- Exception - Candidates who have completed an MPhil program with coursework or have passed exams like NET (conducted by UGC/CSIR/ICAR) or equivalent are not required to take the IGNOU PhD entrance exam.

Entrance Examination

To get admission in IGNOU in doctoral programs, candidates must appear in the entrance exam conducted by the IGNOU-
The entrance exam is a written exam that candidates must take as a part of the IGNOU PhD admission process. Here are some important details about the entrance test:
Name of the exam: Indira Gandhi National Open University PhD Entrance Exam
Frequency: Twice a Year
Conducting Body: Indira Gandhi National Open University
Level: National Level

Process of Admission 2024

Here are some simple steps for applying to the IGNOU PhD program:
- Go to the IGNOU Website.
- Register on the website using the "New Registration" option.
- Select your desired course and make note of the course ID.
- Access the application form by clicking on "Application."
- Complete the form and pay the associated fees.
- While registering, upload the necessary documents on the website.
- Click the "Submit" button to send your application, and it will be accepted.

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Courses offered by IGNOU

These are all the doctoral courses offered by the IGNOU check the list below-
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce, Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism Studies, Doctor of Philosophy in Management, Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, Doctor of Philosophy in Hindi, Doctor of Philosophy in English, Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, Doctor of Philosophy in Sri Aurobindo Studies, Doctor of Philosophy in Geology, Doctor of Philosophy in Knowledge Management, Doctor of Philosophy in Library & Information Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics, , Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration, Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism & Mass Communication, Doctor of Philosophy in History, Doctor of Philosophy in Informatics, Doctor of Philosophy in Information Communication Technology, Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, Doctorate in Philosophy in Law, Doctorate in Philosophy in Child Development, Doctorate in Philosophy in Food and Nutrition, Doctorate in Philosophy in Gender and Development Studies, Doctorate in Philosophy in Arabic, Doctorate in Philosophy in Education, Doctorate in Philosophy in French, Doctorate in Philosophy in Women's Studies, Doctorate in Philosophy in Information Communication Technology (ICT), Information and Knowledge Management, Doctorate in Philosophy in Rural Development, Doctorate in Philosophy in Vocational Education, Integrated MSc-PhD in Physics and Astrophysics, M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Translation Studies, Post Doctoral Certificate in Dialysis Medicine,

Study Material

The university offers all course materials on its website. You can easily access study materials through the provided links. Specialization areas for Ph.D. programs include Women's Studies, Geology, French, Journalism, Statistics, Biochemistry, Mass Communication, Physics, Geography, Gender Development Studies, and Chemistry.

Thesis Submission

The thesis will be assessed by three External Experts nominated by the Vice Chancellor from a list of seven experts provided by the Supervisor/s through the School Board. In the case of MPhil, the dissertation will be evaluated by one external examiner nominated by the Vice Chancellor from a list of at least five experts submitted by the supervisor through the School Board. The Examiner/s' reports should be submitted using the provided format.

Course work

When your Research Project is approved, the Doctoral Committee may also require you to complete Course work that relates to the research's focus areas and research methodology. The specifics of this Course Work, how it will be evaluated, and the schedule for teaching it will be provided by the Research Programme Coordinator.
Mostly, Course Work is assigned to candidates applying for admission to the MPhil program. It's also assigned to PhD candidates who haven't completed an MPhil. However, the Doctoral Committee may assign Course Work to PhD candidates who have already completed an MPhil as well.

Viva Examinations

For Ph.D. candidates, the viva-voce examination will be conducted at IGNOU. A panel will oversee this examination, consisting of an external examiner appointed by the Vice Chancellor, along with your principal supervisor who acts as the convener. The Director of the concerned department will be the panel's Chairperson. The date, venue, and thesis topic along with a brief abstract will be communicated to the Research Unit. This information will also be made widely available to encourage broader participation in the session. To successfully complete the MPhil program, you need to secure a minimum of 50% marks in each course, 50% in your dissertation work, and 50% in the viva-voce examination.