What Are the IGNOU MA Admission Options and LMS Portals?

Candidates must hold a recognized Bachelor’s degree of minimum three-year duration or a 5-year integrated Master’s degree from a recognized university. Master’s degrees awarded without a prior three-year Bachelor’s degree are not recognized for admission at IGNOU, except for degrees completed prior to June 4, 1986. Candidates apply online through the IGNOU Samarth portal.

Students enrolled in online MA streams submit assignments digitally through the link provided on the E-Vidyabharti LMS portal by the Center for Online and Regional Center. For instance, MARDOL students submit July 2024 session assignments by 31st March 2025 and January 2025 session assignments by 30th September 2025 on the portal.

The fee for changing a 2 or 4 credit course in a Master’s degree programme is Rs. 600, while changing a 6 or 8 credit course costs Rs. 1,200. Requests must be submitted within 30 days from receiving the first set of study material by Demand Draft payable to IGNOU at the concerned Regional Centre.

Yes, IGNOU provides a duration extension for MA students with disabilities. Learners with a benchmark disability of 40% or more are granted an additional two years beyond the maximum duration prescribed for their MA programme. This relaxation applies across all academic programmes, ensuring flexibility for eligible candidates. Students must upload their PwBD certificate during the online application process on the IGNOU Samarth portal for this benefit to be considered.

IGNOU’s Master’s degree courses operate on a credit system, where one credit signifies 30 hours of total student study effort. This effort encompasses various learning activities, including reading course material, attending counseling sessions, completing assignments, and preparing for examinations. For example, a 4-credit course demands approximately 120 hours of study, while a 6-credit course requires 180 hours. This system helps learners understand the academic commitment needed to successfully complete each course and the overall programme.

Eligible Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates can receive fee support for IGNOU MA programmes through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post Matric Scholarship. This financial assistance is available to students who meet the specific eligibility criteria of the scheme. Application details and guidelines for ST students are processed via the official central scholarship portal, which provides the necessary steps for submission. Students should carefully follow the instructions on that portal and ensure all required documents, including their category certificate, are accurately submitted.

After submitting your online application for an IGNOU MA programme, you can track its status through the registered email ID and mobile number provided during registration. All future communications, including updates on your application status, will be sent to these contact details. It is crucial to keep your registered email and mobile active throughout the admission process. Additionally, you should save the completed application form and payment receipt for future reference.

IGNOU MA students access their study materials through multiple channels, including printed self-learning materials dispatched to them. Additionally, digital books and self-learning resources for thousands of courses are available free of cost on the eGyanKosh digital repository. Audio-visual content, such as video programmes, is also telecast on Gyan Darshan and broadcast on Gyan Vani radio stations. Students can also refer to their Programme Guide for further details on material access.

IGNOU Master’s degree programmes with a project work component require students to pay a Project Evaluation Fee. This fee is applicable across all academic programmes that include project work or a lab component. Students must submit the online receipt of this fee along with their project report. The payment of this fee is made online during the submission of the Term-End Examination form, as applicable from the January 2023 admission cycle.

If you do not receive your IGNOU MA study material, you are required to formally write to the Registrar, Material Production and Distribution Division. The letter should be addressed to IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110 068. It is advisable to ensure your address details are correct and updated with your Regional Centre, as changes can take 4-6 weeks to process. This direct communication helps resolve issues related to study material dispatch.

To change your address for IGNOU MA correspondence, you must use the printed proforma provided in your Programme Guide. This form should be completed and sent to your concerned Regional Director, not directly to the Student Registration Division in New Delhi. The Regional Director will then update your details in the database. It typically takes 4-6 weeks for the address change to be processed and reflected in university records.

IGNOU MA students must complete re-registration for subsequent years or semesters to continue their programme. The re-registration process is typically done online through the IGNOU Samarth portal. Students should log in to the portal using their existing credentials and follow the steps for re-registration, ensuring all details are correct. Incomplete re-registration forms or those with wrong course options will be summarily rejected, so verification before final submission is crucial.

Incomplete online application forms or those containing wrong course options, electives, or false information will be summarily rejected by IGNOU. This rejection occurs without any prior intimation to the learners. Candidates are strongly advised to fill all relevant columns carefully and provide clear, visible scanned copies of all required self-attested certificates on the IGNOU Samarth portal. It is crucial to verify eligibility, category details, and programme selection before making payment, as submitted information cannot be modified after final submission.

Candidates must upload clear self-attested scanned copies of their photograph, signature, Aadhaar card or photo identity proof, and Class X birth certificate. Additionally, applicants must provide marksheets and degree certificates of their qualifying three-year Bachelor’s degree or 5-year integrated Master’s degree. Candidates claiming category benefits or disability relaxations must also submit their SC, ST, OBC Non-Creamy Layer, EWS, or PwBD certificates. Submitting forged or illegible documents leads to immediate application rejection and legal action under Government rules.

To request a Regional Centre transfer, a learner must write to their current Regional Centre and send a copy to the target Regional Centre. Students must obtain a certificate from their current Study Centre Coordinator confirming the number of submitted assignments. The transferring Regional Director then forwards all academic records and fee payment details to the new Regional Centre. Formal intimation of the transfer is subsequently sent to both the learner and the Student Registration Division.

IGNOU students can submit grievances online through the official iGRAM portal at igram.ignou.ac.in. This platform addresses portal assistance and administrative queries submitted by distance and online learners across various Master of Arts streams. When facing technical issues with LMS portals or course registration, students log in, select their query category, and track their grievance status online. If the issue persists, learners should contact their assigned Regional Director for further assistance.