IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) 2026: Fees, Eligibility, Duration, Syllabus and Admission
Part of IGNOU Courses & Fees: Explore the IGNOU Courses List for July 2026 Admission and Fees
The IGNOU MA Philosophy is a two-year Master's programme with a fee of Rs. 8,200 per year for the July 2026 session. Any candidate holding a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent is eligible to apply.
| Detail | MA Philosophy (MAPY) |
|---|---|
| Programme code | MAPY |
| School | School of Inter-disciplinary & Trans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS) |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. |
| Medium | English |
| Duration | 2 years minimum, 4 years maximum |
| Programme fee (July 2026) | Rs. 8,200 /- per year |
| Full-course programme fee | Rs. 16,400 (Rs. 8,200 x 2 years) |
| Total credits | 64 |
| Admission cycles | January & July |
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY): what the programme covers
The IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) programme requires students to earn 64 credits for completion. This Master of Arts in Philosophy is offered through the School of Inter-disciplinary & Trans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS). The programme is delivered in English, but students may write their term-end examinations in Hindi.
The programme structure includes 16 compulsory credits and 48 elective credits. In the first year, students complete 40 credits, including the compulsory course MPY 1 Indian Philosophy (8 credits). They also choose six elective courses from options such as MPYE 1 Logic (4 credits) and MPYE 2 Ethics (4 credits). Students select six further electives in the second year from options like MPYE 8 Metaphysics (4 credits) or MPYP 1 Dissertation (4 credits). The total duration to complete the programme ranges from 2 to 4 years.
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) eligibility: who can apply
To apply for the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme, a candidate needs a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent qualification. This is the only eligibility requirement for the Master of Arts (Philosophy) (MAPY) programme, which is offered through the School of Inter-disciplinary & Trans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS). The programme is delivered in English medium. The application process occurs via the Samarth portal.
Before you apply: IGNOU admission step by step; checking your IGNOU admission status and IGNOU last dates.
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) fees 2026: programme fee and other charges
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) fees for the July 2026 session are Rs. 8,200 per year. The total programme fee for the minimum two-year duration is Rs. 16,400. This amount does not include additional charges such as registration, development, and examination fees.
A non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 300 and a University Development fee of Rs. 400 are paid at the time of admission for the July 2026 session. Learners applying through the ODL admission portal, ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in, can pay these fees using net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. A 15% discount on the programme fee is available for learners who choose soft copies of study material instead of printed books. Printed self-instructional study material is provided as a print book or e-book, with over 3923 courses available on the eGyanKosh repository.
MA Philosophy (MAPY) fees, July 2026 session
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Programme fee (July 2026) | Rs. 8,200 /- per year |
| Full-course programme fee | Rs. 16,400 (Rs. 8,200 x 2 years) |
| Registration fee (once, non-refundable) | Rs. 300 |
| University Development fee (once) | Rs. 400 |
| Term-end exam fee | Rs. 200 per theory course |
Paying IGNOU fees: IGNOU fee structure for every programme.
IGNOU student services
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) duration and credits
The IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) programme has a minimum duration of 2 years and a maximum duration of 4 years.
The total credits for the programme are 64. The second year requires completing 48 credits.
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) syllabus: semester-wise courses
The IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) programme requires students to complete 64 credits over two to four years. This includes 16 compulsory credits and 48 elective credits. Students select six elective courses in the first year and six in the second year.
In the first year, students complete 40 credits. The compulsory course is MPY 1 Indian Philosophy, which carries 8 credits. Students then choose six elective courses from a list that includes MPYE 1 Logic, MPYE 2 Ethics, MPYE 3 Epistemology, MPYE 4 Philosophy of Human Person, MPYE 5 World Religions, MPYE 6 Dalit Philosophy, MPYE 7 Research Methodology in Philosophy, and MGP 5 Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution. Each of these elective courses is worth 4 credits.
The compulsory course for the second year is MPY 2 Western Philosophy, also worth 8 credits. These options include MPYE 8 Metaphysics, MPYE 9 Philosophy of Science and Cosmology, MPYE 10 Philosophy of Religion, MPYE 11 Philosophy of Art (Aesthetics), MPYE 12 Tribal Philosophy, MPYE 13 Philosophy of Technology, MPYE 14 Philosophy of Mind, MPYE 15 Gandhian Philosophy, MPYE 16 Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo, and MPYP 1 Dissertation. Each of these electives carries 4 credits. The dissertation, MPYP 1, is also an elective choice.
The programme is offered in English, but students may write their term-end examinations in Hindi.
MA Philosophy (MAPY) structure at a glance
| Semester / group | Courses | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 9 courses | 40 |
| 2nd year | 11 courses | 48 |
MA Philosophy (MAPY) 1st year
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPY 1 | Indian Philosophy | 8 | Compulsory Course |
| MPYE 1 | Logic | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 2 | Ethics | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 3 | Epistemology | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 4 | Philosophy of Human Person | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 5 | World Religions | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 6 | Dalit Philosophy | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 7 | Research Methodology in Philosophy | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MGP 5 | Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
MA Philosophy (MAPY) 2nd year
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPY 2 | Western Philosophy | 8 | Compulsory Courses |
| MPYE 8 | Metaphysics | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 9 | Philosophy of Science and Cosmology | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 10 | Philosophy of Religion | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 11 | Philosophy of Art (Aesthetics) | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 12 | Tribal Philosophy | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 13 | Philosophy of Technology | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 14 | Philosophy of Mind | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 15 | Gandhian Philosophy | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYE 16 | Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
| MPYP 1 | Dissertation | 4 | Elective Courses (Choose any six) |
Syllabus for other programmes: IGNOU syllabus, programme by programme.
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) admission 2026: how to apply on the Samarth portal
IGNOU conducts admissions for its MA Philosophy programme twice a year, in the January and July cycles. The current admission cycle open on the ODL admission portal is July 2026. Applicants for the July 2026 session must use the Samarth the IGNOU Samarth admission portal to apply.
This includes the annual programme fee of Rs. 8,200, a non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 300, and a University Development fee of Rs. 400. Payment can be made using net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI through the payment gateway.
Applicants must keep several documents ready before starting the online application for IGNOU MA Philosophy:
- A colour passport-size photograph with a white background, under 100 KB, in JPEG format.
- A soft copy of the relevant educational qualification, under 200 KB, in JPEG or PDF format.
- A soft copy of the category certificate (if SC/ST/OBC), under 200 KB.
- Applicants are also advised to have their APAAR ID ready.
The application process is fully online; no printed form needs to be sent to the Regional Centre. Eligibility for the Master of Arts (Philosophy) (MAPY) programme is a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
IGNOU MA Philosophy (MAPY) exams and assignments
IGNOU conducts term-end examinations twice a year, in June and December. These examinations take place at centres across India and abroad. There are two daily exam sessions: 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM, as seen in the December 2026 TEE schedule.
Assignments are compulsory for the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme. Assignments for the current session are available for download from the University website. If an assignment fails, it must be re-submitted; once passed, it cannot be re-submitted to improve the grade.
The examination fee is Rs. 200 per theory course, according to the December 2026 TEE information. For projects and practicals, the fee is Rs. 300 for up to 4 credits and Rs. 500 for above 4 credits, applicable from the January 2023 admission cycle. Hall tickets are uploaded on the University website and are not sent by post.
Learners may write the exam in Hindi even if registered in English medium, except for language programmes, as confirmed by the December 2026 TEE guidelines. The University provides numerical marks and a division (I, II or Pass) for master’s degrees upon request. A copy of an answer script costs Rs. 100 per course, as of January 2026. Only term-end theory exams can be re-evaluated; projects, practicals, workshops, assignments, or seminars are not eligible.
Exam and assignment guides: IGNOU assignment format; IGNOU TEE date sheet and IGNOU result and grade card.
Notices and Documents from IGNOU
Common IGNOU Questions
What is the total fee for the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme?
The total programme fee for the minimum two-year duration of the IGNOU MA Philosophy is Rs. 16,400. This amount is based on the Rs. 8,200 annual fee for the July 2026 prospectus, and it does not include registration, development, or examination fees.
What are the eligibility criteria for IGNOU MA Philosophy?
To be eligible for the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent qualification.
How many credits must be earned to complete the IGNOU MA Philosophy?
You must earn a total of 64 credits to successfully complete the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme. These credits are divided into 16 compulsory credits and 48 elective credits.
Which courses are compulsory in the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme?
The compulsory courses in the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme are MPY 1 Indian Philosophy (8 credits) in the first year and MPY 2 Western Philosophy (8 credits) in the second year. These total 16 credits.
Does the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme include a dissertation or project?
Yes, the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme includes a dissertation. MPYP 1 Dissertation is a 4-credit elective course offered in the second year of the programme.
How many credits are typically taken in the first year of IGNOU MA Philosophy?
The first year of the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme has a total of 40 credits.
Can I write my Term-End Examinations in Hindi for IGNOU MA Philosophy?
Yes, you are permitted to write your Term-End Examinations in Hindi, even if you are registered for the English medium. This rule applies to all programmes except language programmes, as per the December 2026 TEE guidelines.
What is the maximum duration to complete the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme?
The maximum duration allowed to complete the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme is 4 years. The minimum duration for completion is 2 years.
Are there any practical sessions or workshops in the IGNOU MA Philosophy programme?
The IGNOU MA Philosophy programme does not list any practical sessions or workshops as part of its course structure. Attendance at practical sessions is compulsory only where a programme has them.