How to Join IGNOU Bachelor of Social Work? Fees, Eligibility & Details

IGNOU does not prescribe any upper age limit for candidate admission to the Bachelor of Social Work programme. Applicants of any age who have completed 10+2 or an equivalent qualification from a recognized board are eligible to apply. Enrolment is conducted online through the official Samarth admission portal during the open admission cycles.

The annual tuition fee for the IGNOU Bachelor of Social Work (BFSW) course is Rs 6,700 per year. In addition to the tuition fee, candidates must pay applicable non-refundable registration and development fees during initial admission. Payment is completed online through net banking, debit cards, or credit cards on the Samarth admission portal.

The minimum duration to complete the IGNOU Bachelor of Social Work degree is three years. Candidates with benchmark disabilities of 40 percent or more receive an additional two years beyond the standard duration to finish their course requirements. Students can register for either the distance mode (BFSW) or online mode (BSWOL) through the official Samarth portal. If registration or session completion fails within the valid timeframe, learners must contact their allotted Regional Centre.

IGNOU offers the Bachelor of Social Work programme in both English and Hindi instruction mediums. Applicants choose their preferred medium during initial registration on the Samarth admission portal for the 2026 academic session. Self-learning materials and assignments are provided in the chosen medium via printed blocks and digital platforms like eGyanKosh. If medium selection errors occur after admission, students can submit a course correction request to their Regional Centre.

IGNOU provides programme fee exemptions to eligible SC and ST candidates under its official university policy, reviewed each admission cycle. Applicants must submit a valid income certificate issued by an authorized government agency during online admission. Exempted candidates must still pay non-exempted fees such as registration, development, and term-end examination fees.

IGNOU permits students to request a change of elective course within 30 days of receiving their first set of study materials. For undergraduate courses, the fee is Rs 350 for a 2 or 4-credit course and Rs 700 for a 6 or 8-credit course. Requests must be submitted directly to the concerned IGNOU Regional Centre using a Demand Draft.

IGNOU evaluates Bachelor of Social Work students using a continuous evaluation system comprising tutor-marked assignments and term-end examinations. Students must submit mandatory assignments at their allotted Learner Support Centres to become eligible for exams. Term-end theory and practical examinations take place twice each year in June and December across designated exam centres. If an assignment submission is missed, candidates must re-submit it in the subsequent cycle to qualify for evaluation.

Applicants must upload scanned self-attested copies of their passport photograph, signature, Class 10 age proof, and Class 12 mark sheet on the Samarth portal. Candidates claiming category relaxation or fee exemption must also upload a valid SC/ST/OBC/EWS certificate and a government-issued income certificate. All file uploads must be clearly legible before finalizing the online admission form for the 2026 session. If any document verification fails, applicants can re-upload corrections through their student login dashboard.

IGNOU BSW students can update their address by submitting the printed proforma provided in their initial Programme Guide to their concerned Regional Director. The proforma can also be downloaded directly from the official IGNOU website for submission to the Regional Centre. Upon receipt, the Regional Director updates the database and forwards the corrected details to the Student Registration Division in Maidan Garhi. Process completion normally takes 4 to 6 weeks from the date of receipt.

Indian students can apply for a duplicate IGNOU BSW grade card by paying a fee of Rs 200 online or via bank challan. The application format is available in the student Programme Guide and on the official IGNOU portal. Payment can be completed through Punjab National Bank challan or via online miscellaneous fee options. In case of lost documents, learners must submit the filled form along with payment receipt to the evaluation division.

IGNOU permits BSW graduates falling short by up to two percent marks for a first or second division to apply for mark improvement. Learners must apply within six months of final grade card issuance with a valid registration. The fee is Rs 750 per course, payable via bank draft to the Registrar, Student Evaluation Division, Maidan Garhi. If an examination attempt fails to yield better results, IGNOU automatically considers the higher score between the two.

IGNOU permits Bachelor of Social Work students to transfer from one Regional Centre to another by submitting a written request to their current Regional Centre with a copy to the new Regional Centre. Learners must obtain a certificate from their Study Centre Coordinator confirming the total number of submitted assignments. The existing Regional Director transfers all records and fee details to the destination Regional Centre upon approval. If transfer issues arise, students must contact the Student Registration Division in Maidan Garhi.

IGNOU charges practical examination and project evaluation fees from Bachelor of Social Work students at the time of filling up the term-end examination form. For courses with practical components or project reports, learners must pay the designated fee slab online through the examination portal. Students must submit the online fee receipt along with their project report or present it when attending practical exams. If fee submission fails on the portal, learners must contact their allotted Regional Centre.

IGNOU provides digital self-learning study materials for Bachelor of Social Work students through eGyanKosh and the IGNOU e-Content mobile application. Enrolled learners can access and download soft copies of printed course blocks in English or Hindi medium directly from these platforms for the 2026 academic session. This digital access allows students to begin coursework immediately while physical material is dispatched via post. If technical errors or material download failures occur, learners can submit a support ticket through the IGNOU iGRAM portal.

IGNOU provides supplementary audio-visual learning content to Bachelor of Social Work students through the Gyan Darshan television channel and Gyan Vani FM radio network. Learners can listen to interactive radio counselling sessions and live phone-in programmes to connect directly with academic counsellors and university faculty. Video lectures are also broadcast across Doordarshan networks and made accessible through designated web streaming links for the 2026 session. If broadcast schedules are missed, students can obtain recorded schedules and guidance from their allotted Learner Support Centre.