How Do I Apply for IGNOU Diploma Admission? Requirements, Fees and Evaluation

IGNOU requires students to pay term-end examination fees along with mandatory project evaluation fees and practical examination fees during form submission. This fee policy applies across all academic programmes featuring lab or project components as per notification IG/P&D/Fee/2023/831 issued on January 2, 2023. Candidates must pay these fees online while filling out the term-end exam form on the IGNOU Samarth portal. If payment fails or receipt is missing, submit online payment receipts to your Regional Centre before practical examinations or project submission.

IGNOU places no upper age limit on candidates applying for its Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma programmes. This rule applies universally unless a specific professional course explicitly mandates an age ceiling in its programme prospectus. Applicants must complete their online registration and upload required qualification documents on the official Samarth portal at ignou.samarth.edu.in. In case of registration failure or rejection, contact your assigned IGNOU Regional Centre with your academic credentials for manual verification and assistance.

Assignments carry a 30% weightage toward the final evaluation in theory components for IGNOU diploma programmes. This continuous assessment rule requires students to write responses by hand on foolscap or A4 paper for every compulsory assignment code. Learners must submit completed assignment response sheets directly to their Learner Support Centre coordinator before the published session deadlines. If an assignment is rejected or missed, students cannot appear in the term-end theory examination for that specific paper.

IGNOU permits changes in elective courses within 30 days of receiving the first set of study materials. For undergraduate-level diplomas, the fee is Rs. 350 for 2/4 credits and Rs. 700 for 6/8 credits. For Master’s/PG diplomas, the fee is Rs. 600 for 2/4 credits and Rs. 1200 for 6/8 credits, payable via Demand Draft to the Regional Centre.

One IGNOU credit represents exactly 30 hours of learner study effort across all academic activities. This definition applies to reading self-learning materials, listening to audio, watching video broadcasts, attending counseling sessions, participating in teleconferences, and writing assignment responses. Students must complete all prescribed credit hours through the Samarth student portal and study centre guidance to complete their diploma programme successfully. If learning materials are delayed, contact your Regional Director immediately to request study material dispatch updates.

IGNOU grants an additional two years beyond the maximum prescribed programme duration for learners with benchmark disabilities. This relaxation applies to all academic programmes for candidates who possess a valid disability certificate showing 40% or more disability. Applicants must upload their certified disability document during online admission registration on the official Samarth portal. If disability concession status fails to reflect in your profile, submit a written representation along with disability proofs to your Regional Centre.

For the Post Graduate Diploma in Sanskrit Sahitya mein Vigyan (PGSKT) MSK-021 course, the submission deadline for the July 2025 session is 30 April 2026, while for the January 2026 session it is 31 October 2026. Learners must handwrite their responses on foolscap paper and submit them directly to their Study Centre coordinator. Ensure all pages are securely tied and numbered sequentially before submission. If you miss the deadline, you will be barred from taking the corresponding term-end examination.

The first page of an IGNOU diploma assignment response sheet must display specific student and course details in the university’s prescribed layout. On the top right corner, write your Enrolment Number or Roll Number, Name, and full Postal Address. On the top left section, state the Course Code, Course Title, Assignment Code, Programme Study Centre, and Date of Submission. If this format is omitted or incorrect, evaluation centers may fail to update your continuous evaluation marks on the Samarth portal.

Changing an elective course in IGNOU Master’s or Post Graduate Diploma programmes costs Rs. 600 for a 2/4 credit course and Rs. 1200 for a 6/8 credit course. This facility applies provided the request is made within 30 days of receiving the first set of study materials. Students must pay this fee via a Demand Draft drawn in favor of IGNOU payable at their Regional Centre city. If the request is submitted beyond 30 days or to central headquarters, the application will be rejected.

IGNOU strictly rejects printed or typed copies of assignment responses across all diploma and certificate programmes. Learners must write all assignment answers by hand using foolscap or A4 size paper, ensuring logical order and clear handwriting. Completed response sheets must be submitted directly to the Learner Support Centre coordinator or Programme In-charge before the due date. If typed assignments are submitted, evaluators will award zero marks and invalidate your eligibility for the term-end exam.

Applicants seeking admission to IGNOU Post Graduate Diploma programmes must hold a recognized Bachelor’s degree from a UGC-approved university or institution. For degrees awarded prior to June 4, 1986, first-degree courses of any duration are recognized as valid equivalent three-year degrees without requiring a bridge course. Candidates must submit their original degree certificates on the IGNOU Samarth admission portal during registration. If your degree is from an unapproved off-campus private university center, admission will be cancelled.

IGNOU provides seat reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBC non-creamy layer, EWS, War Widows, Kashmiri Migrants, and Persons with Disabilities. This policy applies to diploma programmes where seats are limited and selection occurs through a merit list as per Government of India rules. Applicants must upload valid category certificates on the IGNOU Samarth portal during online admission registration. If a student submits a forged category certificate, their admission is cancelled immediately and legal action is initiated under central regulations.

IGNOU requires students to request address corrections by submitting the printed proforma provided in their official Programme Guide. This procedure applies to all admitted diploma learners who receive their first lot of study materials containing the address change form. Applicants must fill out the proforma completely and send it directly to their concerned Regional Director for database updating. If the proforma is submitted to central headquarters instead of the Regional Centre, address modification processing will be delayed or ignored.

IGNOU PGDHHM diploma assignment submission deadlines for the July session are July 15 for Blocks 1 and 2, August 31 for Blocks 3 and 4, and October 15 for Blocks 5 and 6. Students must write responses by hand on foolscap paper and submit them directly to their Learner Support Centre coordinator. All nine assignments are compulsory and carry 30% weightage toward theory evaluation. If deadline dates are missed, learners cannot appear in the term-end theory examination for those specific courses.

IGNOU registration fees charged during initial admission are strictly non-refundable under standard admission rules. If a learner requests admission cancellation, programme fee refunds are considered strictly according to the university refund policy published on the official website. Applicants must submit their cancellation requests online through the Samarth admission portal before the designated cutoff windows. If an applicant submits forged qualification or category certificates, their admission is cancelled immediately with total fee forfeiture and legal action.

IGNOU requires students to attach or produce an online payment receipt when submitting project reports or taking practical examinations. This rule applies to all programmes with practical or project components effective from the January 2023 admission cycle under notification IG/P&D/Fee/2023/831. Learners must pay these evaluation fees online while completing their term-end exam form on the Samarth portal. If the fee receipt is not submitted along with the project report, evaluation centers will reject the submission.