IGNOU degree is accredited by the Indian government and is recognized as equivalent to a graduate degree in engineering in the United States. Students get their H1B visa stamped because it is considered a professional qualification, but they are sponsored by one of the top 5 Software MNCs in India, which is very important. A degree from IGNOU has enormous validity and recognition.

Sure, you may have difficulty breaking into the job market because most employers prefer "Regular" degrees from a reputable college or university. Nobody is lucky enough to get a job of their choice. The only difference is that distance learning requires you to fight more, both during your studies and in the job market. However, one should not overthink, hard work pays off.

Maintain your fundamentals, learn and master the latest technology, and prepare yourself to be versatile and competitive.

Your priority should be to find a job in your field of study, rather than a high-paying job. When you're in the field, your experience counts, and your degree usually takes a back seat.

A student should take no more than 96 credits in BA (applicable for every subject).

To obtain a major in any subject, a student must have a total of 48 credits in that subject, which equates to 6 papers of 8 credits taken over three years. (2 papers per year)

The remaining 48 credits are divided as follows:

• In the first and second years, compulsory papers BSHF 101 and FST 01, each worth 8 credits.

• Students in their second year are required to take one elective course in addition to the compulsory course and the subject in which they are majoring.

• Applied Courses are for third-year students, and they can be taken for 8 or 16 credits.

• Students may take any subject from Group 1 to Group A1 in addition to Group A1.

As a result, the number of subjects taken each year is determined by the number of credits a student takes. If a 4-credit subject is chosen, the student should take two 4-credit papers for a total of 8 credits, increasing the number of papers.

Admission is available in two sessions: July and January. The university supplies the study material, which is fine. It follows a year system, with 7 courses (6 theory and 1 practical) in the first year and 6 in the second year (3 theory, 1 practical, 1 internship requiring at least 240 hours total, and 1 project/research (can only be done if you pass the Research Methodology and Statistics subjects in the first year)). There are three optional courses to choose from in the second year of IGNOU's MA in Psychology.

• Clinical psychiatry
• Psychology of counseling
• Psychology in the workplace

Each has different job prospects, and it is believed you will be familiar with them because it is clear from their names what fields they represent. The procedure is extremely simple. Obtain admission, complete assignments, and register for the exam at the desired exam center. After passing the exams, which can take between three and six years. Following that, you will be given a mark sheet and a provisional certificate. To obtain an original degree, you must wait at least six to twelve months for the convocation to be held by IGNOU, and you must pay a nominal fee of Rs 600-900 for registration and certificate.

If you are unable to attend the convocation, your certificate will be mailed to your home address. However, the practicals and viva-voce are an exception because some of the exams were conducted recently (depending on the Regional/Study center). It is acceptable in the first year, but if it occurs in the second year, it may cause a hindrance for higher education because the certificates may not be available at the right time for seeking admission, (seems IGNOU is nowadays quickly distributing the provisional and statement of marks. The good news is that you will receive it directly to your home via post after completing the course). The learner must submit assignments for all theory papers, and writing them will take a lot of time, but it will be beneficial for a passionate learner of psychology.

If you want to pursue this MA in Psychology from IGNOU, you must fully commit to this course because the field of psychology is vast. So working while pursuing this course may not be the best option because it may require 3 months of internship, pure research work, and an ocean of writing work. 

Regarding the job prospects, as a student of the specific course, you hope to win the UGC NET/JRF and continue your education to become a lecturer. If I get the JRF, I plan to pursue an M Phil in Clinical Psychology and become a licensed clinical practitioner in the mental health field.