IGNOU MA admission 2024 for the January session is expected to start in the month of December 2023. The last date to apply is January 31, 2024 (Tentative). Interested candidates can apply online on the official website of IGNOU @ignou.ac.in. Admissions will be granted based on marks secured in the qualifying examination. Check IGNOU Admission 2024

Indira Gandhi National Open University or IGNOU offers admission in Master of Arts (MA) in various specializations under different schools of the university. The duration of the MA course is 2 years. IGNOU has launched a new postgraduate course in Folklore and Cultural Studies. Candidates having a bachelor’s degree in any discipline can apply to online Master of Arts in Folklore and Culture Studies (MAFCS) at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The course mainly aims at time, geography, literature and space of the folklore and culture of India as well as the world. Check IGNOU Admission Status

IGNOU MA Important Dates 2024

EVENT DATE
IGNOU admission 2024 January Session Last Date

IGNOU MA Admission Highlights 2024

Courses Offered  Master of Arts (MA)
Offered at IGNOU
Duration  2 years (maximum duration: 4 years)
Type  Open / Distance / Online
Specializations  19
Intake Session January & July
Basic Eligibility  Passed graduation or equivalent
Selection Criteria Merit based
Medium of Instruction English & Hindi
Applications Available Online 

All the specializations are offered in both January and July sessions except Adult Education and Women and Gender Studies.  For more admission related details, check IGNOU Admission.

IGNOU MA Fees

The Annual program fee is available in the Common Prospectus for IGNOU admission. The fee is supposed to be accepted in half for the first year and the rest half in the second year, keeping aside the registration fee. Fee for all the specializations is mentioned below : 

Specializations Annual Fee More Details
Sociology INR 12,000 Click Here
Hindi INR 12,000 Click Here
Gandhi and Peace Studies INR 9,600 Click Here
Rural Development INR 10,800 Click Here
English INR 12,000 Click Here
Philosophy INR 12,000 Click Here
Education INR 18,000 Click Here
Economics INR 16,000 Click Here
History INR 12,000 Click Here
Pol. Science INR 12,000 Click Here
Public Administration INR 12,000 Click Here
Psychology INR 18,000 Click here
Anthropology INR 16,800 Click Here
Development Studies INR 11,000 Click Here
Adult Education INR 12,800 Click Here
Gender & Development Studies INR 9,600 Click Here
Women & Gender Studies INR 13,000 Click Here
Distance Education INR 10,800 Click Here
Translation Studies INR 9,600 Click Here
Journalism and Mass Communication INR 25,000 Click Here

IGNOU MA Eligibility Criteria

Read on for eligibility criteria and fee details accepted for each MA specialization at IGNOU for admissions:

Course Specializations Eligibility Criteria
MA Hindi Candidate must be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university for admission to the course
History
Philosophy
Political Science
Journalism and Mass Communication
Anthropology
Psychology
Sociology
Public Administration
Economics
Distance Education
Education
Adult Education (offered only in July session)

English

Development Studies
Gandhi and Peace Studies
Rural Development
Gender and Development Studies
Translation Studies

Women’s and Gender Studies (offered only in July session)

IGNOU MA Selection Process

  • Admission is granted on the basis of marks in the qualifying degree examination.
  • University's admission committee releases the merit list as per the candidate’s marks in UG degree.
  • Shortlisted candidates have to report at the respective Regional or Study centre of the university with all the required documents, i.e
    • Photocopy of ID proof
    • Photocopy of all the marks sheets of Graduate course.
    • Photocopy of 10+2 marks sheet.
    • Age proof/ 10+2 Marks Sheet.

Check More: IGNOU Courses & Fees

IGNOU MA Application Process

Candidates can fill and submit the application form for the MA program through online mode. Interested candidates can apply by following the below-given steps:

Step 1: Registration

  • Candidates must register themselves first by creating a username and password.
  • They must fill all the necessary information like name, DOB, e-mail address and contact number. After filling the details, press ‘SUBMIT’ button.
  • Candidate’s username will be instantly sent to the registered e-mail ID and SMS.
  • Candidate must remember his/her Username and Password for subsequent login.

Step 2: Login and Fill the form

  • Candidate should log in with the generated Username & Password.
  • Next, candidate should fill the application form with all the necessary details.

Step 3: Uploading Documents

Upon filing the application form, candidates should upload the scanned copy of the following documents:

  1. Scanned Photograph and signature 
  2. Scanned copy of Age Proof
  3. Scanned copy of Educational Qualification
  4. Scanned Copy of Experience Certificate (if any)
  5. Scanned Copy of Category Certificate, if SC/ST/OBC
  6. Scanned Copy of BPL Certificate, if Below Poverty Line

Step 4: Preview

  • After uploading the scanned documents, candidates can click the ‘next button’ for the application form preview option.
  • In case of any error, they can go back and correct the details or can refill the form.

Step 5: Fee Submission

  • Candidates can pay the program fee in addition to application fee through debit card, credit card, net banking, ATM (PNB)
  • After successful fee submission, candidates must take print out of the online application form for future correspondence.

IGNOU MA Study Materials

IGNOU provides study material to students free of cost. Here are the links for MA study materials that are tabulated below. Students can easily download or view the study material from here without any registration. It will help students to understand & get a clear idea about the course curriculum.

Course Name Click to Download
MA Download

Check More: IGNOU Study Material

IGNOU MA Assignments 2024

Assignments constitute continuous evaluation. The marks that you secure in the assignments will be counted in your final result. As mentioned earlier, an assignment of a course carries 30% weightage. You are therefore advised to take your assignment seriously. 

Non Submission of Assignment

The TMA for each semester can be downloaded from the Student Zone of the University website. You have to complete the assignment within the due dates specified in the assignment booklet. You will not be allowed to appear for the term-end examination for any course if you do not submit the assignment in time for that course. If you appear in the term-end examination, without submitting the assignments, the result of the term-end examination is liable to be canceled.

Read More: IGNOU Assignment

IGNOU MA FAQs

Ques. Is it good to do MA from IGNOU?

Ans. Yes, it is. IGNOU is recognized by UGC and globally approved by AICTE. Therefore, it became considerable enough for any degree obtained from it. So, it is worth doing an MA degree from IGNOU.

Ques. Is MA in Political Science from IGNOU tough?

Ans. One of the most sought-after courses offered by IGNOU is MA in Political Science. The course is huge and depth, which makes it difficult. Therefore, many students tested fail every year. Significantly, after completion, there is a profitable opportunity for news media, teaching, research, writing, etc.

Ques. How is the syllabus of an MA in Economics at IGNOU?

Ans. The course structure for MA Economic at IGNOU is not wide. The course is a 2-year program where you have 4 subjects in the 1st year. You have 1 subject and in the second year, you have 5 subjects and select 1 subject. The 1st year syllabus is not so hard that you will be supplied by Ignu and remember your graduation.

Ques. How good is an MA in English from IGNOU?

Ans. IGNOU provides fine up-to-the-mark study materials to MA (English). The curriculum is a quantity similar to regular universities. So if someone wants to prepare for the NET then it will be helpful for him/her. Plus they provide the material provided well (although good sign scores are not enough). And most importantly, IGNOU recently received an A++ grade by NAAC. And students of this university are recognized worldwide. So if you want to make your master from Ignu in English, you can go for it. But it's very difficult to score good marks.

Ques. Is IGNOU MA degree valid?

Ans. The degree from IGNOU is valid and acceptable in overseas and foreign countries. IGNOU is a university recognized by UGC and is governmental too. Additionally, the degree offered by IGNOU is approved by DEC and AICTE.