Programme guides · IGNOU MA
IGNOU MA 2026: duration, eligibility, fees, and what to expect
IGNOU MA is A 2-year general postgraduate arts degree across multiple specialisations.
Duration: 2 years (4 semesters) (maximum 60 months). Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Fee structure: ~₹4,000 per semester.
Fees vary year to year and by specialisation. Confirm the current prospectus at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in or ask us on WhatsApp.
At a glance
Duration
2 years (4 sem)
Indicative fee
₹16,000
Eligibility
Any bachelor's
Cycles
Jan + July
Common questions
How many years is IGNOU MA?
IGNOU programmes are paced by the student. The minimum duration is 2 years across 4 semesters. The maximum allowed duration is 5 years — you can stretch if work or family commitments demand it, paying only for the semester you activate. Most of our community finishes in the minimum window.
What MA subjects does IGNOU offer?
IGNOU offers MA in English (MEG), Hindi (MHD), Sociology (MSO), Political Science (MPS), Public Administration (MPA), Economics (MEC), History (MAH), Psychology (MAPC), Education (MAEDU) and others. Pick by UPSC optional or career fit.
Is IGNOU MA accepted for PhD?
Yes — IGNOU MA is fully accepted for PhD admission across central, state, and private universities. Pair it with NET / SET qualification for research-fellow eligibility.
What is the last date for MA admission?
IGNOU runs two admission cycles per year. The July 2026 session typically closes mid-August (last seen 2026-08-15). The January 2027 session opens early November and closes mid-February. IGNOU regularly extends deadlines with late-fee windows — check ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in or message us on WhatsApp for the live date.
Where to apply
Admission opens on IGNOU’s portal twice a year. Apply directly, or hop on WhatsApp and our admission concierge walks you through eligibility, fees, and documents for free.
This is a programme-overview guide. As we publish longer-form deep dives for individual IGNOU programmes, we’ll link them here. If you want help with a specific question this guide doesn’t answer, message us — we read every WhatsApp.
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