The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the last date for fresh admissions in the July 2026 session to 13 October 2026. This gives more time to learners who could not apply earlier.
This is the university’s fifth extension for the July 2026 cycle. The deadline moved from 31 July to 16 August, then to 31 August, then to 15 September, then to 30 September, and now to 13 October 2026. If you missed any of the earlier cut-offs, there is still time to get your application in.
What Has Changed?
- Fresh admission: The last date is now 13 October 2026.
- Programmes covered: The extension applies to all programmes except certificate and semester-based programmes.
- Exception: Learners in certificate and semester-based programmes should check the deadline for their own programme on the admission portal.
Where to Apply for IGNOU Programme?
| Type | Portal |
|---|---|
| ODL programmes (fresh admission) | ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in |
| Online programmes (fresh admission) | ignouiop.samarth.edu.in |
| Re-registration (existing students) | onlinerr.ignou.ac.in |
Separate portal: Admission to the following programmes is on ignouflip.samarth.edu.in:
- PGCMDM (PG Certificate in Medical Management of CBRNE Disasters)
- CESEIHI (Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education Enabling Inclusion, Hearing Impairment)
- CESEIVI (Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education Enabling Inclusion, Visual Impairment)
- CESEIID (Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education Enabling Inclusion, Intellectual Disability)
How to Apply for IGNOU Courses?
- Open the correct portal for your programme mode.
- Click New Registration and create an account with your own email ID and mobile number. OTP verification is mandatory.
- Log in and fill in your personal and academic details.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, educational certificates and, if applicable, your category and experience certificates.
- Pay the fee online.
- Submit the form and save the confirmation for your records.
Keep These Ready
- APAAR ID or ABC ID: IGNOU has advised applicants to have this ready before they begin the form.
- Scanned documents: Scan from your original documents. Photograph and signature files should be under 100 KB. Educational, category and experience certificates should be under 200 KB each.
Who Should Apply
The extension may help
- Class 12 pass-outs still deciding on a course
- Working professionals who want to upskill
- Learners who wish to complete a degree left unfinished
Scholarships
Eligible students can apply for Government of India scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after their admission is confirmed.
Advice for Applicants
IGNOU has extended this deadline several times, but learners should not assume there will be another extension. Applying early leaves time to fix document or payment problems before the last date. Check the eligibility, fee and duration of your chosen programme on the official portal or in the Common Prospectus at ignou.ac.in. Dates and instructions can change, so keep checking the official admission portals for updates.
Learners should also check the latest updates on ignou.ac.in and the official admission portals, since dates and instructions can change.
Required Documents At the Time of Filling out the Form
1) DEB ID is mandatory for submission of application. You need to create your DEB ID before starting the application process. To know more, please click here https://www.ignou.ac.in/viewFile/SRD/notification/DEBIDCreation.pdf
2) You need to attach all the documents required. Make sure to attach all the scanned copies of your documents.
3) Provide a scanned signature with a file size of less than 100 KB.
4) Submit a scanned photograph with a file size of less than 100 KB.
5) If you’re from the SC/ST/OBC category, include a scanned copy of your Category Certificate with a file size of less than 200 KB.
6) Upload scanned copies of your Relevant Educational Qualifications with a file size of less than 200 KB.
7) If applicable, a scanned copy of your Experience Certificate (size should be less than 200 KB).
With the window now open till 30th September 2026, there’s no need to keep delaying. IGNOU offers 300+ programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate levels, so use this extra time to finalise your course, gather documents, and get enrolled.
Fee Payment Methods Only at Official Website
Both portals accept credit cards (Master/Visa), debit cards (Master/Visa/RuPay), net banking and UPI.
Fee Refund & Cancellation Policy (Applicable to Both Modes)
- The Registration Fee is non-refundable under all circumstances.
- A full refund of the programme fee is possible before confirmation of admission.
- After admission confirmation, 15% of the programme fee (up to ₹2,000) will be deducted on cancellation.
- If you opted for a soft copy of study material, only the Registration Fee will be deducted.
- Students who paid only the Registration Fee and Development Fee (fee exemption category) will receive a refund of the Development Fee only.
- No refund will be processed after 60 days from the admission closing date.
- Cancellation must be done through the applicant’s own login portal, not by email or iGRAM. It is irreversible.
Important Reminders
- Ragging in any form is strictly prohibited at IGNOU. Anyone found guilty is liable to be punished.
- Take a pledge to respect and care for Senior Citizens at https://scw.dosje.gov.in/pledge
- Use your own personal email ID and mobile number at registration, as OTP verification is mandatory.
- All documents must be scanned from original copies.
With the window now open till 13 October 2026, there is no need to keep delaying. IGNOU offers 300+ programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate levels, so use the extra time to finalise your course, gather your documents and get enrolled.
Applicants are strongly advised to complete their registration and submission well in advance of the 30th September 2026 deadline. For programme-specific eligibility, fee structure, and duration details, refer to the respective admission portals or download the Common Prospectus from ignou.ac.in.
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