MBA from IGNOU: Fees, Admissions, Eligibility, Specializations, Career Scope

Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
4 mins readUpdated on Mar 13, 2026 15:33 IST
Are you a working professional who wishes to take his/ her career to the next level by pursuing MBA but do not have time to attend regular classes? If yes, IGNOU MBA is the right option for you. After completing a Distance MBA course from IGNOU candidates look for managerial roles sectors such as Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Accounting

IGNOU is India's top Open University for UG and PG programmes. It's academic as well as professional programmes are very popular among students and working professionals. IGNOU courses are flexible and economical. In this article, we have shared all about MBA from IGNOU,

Indira Gandhi National Open University or IGNOU is India’s most popular open learning school for academic and professional courses. Having a Pan-India reach, IGNOU offers UG as well as PG courses in correspondence/distance learning mode. One of the top most IGNOU programme is MBA. The institute offers distance MBA programme in various specializations. IGNOU MBA is an ideal course for experienced professionals as well as students from remote areas who aspire for a career in management.

Recognised by the AICTE, IGNOU MBA programmes are designed keeping in view the latest industry requirements and practices. Whether you are a fresh graduate or a working professional, MBA from IGNOU will help you in honing your administrative and managerial skills. Read below all about MBA programmes offered by IGNOU.

Table of contents
  • MBA Courses Offered by IGNOU
  • MBA from IGNOU: Eligibility Criteria and Fees
  • MBA from IGNOU: Fees
  • Scope of MBA from IGNOU
  • Pros of pursuing MBA from IGNOU
  • Cons of pursuing MBA from IGNOU
  • Job Opportunities after IGNOU MBA
View More

MBA Courses Offered by IGNOU

IGNOU offers Distance MBA and PGD programmes in almost all the popular MBA specializations. Candidates can choose a specialization as per their interest and career goals. There is not much difference in fee amount. Check below the list of MBA courses offered by IGNOU.

  • MBA General
  • MBA Banking and Finance
  • MBA Operations Management
  • MBA Marketing Management
  • MBA Human Resource Management
  • MBA Financial Management
  • PGD in International Business Operations
  • PGD in Services Management
  • PGD in Operations Management
  • PGD in Financial Management
  • PGD in Human Resources Management

MBA from IGNOU: Eligibility Criteria and Fees

The minimum eligibility criteria for MBA from IGNOU are mentioned below. There is no entrance exam.

  • Candidates must have passed Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3-years duration with at least 50% marks
  • Reserved category students must have a minimum of 45% in graduation.
  • There is no upper age limit to register for the IGNOU programme
  • There is no requirement of entrance exam score for MBA admission

MBA from IGNOU: Fees

  • Fees of MBA/PGD course is around INR 15,000 to 16,000 per semester
  • Candidates have to pay registration fee & development fee as applicable

Scope of MBA from IGNOU

Distance MBA degree from an Open University like IGNOU may not give a quick push to your career but it is definitely helpful in exploring roles in the hierarchy. Distance MBA is best suited for working professionals who are looking to make a career move or seeking mid and senior level roles within their own organisation. MBA from IGNOU will equip them with the required skill set and technical knowledge to handle larger role in the organization.

Success after completing IGNOU from MBA also depends on the candidate. While some are able to make the best use of their degree through hard work, others don’t. One should remember that a degree is only a stepping stone, but what takes them forward is their skill, hard work and consistency.

Pros of pursuing MBA from IGNOU

Given below are the pros and cons of pursuing an IGNOU MBA programme:

  • Flexibility: Flexibility is the main plus point of IGNOU MBA. Whether it is a working professional or a fresh graduate who cannot pursue regular mode education, it is suited for both. By pursuing MBA from IGNOU candidates can study at their own pace and can earn as well as learn at the same time.
  • Cost-Effective: The course fee of a distance MBA course from IGNOU is quite low and affordable for most candidates. Since IGNOU is a Government institution, cost of the course is nominal.
  • Comprehensive Study Material: IGNOU MBA offers one of the best study material to candidates prepared by professors from top institutions such as IIMs and IITs. Therefore, with IGNOU MBA, candidates get to learn a lot within a limited period of time.   
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How can I get admission for B.Ed at IGNOU?
A: 

Application form for B.Ed can be obtained online from the official website of IGNOU. At least, 50% marks either in the Bachelor's degree and/or in the Master's degree in sciences/social sciences/commerce/humanity.

Candidates, who are trained in-service teachers in elementary education, will be eligible to apply for the entrance exam and further for admission or who have completed a NCTE recognised teacher education programme through face-to-face mode.

Q:   What is the last date to apply for IGNOU MA fresh admission?
A: 

Indira Gandhi National Open University application deadline has passed. The admission have been closed now. Students seeking admission should wait for next intake.

Q:   How many seats are there at IGNOU for an MBA?
A: 

Indira Gandhi National Open University does not have a fixed seat count for its courses. Thus, the number of seats is equal to the number of applicants in an admission year. The seat allotment procedure for the PG course is now merit-based. Hence, the applicant's performance in the bachelor's degree course is considered for selection. Candidates can get a seat in the programme by registering on the IGNOU admission portal in online mode.

Q:   What is the total fee for BA and BA (Hons) at IGNOU?
A: 

IGNOU BA/BA (H) fee range from INR 15,000 to INR 15,900. The first year fee can also include registration fee of INR 300. Students opting for BA Psychology (H) are required to pay additional fee of INR 600, per year. The given fee information is as per the official website or sanctioning body. It is still subject to revision.

Cons of pursuing MBA from IGNOU

Less Exposure: One of the major drawbacks of pursuing a distance MBA from IGNOU is that the course does not provide much exposure to candidates. Unlike full-time MBA students, a distance programme does not offer class room interaction, summer internships, industry visits or other such opportunities of building network. 

Less Recognition from Recruiters: Recruiters prefer a regular MBA candidate over a Distance MBA one. Also, the salary is not quite encouraging for distance MBA students as compared to regular MBA candidates, if they are fresh graduates.

Limited Interaction with Faculty: There is no personal interaction with teachers which affects the learning of IGNOU MBA candidates. It is very difficult to study comprehensive books without any mentors. Therefore, it is very important for candidates pursuing MBA from IGNOU to follow a disciplined routine along with sincerity towards studies.  

Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away
Enter Mobile Number

Job Opportunities after IGNOU MBA

In a nutshell, Ddistance MBA programme from IGNOU is most suitable for working professionals who wish to sharpen business and managerial skills without taking a career break. Flexibility in studies, assignments submission and exams help them sail through work smoothly while learning the latest skills to move ahead in the rapidly changing job market. After completing a Distance MBA course from IGNOU candidates look for managerial roles sectors such as Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Accounting, Risk Management, and so on. Jobs for distance MBA pass-outs range from the typical finance and marketing executive roles to corporate managers, finance analysts, HR managers, sales managers, etc.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the admission cycle of IGNOU?
A: 

IGNOU admission cycle opens twice in a year i.e. January and July. The registrations for January session usually begins in December and close by March. The July session for ODL/ Online programmes begin in May and continue till July. The mode of application is online for all the courses.

Q:   Is BSc costly at IGNOU?
A: 

The tuition fee for BSc, PB BSc and BSc (Hons) range from INR 10,500 to INR 43,500 depending on different specialisations available across both the courses. Candidates have to pay re-registration fee and course fee, annually till the course completion. The fee payment can be done online via credit card/ debit card/ net banking. 

It must be noted that the mentioned fee amount is as per the official website/sanctioning body. It is however, subject to changes and hence, is indicative.

Q:   Can I take admission in IGNOU in August? What is IGNOU admission last date?
A: 

IGNOU admission is conducted in two cycles, i.e. January and July. While the registrations for the January session generally get over in March, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) admission for the July session opens in June and remains open till Jul-Aug. The admissions are mainly based on merit. Students unable to get admission in the January batch are open for admission in the July batch.

Q:   What is the fee for MSc at IGNOU?
A: 

IGNOU MSc fee is from INR 14,000 to INR 52,000. The fee structure includes registration fee, tuition fee, etc. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What should I do after taking online admission in IGNOU?
A: 

Candidates who are selected for admission need to confirm their seat by paying the course fee. Here are few things that students will recieve after taking admission in IGNOU:

  • Once a students get admission into IGNOU, he or she will recieve the enrollment number and ID for future login to the samarth portal of the university.
  • Based on the choice made by the candidate while filling the application form, he or she will then recieve the study material. Soft copy is available on the official website of the university. 
  • Registered students also recieve a mail from the regional or study centre for counselling. It is an induction ceremony where the course is introduced to the students.
  • A schedule of classes is also shared through mail. For any query regarding classes, students must contact their study centre.
Q:   What is the time frame to get admission confirmation from IGNOU?
A: 

All the admission forms submitted via the Online Admission System are scrutinised and confirmed for admission subject to the fulfilment of eligibility criteria. These forms are processed region-wise on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Q:   How does the distance education through IGNOU work? How is the submission of assignments done and how are the semester and exams conducted?
A: 

Once you get admission in IGNOU in distance education, students have to submit assignments, appear for term end exam and if required submit practical file. 

  • Assignments: Students can check the assignment on the official website of IGNOU as per their year of admission. Students have to submit the assignment within the specified time to their designated study centre. Some study centre might accept online submission. However, it is advised to submit a hard copy as well. Assignment has weightage of 30%.
  • Term End Exam: Term End Exam are conducted two times a year-one in December and other in June. Candidates can check the datesheet for the same on the official website of IGNOU.
Q:   What is the admission procedure at IGNOU for BA course?
A: 

IGNOU BA application window is open. Students apply through the official website. The BA course at IGNOU application mentioned below:

  • Visit the website. Click on 'Apply Online'.
  • Select the 'Click here for New Registration' option.
  • Register online with required details.
  • Log in, fill out the form, pay the application fee, and submit the form.
Videos you may like
About the Author
author-image
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8

Read Full Bio
Get Admission and Placement Updates about IGNOU

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 7 hours ago

Yes, you can pursue a BSc Agriculture after completing Class 12 with Agriculture (RBSE).

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

As per IGNOU NIRF report 2026, the overall median package received during IGNOU placements 2025 was between INR 2.45 LPA and 2.85 LPA. In UG 1-year programs,  640 students were placed and 2560 students were selected for higher studies out of 3765 graduating students.

In UG 3-year course,  6917 studen

...Read more

N

Nupur Madavi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Indira Gandhi National Open University (popularly known as IGNOU) is one of the top names for distance/ part-time education in India. IGNOU is UGC approved & is accredited by the NAAC with Grade 'A+.'

IGNOU online courses make it easy for working professionals to upgrade their academic stature with t

...Read more

M

Manashjyoti Goyal

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 months ago

IGNOU BA course is of three-year duration and is six semesters. The first semester syllabus include topics related to English in Daily Life, Individual and Society. Some of the subjects that the students study in the first semester are:

  • Social Small Talk
  • Money Matters
  • Social Injustice
  • Mountaineering in

...Read more

H

Himanshi Gupta

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

IGNOU BA (Hons) English course curriculum include core courses, ability enhancement compulsory courses, and generic electives. The generic electives in the UG course are:

  • Gender Sensitization: Society and Culture
  • Indian Society: Images and Realities
  • Psychology and Media
  • Rethinking Development

V

Virajita Madavi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

IGNOU BA (Hons) English course fee is INR 15,900. It is the total fees for three-year UG course. The given fee is as per the official website or sanctioning body. It is still subject to revision and hence, is indicative.

R

Ranjeeta Karan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

IGNOU offers fee waiver for SC and ST students applying for UG courses. Candidates wanting to avail this benefit need to meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. The requirements to get a fee waiver are mentioned below:

  • Applicant should be from SC or ST category.
  • The family annual income should be be

...Read more

M

Mohit Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 months ago

The course fee for Bachelor Degree from IGNOU is INR 4,00,000 along with uniform and kit fees which is INR 25,000. 

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10