Which one is Better, IGNOU or DU Regular?
If you are a student who has just graduated high school, you are in the right place. The next step in your educational journey is to pick the ideal institute for your undergraduate programme. A lot of high school graduates aspire to be admitted to a college at Delhi University. Another popular pick is IGNOU, which is often chosen for its flexible distance programmes. IGNOU and DU are among the popular institutes that provide many popular higher education courses in India. You will likely find your desired course in these institutes. Before taking admission to these courses, it is suggested that you go through some key benefits and facilities of these institutes. Let's compare the two and find out which is better, IGNOU or DU. Read on.
What is IGNOU?
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1985, Indira Gandhi National Open University or IGNOU offered the first two academic programmes in 1987. The initial student strength of IGNOU was 4,528 students and the first two courses offered by IGNOU were Diploma in Distance Education and Diploma in Management.
IGNOU's official website tells us that as of today, they offer educational courses to more than 3 million students in India and other countries. IGNOU has 21 Schools of Study along with a network of 67 regional centres. It has approximately 2,667 learner support centres and another 29 overseas partner institutions. Unarguably, they call themselves "The People's University".
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Q: Why to choose IGNOU instead of any university for admission?
IGNOU is a national university recognised all over India. The university is recognised by various government bodies and educational organisations, including the University Grants Commission (UGC). IGNOU lets students study from their home. They only require to appear for the term-end exam once in a year. The university offers over 200 courses at UG, PG, doctoral, Diploma and certificate levels. Students can pursue any degree from their home.
IGNOU study material is known to cover UPSC syllabus topics and is quite vast. The material is meticulously planned out to ensure that students cover all topics and understand the underlying concepts.
The online material is free of cost and candidates only need to pay a small amount for hardcopy. The fee of courses at IGNOU is quite affordable removing financial barrier.
Below are Shiksha students reviews on IGNOU:
Q: Which is better among DU SOL and IGNOU for an MA course?
Both DU SOL and IGNOU are popular among students for distance programmes. Candidates can consider factors like course fee, ranking, degree acceptance, and more, while making a choice. The minimum eligibility criteria for MA at both the open learning universities/platforms is a valid bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised board.
Below table showcases the MA course fee at IGNOU and DU SOL:
University | Total Fee (MA) |
|---|---|
IGNOU | INR 9,000 - 25,600 |
DU SOL | INR 2,000 - 76,000 |
NOTE: The aforementioned fee is taken from the official website/sanctioning body. It is subject to change and hence, is indicative.
IGNOU: Highlights
Some key information about the Indira Gandhi National Open University is provided in the table below.
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Year of Conception | Ownership |
1985 | GOI |
| Also known as |
IGNOU |
| Number of schools |
21 |
| Number of regional centres |
67 |
| Number of learner support centres |
2,667 |
| Number of courses offered |
200+ |
| Type of scholarships offered |
Category-based, Need-based |
| Faculty members |
800+ |
| Course Type Offered | Application Mode |
Distance | Online |
| Official website |
ignou.ac.in |
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Courses offered at IGNOU
Considered to be one of the premier universities in India, IGNOU is known to offer around 228 degree, diploma, certificate and doctoral programmes. They have a staff of 810 faculty members, and 573 academic staff at the headquarters as well as regional centres. They also have another 50,000 academic counsellors from institutions of higher learning, professional organisations and industries.
IGNOU is known to offer education to more than 2.8 million students in India along with 15 other countries. This feat is achieved through 67 Regional Centres, approximately 2,981 learner support centres and 29 overseas centres.
Courses offered at IGNOU include – Doctoral Degree Programmes, MPhil Programmes, Master's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Diploma Courses, Certificate Courses, PG and Advance Diploma Programmes, PG and Advance Certificate Programmes, Non-Credit Programmes and Online Courses.
Q: Is JNU the same as DU?
Both JNU and Delhi University offer UG and PG courses. While JNU is popular for its post-graduate degrees, DU is more popular for its undergraduate programmes. Students of both DU and JNU are informed and aware about social, political and economic issues. In terms of co-curricular activities, DU has a more vibrant campus life along with parties and cultural fests. Ranking wise, JNU ranks 2 whereas DU ranks 11 under the 'University' category of the NIRF 2023 Rankings. So, JNU is far ahead of DU in terms of the rankings.
Q: Which is better for a BA programme- IGNOU or YCMOU?
Candidates can opt for either of the open university based on its ranking, fee, placements, etc. Both the open universities are popular among the students. The minimum eligibility criteria for BA at IGNOU and YCMOU is Class 12 or equivalent examination pass. In addition, IGNOU BA/BA (H) fee ranges between INR 9,600 and INR 31,800 and the BA fees at YCMOU is INR 11,100.
There is not a huge difference in the course fee at both the universities. Candidates can make a choice as per preference. It must be noted that the given fee is taken from the official website/sanctioning body. It is still subject to change and hence, is indicative.
Q: Which one is better among IGNOU and VMOU for BA?
Both IGNOU and VMOU are popular among the students. However, Indira Gandhi National Open University is nationally preferred by the students. It is run by the Central Government of India. It has also been accredited by the NAAC with Grade 'A+'. The eligiblity criteria for BA admission at both the universities is Class 12 pass. Further, the BA course fee is mentioned in the following table at these universities:
Institute Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
IGNOU | INR 9,600 - INR 31,800 |
VMOU | INR 8,600 - INR 15,300 |
NOTE: The above-mentioned fee is taken from the official website/sanctioning body. It is still subject to change and hence, is indicative.
What is DU?
Established in 1922 by the Act of the then Central Legislative Assembly, Delhi University (DU) was set up as a unitary, teaching and residential University.
Starting with three colleges and 750 students, DU has now grown to become one of the largest universities in India. DU has more than 80 academic departments, 16 faculties, and more than seven lakh students.
Also Read: Top 10 MA Subjects & Specialisations
Delhi University: Highlights
Some information about this well-renowned university is provided in the table below.
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Year of Conception | 1922 |
| Ownership Type |
Government |
| Accredited by |
NAAC |
| NIRF 2024 Rankings |
Rank 6 under 'University' Rank 14 under 'Research Institutions' Rank 15 under the 'Overall' category |
| List of Affiliated Colleges |
|
| Flagship Courses |
BCom (Hons), BA (Hons) |
| Entrance Exams |
|
| Official website |
du.ac.in |
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According to their official website the President of India is the Visitor whereas the Vice-President is the Chancellor and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India is the Pro-Chancellor of the University.
The University of Delhi or DU has two campuses, the North Campus and the South Campus. Each year DU finds a place for itself among the top universities in the India ranking conducted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.
Courses offered at DU
Delhi University offers PhD, MPhil, Postgraduate Courses, Undergraduate Courses, Certificate Courses, Diploma Programmes and Advanced Diploma Programmes to aspirants. Click here for the complete list of courses offered by DU.
More than 500 DU courses are approved by the Academic and Executive Councils. Out of this number, 209 programmes are considered for the purpose of NAAC accreditation. The remaining courses that are offered by DU colleges are separately accredited.
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IGNOU or DU: Advantages and Disadvantages
There's no denying that both the institutes are incredible in their own rights. However, for comparison's sake, their advantages and disadvantages based on certain criteria are provided in the table below.
| Criteria |
IGNOU |
DU |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation |
IGNOU is a well-known university across Asia. |
DU is also a famous university in India and often finds a spot among the top universities in India. |
| Location |
IGNOU has a pan-India presence and also has study centres abroad. |
Delhi University is located in New Delhi and candidates pursuing a regular course need to be in the National Capital Region to pursue their course. |
| Admission |
Aspirants can secure admission to IGNOU courses either based on merit or through an entrance exam. IGNOU accepts scores of entrance exams such as IGNOU OPENMAT, NCHMCT JEE, etc. to offer admission to candidates in different courses offered by it. View the complete IGNOU admission process here. |
In the majority of the UG level programmes offered at DU, until now the candidates were offered admission based on DU cutoff. However, now, undergraduate admissions to Delhi University are done through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) score. For postgraduate courses, students' performance in the Delhi University Entrance Exam (DUET) is considered. |
| Ease of Attending Classes |
IGNOU has its headquarters in New Delhi but its study centres are spread all over the country and abroad. |
DU has colleges only in New Delhi. Candidates who want to study in any other city can only pursue distance education courses offered by the university. |
| Study Material |
The study material provided as part of IGNOU courses is vast and contains all the information in an easy-to-understand format. |
The study material offered as part of DU courses is adequate but students need to rely more on self-study while pursuing any course. |
| Fee |
Depending on the course pursued by candidates the fee varies at IGNOU. However, the fee range for IGNOU courses is approximately from INR 2,400 to INR 64,800. |
Depending on the course pursued by candidates the fee varies at DU as well. However, the fee range for DU courses is approximately INR 3,000 to INR 81, 570. |
| Difficulty Level of Exams |
The difficulty level of questions asked is quite high in IGNOU exams and students need to be thorough with the subject at hand to perform well in the examinations. IGNOU students inform that the evaluation of their exam papers is quite strict and critical. |
The difficulty level of questions asked in any exam conducted by Delhi University is quite moderate. Further, students share that lenient checking is done whenever DU exam papers are evaluated. |
Which is Better, DU or IGNOU?
Declaring one better than the other would be an injustice. In reality, it is a matter of students' choices and circumstances. If you're looking for a budget course, you might want to pick IGNOU. Compared to DU, IGNOU is definitely more easy on the pockets. Even though they do offer distance learning, if you want to experience college in its entirety, DU can be your pick. If your responsibilities keep you from attending a regular college, IGNOU might be your ideal pick.
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Aayushi is a BAJMC graduate and an ardent consumer of content with a keen passion for film, TV and books. She specialises in Mass Communication and Humanities related exams, entrances and courses.
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