Ignou MBA
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was established in year 1985. It is the world’s largest university with 40 lakh students enrolled in it across 21 schools of studies and 67 regional centers, and with the help of 29 overseas partners.
IGNOU was established primarily to cater to the educational needs of students from marginalized and poor sections of the society. But today, the university also caters to those who drop out of formal education system and those working executives who want to reskill or upskill themselves.
Today, a degree from IGNOU is considered at par with full-time degree from other universities. It has found widespread acceptance in industry and academia.
Working professionals face a lot of challenges in pursuing their higher education. Open universities like IGNOU with a lot of flexibility and affordability in their course structure offer an excellent opportunity to complete education to these professionals.
IGNOU has been offering an MBA program in distance mode for many years. Recently the university also started offering an online MBA program. Students need to apply for distance and online MBA courses separately.
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Latest Update
- Registration for January 2023 sessions is on for ODL courses. Last date to apply is 31-January-2023. Visit https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/ for registration. For programs offered in online mode, visit https://ignouiop.samarth.edu.in/
- Openmat has been cancelled
Why MBA from IGNOU
AICTE Approved – While IGNOU is an autonomous university, its MBA program is approved by AICTE and is considered equivalent to any other full time course offered by other approved institutes.
Available anywhere in India – Unlike traditional universities that make it necessary to attend classes physically on the campus, IGNOU MBA course is available across India through various study centers.
Affordable Fee – Ignou being an open university, keeps its fee structure very affordable thus making it easy to students with financial constraints to pursue these courses.
IGNOU MBA Course Overview
MBA is offered by the school of management studies which was started in 1987. It offers 2 masters programs in management –
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance) (MPB)
IGNOU MBA is a 2 year program which can be completed in maximum 4 years.
The MBA program has 28 courses and students need not complete all of them. The final degree and specialization awarded to the student will depend on the number of IGNOU courses complete by her.
Get more details about IGNOU MBA Syllabus
IGNOU follows a modular approach. This means students can drop out before completing the full course. The degree awarded will depend on courses completed as show below.
| Course | Compulsory Subjects | Electives |
| Diploma in management (DIM) | MS-1, MS-2, MS-3 | Only 2 out of MS-4, MS-5, MS-6, MS-7 |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGIDM) | 1 course from MS-10, MS-91, MS-95 | 5 courses in a particular specialization |
| MBA | MS-1 to MS-11, MS-95, MS-100, MS-91, 5 courses from a particular specialization | Any one elective course out of MS-92,93,94,96,97 |
IGNOU allows you to complete the course at your convenience.
MBA Courses Offered by IGNOU
| Course Name | Total Fee |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Rs. 58,000/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM) | Rs.14,000/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management (PGDFM) | Rs.14,000/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Operations Management (PGDOM) | Rs.14,000/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management (PGDMM) | Rs.14,000/- |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Markets Practice (PGDFMP) | Rs.12,000/- |
MBA Course plan
| Semester | Modules |
| 1 | Any five courses from MS-1 to MS-9 and MS-11 |
| 2 | Rest of five courses from MS-1 to MS-9 and MS-11 |
| 3 |
|
| 4 |
|
IGNOU MBA Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for IGNOU MBA, candidate should have a bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years duration with minimum 50% marks for general category students and 45% marks for reserved category students. They also need to have 3 years of work experience.
From July 2022, openmat has been waived off.
The detailed eligibility criteria for the admission at IGNOU for distance MBA are as follows:
- Education – The candidate must be a graduate from any recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate score (45% for reserved category students), with 3 years of managerial or supervisory experience. The candidate must otherwise have a professional degree in Medicine/Engineering/Accountancy/Cost and Works/Law, with a 50% aggregate in the degree.
- Academic Score – CGPA should be more than eligibility percentage requirement.
- Age – The program entails no age restrictions.
Eligibility criteria for Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance) (MPB)
To offer MBA education to banking professionals IGNOU has a specialized MBA program in collaboration with Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF)
- Candidate should be a member of Indian institute of bankers
- S/he should hold a graduate degree (no less than 3 years in duration) from a recognized university
- S/he should have passed CAIIB exam
- S/he should have at least 2 year’s of experience in banking and finance sector
IGNOU MBA Admission Procedure
To apply for IGNOU MBA students need to register on https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/. The registration for January 2023 intake is on.
For online MBA programs, students need to register on : https://ignouiop.samarth.edu.in/
From year 2022 ignou has waived off Openmat requirement. Students can apply directly without Openmat scores.
The admission process has 2 stages –
- Stage 1 – Qualify Openmat Exam
- Stage 2 – Apply for IGNOU MBA admission
Step 1 – Verify the eligibility
Start by verifying that you are eligible for the program. Please refer the details under Eligibility section.
Step 2 – Obtain the prospectus
The prospectus is available on the university website. There is a separate prospectus for MBA program. The website https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/ also has a list of program along with their eligibility and other details.
Step 3 – Complete the Application Form and pay fees
Go to IGNOU admission website and click the New Registration button to start the online registration process.
Choose username and password. On submission, username will be sent to you by email and SMS.
Login and complete the rest of the registration process. Upload scanned copies of various supporting documents like Photo, signature, proof of age, experience certificate, educational qualifications, category (SC/ST/OBC) certificate and BPL (below poverty line) certificates.
The next step is to make an online fee payment. Payment can be made using credit card, debit card and netbanking.
The student can preview the form before submitting it.
IGNOU Course Schedule
Fee Structure for IGNOU MBA 2023-2024
The total fee for IGNOU MBA 2023-24 course is Rs. 62,000/- which includes a fee of Rs.15,500 per semester.
The total fee structure for IGNOU MBA is Rs. 62,000/-
| Course fee for each course | Rs.2,000/- |
| Total Number of Courses | 28 |
| Total IGNOU MBA Fee (Year 2023-24) | Rs.62,000/- |
| Exam Fee Per Course | Rs.150 |
| Openmat Registration Fee | Rs.1000 |
The Fee for international students from the SAARC Countries is Rs. 3000/- per course, and Rs. 63, 000/- for the entire MBA. Similarly for the international Non-SAARC students the fee per course is USD $250, and a total program fee of $7350.
The fee may be paid online or through demand draft in favor of IGNOU or also through Bank Challans at the designated India Bank and IDBI Bank Branches. Students need to mention their name, address and enrollment number at the back of the DD.
Besides the course fee, candidates are also required to Rs. 120 examination fee per course at the time of exams.
If student cancels the admission, fee will be refunded based on following rules –
| Step | Refund Amount |
| Before confirmation of admission | Program fee is fully refunded. |
| Within 15 days of confirmation of admission | Fee Refunded after deducting Rs.500/- |
| Within 16-90 days of confirmation of admission | Fee Refunded after deducting Rs.1000/- |
| After 90 days of confirmation of admission | No Refund |
Exam form submission dates
Other Fees
During the course of the program, candidate is required to pay fees related to various activities –
Examination Form Fee
Students need to pay exam fees based on when the form for a particular exam cycle is submitted.
| Exam Cycle | Semester Form Submitted between | Fees |
| January To June Cycle | 1-31st March | Nil |
| 1-30th April | Rs.500 | |
| 1-31st May | Rs.1000 | |
| July To December Cycle | 1-30th Sep | Nil |
| 1-31st Oct | Rs.500 | |
| 1-30th Nov | Rs.1000 |
Project Course Fees
As part of the MBA program, candidates can take up the project course MS-100 to get acquainted with the various practical application of the managerial concepts. The course is considered to be equivalent to two courses and students need to pay Rs. 3,600 to get admitted into it.
Re-registration Fee
Fee of Rs.2,000 is to be paid if Student fails to complete a course within 4 semesters. Students are also required to pay the re-registration fee in case they decide to change the course.
Important Dates
Last date to apply for IGNOU MBA program January 2023 intake is 31st January 2023.
The following are the important dates in the timeline of admissions at IGNOU:
| July Intake | January Cycle | |
| Submission of OPENMAT application form (Form 1) | Exam Cancelled | Exam Cancelled |
| Download Admit card online | Exam Cancelled | Exam Cancelled |
| Openmat Exam | Exam Cancelled | Exam Cancelled |
| Result Declaration | Exam Cancelled | Exam Cancelled |
| MBA Admission application dates | August, 2022 | 31-January-2023 |
Also note that the dates shown above are tentative and IGNOU keeps changing deadlines every year. Kindly visit official website for the latest dates.
Openmat for the MBA Programs is held twice a year, and the student must complete and submit his applications in time to be eligible for admissions. Once the candidate clears the exams, s/he can take admission in any of the following 2 semesters.
| Exams Month | Admission Semesters |
| April | First Semester in July Cycle or Second Semester in January Cycle next year |
| July | First Semester in January Cycle next year or Second Semester in July next year |
Study Material
Unlike a traditional university, open universities like IGNOU focus more on learners and deliver the course material through distance mode instead of face-to-face mode. The IGNOU MBA material will be delivered through following channels –
- Printed Book – Study material is sent as printed booklets or e-books. These booklets are divided into blocks and units.
- Audio-Visual Content – The university also provides additional material in audio-visual format. This material is played at learner support centers. The university also regularly runs programs on Doordarshan and All India Radio.
- Counselling – Counselling sessions are conducted on Saturday and Sunday at the study centers. More details of counselling sessions conducted through radio and TV are available on university website. Students can also interact with faculty at the study centers and clarify their doubts.
- eGyanKosh – This is a library of 2500 courses available online. The course is delivered in video format and is open to public at large.
Scholarships
All students including the reserved category students are expected to pay the full tuition fee for the MBA course, but SC/ST students are eligible for scholarships from the central government. The students are advised to collect the forms from the Directorate of Social Welfare or Office of the Social Welfare Officer of the concerned State Government, and submit the filled in forms to the corresponding authority, to obtain the refund of the tuition fees.
Distance MBA Specializations Offered
IGNOU offers Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance) (MPB) besides a regular MBA program.
IGNOU offers a wide range of specializations in its regular MBA program, of which most are offered in collaborations with other universities. The university offers MBA specializations in:
- Aviation Business
- Banking and Finance
- Biotechnology Management
- Corporate governance
- Hospitality and Healthcare management
- Insurance
- Information Technology (IT)
- Retail
- Textile
- Services
- Network Infrastructure
- Marketing
- HR
- Finance
- Production and Operations
- Telecom Management
- Approval
The courses on offer at IGNOU are AICTE approved, and the university is recognized as a central university by the UGC and has its courses approved by the Distance Education Council, India.
Ranking
Indira Gandhi National Open University is the largest Open University in the world, and is very well known for all its courses. Careers360 has ranked it as the best university for Distance Education throughout India in 2012. IGNOU has also ranked 17th among the traditional universities in India competing with the IITs, NITs, IIMs, etc. The university is ranked as the best institute in terms of reach and resources.
Placement
The university has a dedicated Campus Placement Cell, to support the students in placement after completion of their distance education courses. The Placement cell is distributed over 6 regional centers of IGNOU having large IGNOU alumni so as to reach out the IGNOU alumni more effectively. The CPC cell of the university organizes Job fests for placement in the college.
Study Centers
IGNOU has a vast number of regional centers and study centers throughout the country and abroad, and caters to an overly large number of students. The details about the study centers are very well documented in the prospectus of the university. Nevertheless, the details may be obtained at: http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/studycentre/centre
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IGNOU degree valid for MBA?
Yes IGNOU graduate degree is valid for MBA program from any AICTE/UGC recognized institute in India.
How to apply for MBA in IGNOU?
You need to appear for the OpenMAT exam which is held twice a year. Once you clear the exam you need to pay the course fee and submit the admission form.
Where to get IGNOU MBA prospectus?
You can get a pdf version of the form online on IGNOU website. You can also get it from the regional study centers. Please note that you need to pay Rs.1000 for the prospectus.
What is the eligibility criteria for IGNOU MBA course?
The candidates must have completed the graduation with 50% marks (45% for reserved category candidates). They also need to qualify Openmat exam. IGNOU also requires that candidate should have at least 3 years of relevant experience.
When is IGNOU openmat mba entrance examination?
The exam is conducted twice a year July and April. But the dates might vary from year to year.
What is the value of doing mba from IGNOU?
IGNOU is the largest open university in the world and it has earned quite a reputation in recent years. Many working executives working in banks and other government offices take up IGNOU courses to advance their career. Hence IGNOU courses have earned a wide acceptance in Indian corporate sector.
How much fees for mba in IGNOU?
IGNOU MBA costs Rs. 58,000. You might also need to pay additional fees for exams. IGNOU revises fee periodically. Please refer official brochure for latest updates.
Can I apply for Openmat exam offline?
No, the entire admission process is online.
Does IGNOU also provide placement after MBA?
IGNOU provides a distance MBA and hence does not provide an formal placement support. But IGNOU mba is recognized in the industry.
Is IGNOU OPENMAT tough
The exam is not as difficult as other MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, MAT or GMAT. With regular preparation students can easily clear the test. All those who clear the exam are eligible for admission.
What is the duration of the IGNOU MBA Program?
Generally, the MBA course can be completed in 2 years. Students can take maximum 5 years to complete the course.
What is the age limit to apply for IGNOU MBA?
There are no age restrictions. Anyone can apply so far other eligibility criteria are satisfied.
I am not an Indian. Can I apply for MBA offered by IGNOU?
Yes, many foreign students apply every year. Please refer the information brochure available on ignou site for more details.
Last Updated: 04-January-2023
