IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 is expected to be conducted by National Testing Agency at the national level. The application schedule for the upcoming session is expected to be announced by the authorities. The entrance exam is conducted once a year for admission to doctoral programmes. Indira Gandhi National Open University, largest university in the world offers high-quality education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. It offers UG, PG, Certificates and Diploma courses in various fields. Along with that, it also offers PhD under two categories: Part-time and Full time. Candidates seeking admission in the PhD programme at IGNOU can go through the other relevant details below in the article.
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IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Latest Update as on 29 Sep 2026
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Checked on 29 Sep 2026
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027, conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University, has not yet released an official notification; based on the 2024 cycle pattern, registration is tentatively expected to open around November 2026.
As of 29 September 2026, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has not yet released any official notification for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027. The 2027 admission cycle is yet to formally begin, and no application dates, exam schedule, or eligibility changes have been officially confirmed. Based on the 2024 PhD admission cycle—where IGNOU opened registrations in late 2023 and conducted the entrance exam in early 2024—the 2027 cycle is tentatively expected to follow a similar pattern, with the notification and application window likely opening around November 2026. Students aspiring for IGNOU PhD admissions should regularly monitor ignou.ac.in for the official notification and keep their academic documents, research proposal, and supervisor consent letter ready. Interested candidates are also advised to check programme-specific eligibility (generally a postgraduate degree with minimum 55% marks). No changes to exam mode or syllabus have been announced; all timelines remain expected until IGNOU confirms them officially.
- Official notification expected: October–November 2026 (in the 2024 cycle, notification was released in late 2023)
- Online application/registration expected to open: November 2026 (last year: approximately November–December)
- Last date to submit application form expected: December 2026 (tentative, based on previous cycle)
- Admit card/hall ticket release expected: January–February 2027 (tentative)
- IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 expected to be held: February–March 2027 (tentative, based on prior-year pattern)
- Result and merit list declaration expected: April–May 2027 (tentative)
Sources: IGNOU Official Website
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Status
The application schedule for IGNOU PhD Admission 2027 is expected to be announced. The entrance exam date for the upcoming session is also expected to be announced by the authorities.
| Exam Notification | Announced |
| Application form | Extended |
| Brochure pdf | Release |
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Dates
National testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting entrance exam to grant admission to the PhD course in IGNOU.
| Events | Important Dates(Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Relasing of online application form | Expected to be announced by IGNOU |
| Last date for submission of online Application form | Expected to be announced by IGNOU |
| Date for opening the Correction Window | Expected to be announced by IGNOU |
| Date of Entrance test | Expected to be announced by IGNOU |
| Date of Result | Expected to be announced by IGNOU |
| Date of Interview | Expected to be announced by IGNOU |
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam
Major Changes This Year
No official change has been announced yet for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027; all dates and process details remain tentative, expected to follow the 2024 admission cycle pattern.
No major change has been officially announced yet for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027. As of 29 September 2026, IGNOU has not issued any notification regarding alterations to eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, application mode, or marking scheme. Based on the 2024 cycle, the entrance test was computer-based and consisted of research aptitude and subject-specific questions. Students may expect a similar format in 2027, but this is tentative. Any confirmed changes will be published on ignou.ac.in when the official prospectus is released.
The entrance exam will be a 100-question, multiple-choice, objective-type exam. The exam will be divided into two sections:
- Section 1: Research Methodology (50 questions)
- Section 2: Subject-specific (50 questions)
The exam will be conducted in two languages, Hindi and English. The duration of the exam will be three hours.
- The minimum qualifying marks for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam are 50% for general category candidates and 45% for reserved category candidates.
- The merit list for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam will be prepared on the basis of the candidate’s scores in the exam. The candidates with the highest scores will be ranked at the top of the merit list.
- The seat allotment for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam will be done through a centralized counseling process.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Application Form
The details regarding the application form of IGNOU PhD admission exam are given below:
- IGNOU PhD application form has been released on the official website of the NTA
- The application has been released in online mode.
- Candidates can fill the application form through the official website.
- Candidates are advised to fill the details as per the guidelines in the application form.
- Moreover, keep a copy of the filled application form for further use.
- The application form for the IGNOU PhD program can be filled out online at the IGNOU website: https://ignouphd.samarth.edu.in/
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Application Fee
To complete the application process, candidates have to pay the application fee also, which is non-refundable. Check the category-wise application fee for admission in PhD programme below:
| Category | Amount |
| General/ OBC | Rs. 1000/- |
| SC/ ST/ EWS | Rs. 800/- |
Note: The application fee once paid would not be refunded under any circumstances.
- Mode of Payment: Candidates can pay the application fee through online mode via:
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- Net Banking
How to Apply for IGNOU PhD Entrance Test 2027?
Candidates can apply for the IGNOU PhD Entrance Test by following the below-given steps:
- Visit the NTA’s official website (ignouexams.nta.nic.in) and click on the application form link for the IGNOU PhD 2027 session, once it is available.
- After the click, the registration section will open where candidates have to click on the “New Registration” tab to begin the registration process.
- Now, after registration is complete, fill the application form carefully without any spelling mistakes.
- Once the application form is filled, candidates need to upload the recent scanned photograph (passport size) and digital signature in the prescribed format.
- Scanned Photograph – Less than 200 KB
- Signature – Less than 30 KB
- After uploading, review the application form before final submission.
- Now, pay the requisite application fee through Online Payment Gateway via Debit/ Credit Card, Net Banking and ATM Card.
- After successful payment, candidates will receive a confirmation Mail or SMS.
- Candidates must note down their application number as it will be required to login the PhD entrance portal for downloading admit card and result in future.
Note: No documents need to be submitted while filling online application form as all original documents have to produce at the time of the Interview taken by the University.
Documents Specifications
The details regaridng the format and size of the uploading documents are given below:
| Documents | Size | Format |
| Photograph | 10 – 200 KB | JPG/ JPEG |
| Scanned Signature | 4 – 30 KB | JPG/ JPEG |
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must ensure their eligibility before applying for the admission into PhD programme at IGNOU. Therefore, the specific eligibility criteria for each specialization is mentioned in a table below:
| School | Specialisation | Vacancies | Eligibility Criteria |
|
School of Social Sciences (SOSS) | Anthropology (PHDAN) | 12 | Post-Graduation in Anthropology and Allied fields. |
| Economics (PHDEC) | 7 | Master’s Degree or M.Phil. Degree in Economics. | |
| Library & Information Science (PHDLIS) | 9 | Master’s Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Library and Information Science. | |
| Political Science (PHDPS) | 3 | Master’s Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Political Science or allied disciplines. | |
| Psychology (PHDPC) | 17 | Master’s Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Psychology. | |
| Public Administration (PHDPA) | 16 | Master’s Degree and/or M Phil Degree in Public Administration. | |
| Sociology (PHDSOC) | 14 | Master’s Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Sociology or allied disciplines. | |
|
School of Sciences (SOS) | Bio Chemistry (PHDBC) | 10 | Master’s Degree from a recognized university or any other qualification recognized as equivalent thereto in Biochemistry/ allied subjects. |
| Chemistry (PHDCHEM) | 11 | M.Sc. Chemistry from any recognized University/other qualification recognized as equivalent thereto in such fields of study as are notified for the purpose from time to time by the University. | |
| Geography (PHDGEOG) | 15 | M.A./M.Sc. in Geography, Earth Systems Science and Relevant Discipline of Geospatial Technology”. | |
| Geology (PHDGY) | 4 | Post-Graduation in Geology or Geological Science or Applied Geology or Geo-Exploration or Mineral Exploration or Engineering Geology or Marine Geology or Earth Science and Resource Management or Petroleum Geosciences or Petroleum Exploration or Geochemistry or Geophysics or Hydrogeology or Geomatics or Geoinformatics or Remote Sensing and GIS from any recognized University. | |
| Statistics (PHDSTAT) | 12 | Master Degree in Statistics / Applied Statistics. Available Research Area: Estimation and Sampling Techniques, Reliability Modelling, Statistical Inference. | |
|
School of Continuing Education (SOCE) | Food & Nutritional Science (PHDFN) | 5 | A Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) in Food and Nutrition / Dietetics / Public Health Nutrition or an equivalent grade from a recognized institution with UGC-NET qualified. |
| Home Science (PHDHC) | 4 | M.Sc. in Home Science with a specialization in Community Resource Management and Extension / Family and Community Resource Management / Development Communication and Extension / Resource management and Design Applications/ Extension / Extension Education and Communication / M.Sc. Home Science (General). | |
|
School of Management Studies (SOMS) | Commerce (PHDCOM) | 7 | Master Degree in Commerce or any other allied discipline from any recognized University/Institute of higher learning. |
| Management (PHDMGMT) | 5 | Master’s Degree and/or M. Phil. Degree in Management Studies or in allied disciplines. The seats are available in Financial Management, Operations Management, Human Resource Management and Marketing Management. | |
| School of Education (SOE) | Education (PHDES) | 20 | MA(Education) or M.Ed. |
| School of Gender & Development Studies (SOGDS) | Gender & Development Studies (PHDGDS) | 12 | Master’s degree in Gender Studies or Gender & Development Studies with 55% OR Master’s degree in other streams with one or two courses in the area of Gender Studies or Gender & Development Studies and/or with demonstrable evidence of teaching and / or research and publications in the area of Gender Studies or Gender & Development Studies. |
| School of Journalism & Mass Communication (SOJNMS) | Journalism & Mass Communications (PHDJMC) | 7 | Master Degree in Communication or related disciplines (Social Sciences and Humanities with demonstrated interest in the Communication and Media Research). |
| School of Agriculture (SOA) | Dairy Science & Technology (PHDDR) | 4 | Master’s Degree in Dairy Science (Dairy Technology, Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Engineering), Food Science/ Food Technology, M.V.Sc. (Animal products technology / Livestock Products Technology / Dairy Science), M.Sc. Agriculture (Dairy Science / Dairy Technology), M.Sc. (Agriculture / Processing and Food Engineering) with B.Tech. in Dairy Technology. |
| School of Extension & Development Studies (SOEDS) | Development Studies (PHDDV) | 18 | Masters in Development Studies, Extension Education, Economics, Sociology, and Political Science. |
| School of Computer & Information Science (SOCIS) | Computer Science (PHDCS) | 5 | Possesses BE/BTech in Computer Science / IT or Master of Computer Applications (MCA) or M.Sc. in Computer Science / IT with at least 55% marks [50% marks in the case of SC, ST, OBC (Non-creamy Layer) and Differently Abled and other categories of candidates as per the decision of UGC from time to time, or for those who had obtained their Master’s Degree prior to 19th September, 1991]excluding grace mark. |
| School of Law (SOL) | Law (PHDLE) | 4 | Master’s Degree in Law from a University recognized by UGC or any other qualification recognized as equivalent thereto in the field of law as notified for the purpose from time to time by the University. |
| School of Health Sciences (SOHS) | Nursing (PHDNS) | 3 | Master’s Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Nursing. |
| School of Social Work (SOSW) | Social Work (PHDSW) | 11 | MA in Social Work / MSW Degree from a University recognized by UGC. |
| School of Translation Studies (SOTST) | Translation Studies (PHDTT) | 3 | Post- Graduate Degree in Translation Studies or allied Subjects viz., Literature, Linguistics. |
| School of Vocational Education and Training (SOVET) | Vocational Education and Training (PHDVE) | 8 | Master’s Degree in Economics, Commerce, Management, Education, Agriculture Extension or Extension Education, Environmental Sciences. |
| School of Foreign Languages (SOFL) | French (PHDFL) | 2 | MA/MPhil in French from an Indian or Foreign University. |
IGNOU PhD Entrance Test 2027 Question Pattern
The complete exam pattern of IGNOU PhD Entrance Test is given below:
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (Objective Type) |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Medium | English |
| Negative Marking | No marks will be deducted for wrong answer. |
Note: The question paper shall consist 50% questions on research methodology and 50% questions on specific subject.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2024 Answer Key
NTA has released the Question paper along with draft answer key. Candidates have the option to challenge the answer key on the official website. Candidates are advised to save the question paper and answer responses for future responses. The procedure for the challenge of Answer Key provided below. Candidates are required to pay online a sum of Rs. 200/- (one thousand only) as processing fee for each question challenged.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Result
National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam conducting body, will release the entrance test result on the official website. Candidates should log in to the official website and check the IGNOU PhD 2027 result. Those who secure the minimum qualifying marks will be considered for the merit list. Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) course is strictly based on merit. Qualified candidates will then be called for an interview or presentation round.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Selection Process
Admission to the PhD programme will be done on merit, based on the performance in the Entrance Test and Interview/ Viva. IGNOU admission process includes two rounds – Entrance Exam and Interview. Check the weightage provided to both the rounds:
- IGNOU PhD Entrance Examination – 70%
- Interview – 30%
Entrance Exam
- IGNOU PhD Entrance Test will be conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency) at national level.
- Admit card for the test will also be displayed on the NTA’s official website. Candidates need to download and print the same to appear for the examination.
- Along with the admit card, candidates have to bring an original identity proof having photograph such as: Aadhar Card, Voter ID Card, Driving License, Passport and ID Card issued by Government Agencies.
Interview/ Presentation
- Candidates shortlisted based on performance in entrance test will be called for interview before the Discipline specific Doctoral Research Committee.
- Only selected candidates will get the offer letter.
- If candidates called for Interview does not mean that they can claim for admission. The Doctoral Research Committee may not recommend a candidate if the discipline does not have the specialization in which he/she wants to carry out research.
Qualifying Marks for IGNOU PhD Entrance Test 2027 – Candidates must secure at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) / Differently Abled candidates) to qualify the IGNOU PhD Entrance Test.
IGNOU PhD 2027 Exam Centres
While Applying for Entrance Examination, candidates need to choose 3 exam center as per their preference. Find the list of exam center below:
| Centre Code | Centre Name | Centre Code | Centre Name |
| AP04 | Chirala | AP07 | Guntur |
| AP09 | Kakinada | AP10 | Kurnool |
| AP11 | Nellore | AP13 | Rajahmundry |
| AP16 | Tirupathi | AP17 | Vijayawada |
| AP18 | Visakhapatnam | AP19 | Vizianagaram |
| AL01 | Itanagar | AM01 | Dibrugarh |
| AM02 | Assam | AM03 | Jorhat |
| AM04 | Silchar | AM05 | Tezpur |
| BR09 | Arrah | BR02 | Bhagalpur |
| BR04 | Darbhanga | BR06 | Muzaffarpur |
| BR07 | Patna | BR08 | Purnea |
| CH01 | Chandigarh/Mohali | CG01 | Bhilai Nagar |
| HP01 | Bilaspur | CG03 | Raipur |
| DL01 | Delhi/New Delhi | HR03 | Faridabad |
| UP07 | Ghaziabad | UP09 | Greater Noida/Noida |
| HR04 | Gurugram | UP14 | Meerut |
| GO01 | PANAJI/MADGAON | GJ01 | Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar |
| GJ02 | Anand | GJ08 | Mehsana |
| GJ10 | Rajkot | GJ11 | Surat |
| GJ12 | Vadodara | HR01 | Ambala |
| HR10 | Yamuna Nagar | HP06 | Shimla |
| HR07 | Kurukshetra | HP03 | Hamirpur |
| JK02 | Jammu | JK04 | Srinagar (J & K) |
| JH01 | Bokaro | JH02 | Dhanbad |
| JH05 | Hazaribagh | JH03 | Jamshedpur |
| JH04 | Ranchi | KK02 | Belagum |
| KK04 | Bengaluru | KK10 | Hubballi(Hubli) |
| KK08 | Kalaburagi(Gulbarga) | KK12 | Mangaluru(Mangalore) |
| KK14 | Mysuru(Mysore) | KK15 | Shivamogga(Shimoga) |
| KK17 | Udupi | KL04 | Ernakulam |
| KL07 | Kannur | KL09 | Kollam |
| KL11 | Kottayam | KL12 | Kozhikode |
| KL18 | Thrissur | KL17 | Trivandrum |
| MP03 | Bhopal | MP06 | Gwalior |
| MP07 | Indore | MP08 | Jabalpur |
| MP12 | Sagar | MP13 | Satna |
| MP15 | Ujjain | MR03 | Amravati |
| MR04 | Aurangabad | MR13 | Jalgaon |
| MR14 | Kolhapur | MR16 | Mumbai |
| MR17 | Nagpur | MR18 | Nanded |
| MR19 | Nasik | MR22 | Pune |
| MG01 | Shillong | MZ01 | Aizawl |
| NL02 | Kohima | OR02 | Balasore |
| OR03 | Berhampur | OR04 | Bhubaneswar |
| OR05 | Cuttack | OR06 | Dhenkanal |
| OR08 | Rourkela | OR09 | Sambalpur |
| PB01 | Amritsar | PB02 | Bhatinda |
| PB04 | Jalandhar | PB05 | Ludhiana |
| PB08 | Patiala | RJ01 | Ajmer |
| RJ05 | Bikaner | RJ07 | Jodhpur |
| RJ09 | Sikar | RJ11 | Udaipur |
| TN01 | Chennai | TN02 | Coimbatore |
| TN08 | Madurai | TN11 | Salem |
| TN15 | Tirunelveli | TN14 | Trichy |
| TN18 | Vellore | TL01 | Hyderabad |
| TL02 | Karimnagar | TL07 | Warangal |
| UP01 | Agra | UP02 | Aligarh |
| UP03 | Allahabad | UP04 | Bareilly |
| UP08 | Gorakhpur | UP10 | Jhansi |
| UP11 | Kanpur | UP12 | Lucknow |
| UP15 | Moradabad | UP16 | Muzaffarnagar |
| UP18 | Varanasi | UK01 | Dehradun |
| UK02 | Haldwani | UK06 | Roorkee |
| WB01 | Asansol | WB06 | Hooghly |
| WB08 | Kalyani | WB10 | Kolkata |
| WB11 | Siliguri |
Download IGNOU PhD Admission Brochure Pdf 2022
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 Highlights
The basic information about the IGNOU PhD Admission is tabulated below:
| University Name | Indira Gandhi National Open University |
| University Type | Central University |
| Course | Doctor of Philosophy (Phd) |
| Basic Admission Criteria | NTA Entrance Test & Interview |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Course Duration | 3 – 6 Years |
| IGNOU Official Website | https://ignou.nta.ac.in/ |
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Indira Gandhi National University was established in 1985 by Central Government of India to cater open & distance learning education in India. IGNOU is considered on the largest open university in world with 6,52,504 fresh students in its academic programmes whereas 4,20,074 were re-registered students in 2017-18. The University started with two academic programs in 1987 i.e. Diploma in Management and Diploma in Distance Education. Now, the University gives about 228 certificate, diploma, degree and doctoral programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 notification be released?
No official date has been announced yet. Based on the 2024 cycle pattern, the notification is tentatively expected around October–November 2026. Check ignou.ac.in for updates.
When will IGNOU PhD 2027 application form be available?
The application form has not been released yet. It is tentatively expected to open in November–December 2026, following the previous cycle's pattern. This is unconfirmed.
What is the eligibility for IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027?
Generally, candidates need a postgraduate degree with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories). Eligibility details for 2027 are yet to be officially confirmed.
What is the exam pattern for IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027?
No 2027-specific pattern has been announced. In the 2024 cycle, it was a computer-based test covering research aptitude and subject knowledge. A similar pattern is expected but not confirmed.
What was the status of IGNOU PhD Admission 2024?
IGNOU PhD Admission 2024 was conducted with online registration, a computer-based entrance exam, and merit-based selection. The 2027 cycle is expected to follow a similar process.
Is there any official update on IGNOU PhD 2027 exam date?
No. As of 29 September 2026, IGNOU has not officially announced any exam date for 2027. Based on prior years, the exam is tentatively expected in early 2027 (February–March).
Where can I find the official IGNOU PhD 2027 notification?
All official notifications will be published on ignou.ac.in. No notification has been released as of today, 29 September 2026.
What documents are needed for IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam 2027 application?
Typically required documents include postgraduate marksheets, a research proposal, supervisor consent letter, category certificate (if applicable), and a passport-size photograph. Confirm exact requirements from the official prospectus when released.
