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Frequently Asked Questions >> General Questions

Q-1. Where does IGNOU stand vis-a-vis other university ?
Ans : IGNOU is a central university under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. It is an apex body for open universities in India. Just like the UGC is an apex body for conventional universities, IGNOU through the Distance Education Council (DEC) functions as an apex body for open universities and Correspondence Course Institutions (CCIs) in India. At present, there are 14 open universities.
Q-2. Are IGNOU degrees/diplomas recognised ?
Ans : IGNOU Degree/Diplomas/Certificates are recognized by all member universities of Association of all India Universities (AIU) and are at par with Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates of all Indian Universities/Institutions, as per UGC Circular letter No.F.1-52/2000 (CPP-II) dated May 5,2004 and AIU Circular No.EV/11 (449/94/176915-177115),dated January 14,1994.
Q-3. Can a learner take admission to B.A. degree programmes even if s/he has not completed 10+2 ?
Ans : Yes, a learner who has not completed the 10+2 examination can take admission in the Bachelor's degree programme after completing a six-month Bachelor's Preparatory Programme(BPP) of IGNOU. However, s/he should be of 18 years of age and above.
Q-4. Whom to contact and where to go for admission ?
Ans : IGNOU admission advertisements are widely published in leading newspapers allover India. For admissions to IGNOU programmes the learner has to contact the concerned Regional Centre where s/he resides and the application form duly filled up to be submitted to the Regional Director.IGNOU offers admission twice in a year in January and July.
Q-5. Where can I get detailed information on IGNOU and its various facets ?
Ans : IGNOU has a web site (www.ignou.ac.in) from where one can have a detailed information about the University, its mission, objective, features and effective way of learning at IGNOU beside various academic programmes offered by IGNOU.
Q-6. What is a Credit ?
Ans : The university follows the 'Credit System' for most of its programmes. Each credit in our system is equivalent to 30 hours of student study comprising all learning activities (i.e. reading and comprehending the print material, listening to audio, watching video, attending counseling sessions, teleconference and writing assignment responses). Thus, a four-credit course involves 120 hours of study. This helps the learner to know the academic effort one has to put in, to successfully complete a course. Completion of a academic programme (Degree, Diploma or Certificate) requires successful completion of both the assignments and term-end examination of each course in a programme.
Q-7. I've completed the first year of graduation from my state university. Now I want to enroll in IGNOU and complete my graduation. Can I get the credit of the first year ?
Ans : : The candidate has to apply for the 1st year of the programme(BA), IGNOU and send an application to Register (SRD) for credit transfer which takes normally three months to decide the extent of transfer of credits. IGNOU has a system of credit transfer by which a maximum of 50% credits can be transferred to a student and rest of the papers have to be cleared in IGNOU TEEs to get a degree of IGNOU.
Q-8. What services does IGNOU provide to students ?
Ans : In order to provide individualized support to its learners, the University has a large number of Study Centres, Programme Study Centres, Special Study Centres and Work Centres throughout the country. At the Study Centres, the learners interact with the Academic Counselors and with other learners, refer to books in the Library, watch/listen to video/audio cassettes and interact with the Coordinator on administrative and academic matters. Support services are also provided through Work Centres, Programme Specific Centres, Skill Development Centres and Special Study Centres.
Q-9. Can I get provisional admission if my results have not been announced yet ?
Ans : Since most of the programmes are on offer twice in a year- January & July, the facility for provisional admission has been withdrawn.
Q-10. What is the validity of admission ?
Ans : : Learners offered admission have to join on or before the due dates specified by the University. In case they want to seek admission for the next session, they have to apply afresh and go through the admission process again. However, for management programmes, they are entitled to admission in any of the two sessions after clearing the entrance test.
Q-11. Can I register for two courses simultaneously ?
Ans : Students who are already enrolled in a programme of one year or longer duration can also simultaneously register themselves for any certificate programme of 6 months duration. However, if there is any clash of dates of counseling or examination schedule of the two programmes taken, the University will not be in a position to make adjustments.
Q-12. Can I get my fees refunded after admission ?
Ans : Fees once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances. It is also not adjustable against any other programme of this University. However in cases where University denies admission, the programme fee will be refunded after deduction of registration fee through A/c Payee Cheque only.
Q-13. Is there any late fee after the last date for admission ?
Ans : Yes, the University issues instructions regarding the same from time to time. You can check it on the IGNOU main web site www.ignou.ac.in or contact the Regional Centre.
Q-14. How can I get Re-admission ?
Ans :Students who are not able to clear their master’s and bachelor’s degree programme within the maximum duration permissible can take readmission for the courses which they have not been able to complete, for an additional two years in continuation of the earlier duration. In Postgraduate diploma and diploma programmes re-admission period is one year and in certificate programmes it is six months to be counted immediately after the expiry of maximum duration. The students have to make payments per course on a pro-rata basis for the leftover courses. The student who fail to pay the prescribed full programme fee during the maximum duration of the Programme will have to pay the full fee for the missed years in addition to pro-rata course fee for re-admission. the application for re-admission along with necessary documents should be submitted to Registrar (SRD), IGNOU, New Delhi.
Q-15. Where shall I submit the Re-registration form ?
Ans : Learners are advised to submit the Re Registration forms only at the respective Regional Centres and nowhere else.