Established by the act of parliament in 1985 IGNOU was set up with a vision to serve the society through inclusive education. University began with offering two academic programs in 1987 – Diploma in management and distance education.

IGNOU is committed to providing quality teaching and in developing sustainable open and distance learning system that is seamlessly accessible across the nation.

IGNOU’s methodology of instructions and admission procedure differs from other distance learning institutes. Components of IGNOU’s instructions are:

Self-instructional material
Counseling sessions- Face to face and telephonic as well
For courses in science, computers, nursing and engineering, study centers are established to provide practical exposure
In comparison to other distance learning course, IGNOU offers flexibility in entry qualification, place and duration of exams to study. A 3-year bachelor’s degree course can be completed in 6 years if a student desires so.

Till date, the university is offering over 228 certificate, diploma, degree and doctoral programs.

List of Distance Learning courses offered by IGNOU

Undergraduate courses

Bachelor of Technology (BTech) – Construction Management (BTCM)
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
Bachelor of Library & Information Sciences (BLIS)
Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – International Hospitality Administration
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Tourism Studies
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Technology (BTech) – Computer Science Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (BE) – Computer Science Engineering
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – Retailing
Bachelor of Science – Nursing (B.Sc(N)
Bachelor of Technology (BTech) – Water Resource Engineering (BTWRE)
Bachelor in Computer Applications (BCA)
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) – Mechanical Engineering (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) (BTME)
Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Hospitality & Hotel Administration (BHA)
Bachelor of Science – Nautical Science
Bachelors Preparatory Programme (BPP)
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) – Finance and Taxation

Postgraduate Courses

Master of Arts – Hindi (MHD)
Master of Arts – Political Science (MPS)
Master of Arts – Sociology (MSO)
Master of Science (MSc) – Chemistry
Master of Business Administration – Banking and Finance (MBF)
Master of Tourism Management (MTM)
Master of Arts – Public Administration (MPA)
Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration (CEMPA)
Master of Arts – Rural Development (MARD)
Master of Commerce (MCom) – Finance and Taxation
Master of Arts – English (MEG)
Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA)
Master of Science – Hospitality Administration (MHA)
Master of Arts – Economics (MEC)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Science – Dietetics & Food Service Management (DFSM)
Master of Library & Information Sciences (MLIS)
Master of Commerce (MCom)
Master of Arts – History (MAH)
Master of Arts – Distance Education (MADE)
Master of Computer Applications (MCA)
Post Graduate Diploma in Audio Programm Production (PGDAPP)
Post Graduate Diploma in Library Automation and Networking (PGDLAN)
Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Management and Administration
Post Graduate Diploma in Operations Management (PGDOM)
Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management (PGDDM)
Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management (PGDFM)
Post Graduate Certificate in Radio Writing
Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development (PGDRD)
Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology
Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Participatory Management of Displacement, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation (PGCMRR)
Post Graduate Certificate in Copyediting and Proof Reading (PGCCP)
Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Process Outsourcing (PGDLPO)
Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Prasaran (PGDRP)
Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental and Sustainable Development (PGDESD)
Post Graduate Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (PGDGM)
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDIM)
Post Graduate Diploma in School Leadership and Management for Head Teachers (PGDSLMHT)
Post Graduate Diploma in International Business Operation (PGDIBO)
Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Health Management (PGDHHM)
Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication (PGJMC)
Post Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (PGDDE)
Post Graduate Diploma in Translation (PGDT)
Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE)
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management (PGDMM)
Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Right (PGDIPR)
Post Graduate Certificate in Writing for Television (PGCTW)
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM)
Post Graduate Diploma in Maternal and Child Health (PGDMCH)

Doctoral Courses

Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Economics
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Hindi
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – History
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Political Science
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Child Development
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Library and Information Sciences
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Rural Development
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Physics
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – English
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Education
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Management
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Public Administration
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Distance Education
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Mathematics
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Sociology
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Commerce
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Social Work
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Women’s Studies
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Tourism Studies