New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has opened online registration for its Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes for the January 2026 session, officials said on Tuesday.

Eligible candidates can apply for undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate courses through the official admission portal, ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

The last date for submission of applications is January 31, 2026, and applicants have been advised not to wait until the final day.

For undergraduate programmes, candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board, while a bachelor's degree from a recognised university is required for postgraduate admissions. Certain diploma and certificate courses may require specific qualifications or work experience.

Applicants are required to upload scanned copies of a recent photograph, signature, educational certificates and, where applicable, experience and category certificates. IGNOU has advised students to scan documents from original certificates and ensure that file size specifications are adhered to.

To apply, candidates must register on the portal, fill in the application form, upload the required documents and pay the prescribed fee online. After submission, applicants can preview, save and print the completed form for future reference.

Applicants can track their admission status using their enrolment number, programme code and date of birth. IGNOU said fee refunds will be processed as per university norms in case of cancellation.