Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Diploma in Nursing Administration (DNA) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a one-year continuing education programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Health Sciences (SOHS). The programme is specifically designed for in-service nurses working in hospitals, community settings, or educational institutions, and aims to upgrade their administrative knowledge and skills to enhance their administrative competence. The programme carries 28 credits (Theory: 16 credits, Practical: 12 credits) and is offered in English medium. The total programme fee is Rs. 10,800. It is important to note that the DNA programme is approved by IGNOU's statutory bodies and UGC, but is not recognised or approved by the Indian Nursing Council (INC). The programme is popular among GNM-qualified nurses with work experience and B.Sc. Nursing graduates who wish to move into nursing administration and management roles.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date for fresh admission has been extended to 30 March 2026. Students are advised to apply at the earliest on the official IGNOU admission portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in). The July 2026 session is expected to open for admissions around May-June 2026, based on the previous year's schedule.

The DNA programme is offered in Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode with practical components conducted at designated nursing study centres. The programme is available at the following Regional Centres and their associated nursing institutions:

Hyderabad (KIMS College of Nursing)
Aizwal (R.I.P.A.N.)
Bhubaneshwar (College of Nursing, M.K.C.G. Medical)
Jaipur (Government College of Nursing, Jaipur)
Lucknow (SGPGI Lucknow)
Srinagar (Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences)
Ranchi (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences)
Patna (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS Patna)
Delhi 1 - Mohan Estate (Rufaida College of Nursing; Sarvodaya Hospital and Research Centre, Faridabad)
Bijapur (B.V.V.S. Sajjalashree Institute of Nursing; Shri B.M. Patil Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijayapura)
Jodhpur (Government College of Nursing, Jodhpur)
Ahmedabad (Government Spine Institute)

Key Points

The DNA programme is exclusively for in-service nurses -- it is not open to the general public or non-nursing graduates.
The programme includes a significant practical component (12 credits out of 28), which must be completed at designated nursing study centres.
The programme is approved by IGNOU's statutory bodies and UGC, but is NOT recognised or approved by the Indian Nursing Council (INC). Students should be aware of this distinction before enrolling.
The programme is managed by the School of Health Sciences (SOHS) at IGNOU.
The number of study centres is limited compared to other IGNOU programmes, as it requires specialized nursing institutions for practical training.
No entrance examination is required; admission is based on eligibility criteria.

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Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU DNA Fees

The DNA programme at IGNOU has a total programme fee of Rs. 10,800, payable at the time of admission. This fee covers the full programme including theory and practical components. An examination fee is charged separately per course at the time of submitting the Term-End Examination (TEE) form.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Programme Fee (Full Programme)	10,800
Examination Fee	As applicable per course per TEE
Total Fees (excluding exam fee)	10,800

The programme fee of Rs. 10,800 is the total fee for the full programme as per the official IGNOU admission portal.
Examination fee is charged separately at the time of filling the TEE form.
No hostel facility is applicable as this is a distance learning programme.
There is no EMI option; the programme fee is paid in full at the time of admission.
Fee once paid is generally non-refundable as per IGNOU norms, except in cases of cancellation before enrolment confirmation.

IGNOU DNA Admission 2026

Admissions to the DNA programme at IGNOU are conducted twice a year -- for the January session and the July session. The January 2026 session admission is currently ongoing with the last date extended to 30 March 2026. Admission is based on eligibility criteria with no entrance examination required. Students must apply online through the IGNOU Samarth admission portal.

Important Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Session -- Admission Opens	January 2026
Last Date for January 2026 Fresh Admission (Extended)	30 March 2026
Re-registration Last Date (January 2026)	30 March 2026
June 2026 TEE Exam Form Submission Opens	March 10, 2026
Last Date to Submit June 2026 TEE Exam Form	April 10, 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Begins	June 1, 2026
June 2026 TEE Ends	July 15, 2026
July 2026 Session -- Admission Expected to Open	May-June 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for July 2026 Fresh Admission	August-September 2026 (Tentative)

Note: IGNOU does not conduct any external entrance exam for the DNA programme. No exam dates from external bodies are applicable for this course.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) qualification with two years of experience in the nursing profession. (For male nurses or nurses who have not done midwifery in the GNM programme, a certificate in any nursing course of 6-9 months duration prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council in lieu of midwifery is required.)
OR B.Sc. (Nursing) with no experience required.
There is no upper age limit.

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Register as a new user by providing your name, mobile number, and email address.
Log in and select the DNA programme from the list of available programmes.
Fill in personal, academic, and professional details in the application form.
Upload scanned copies of required documents: GNM/B.Sc. Nursing certificate, experience certificate (if applicable), photograph, signature, and ID proof.
Select your preferred Regional Centre and Study Centre (nursing institution).
Pay the programme fee (Rs. 10,800) online via credit card, debit card, or net banking.
Submit the form and download the application summary for future reference.
After document verification, IGNOU will send an enrolment confirmation.

IGNOU DNA Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students pursuing the DNA programme can avail of several government scholarships available through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). These scholarships are primarily targeted at students from reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC) and minority communities.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)	Application Portal
Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students	SC category students	Up to Rs. 3,000 per annum	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students	ST category students	Up to Rs. 3,000 per annum	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	OBC category students (income below Rs. 1 lakh)	Up to Rs. 1,500 per annum	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi students	Up to Rs. 3,000 per annum	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)

Students must confirm their IGNOU enrolment before applying for NSP scholarships.
Applications on NSP typically open between August and November each year.
Income certificates and category certificates are mandatory for reserved category scholarships.

IGNOU DNA FAQs

Q1. Is the IGNOU DNA diploma recognised by the Indian Nursing Council (INC) for career advancement?

Ans. No. The DNA programme is explicitly stated to NOT be recognised or approved by the Indian Nursing Council (INC). It is approved by IGNOU's statutory bodies and UGC. Nurses seeking INC-recognised qualifications for career advancement should check with the INC directly. The DNA is primarily a continuing education programme for professional development.

Q2. Can a B.Sc. Nursing graduate with no work experience apply for the DNA programme?

Ans. Yes. B.Sc. (Nursing) graduates are eligible to apply for the DNA programme without any work experience requirement. Only GNM-qualified nurses need to have two years of experience.

Q3. What are the practical components in the DNA programme, and where are they conducted?

Ans. The DNA programme includes 12 credits of practical work (Nursing Service Administration Practical Manual-I and II, course codes BNSL 11 and BNSL 12). These practicals are conducted at designated nursing study centres, which are typically hospitals or nursing colleges. Students must attend these sessions at their assigned study centre.

Q4. How many study centres are available for the DNA programme?

Ans. The DNA programme has a limited number of study centres compared to other IGNOU programmes, as it requires specialized nursing institutions for practical training. Currently, study centres are available in Hyderabad, Aizwal, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur, Lucknow, Srinagar, Ranchi, Patna, Delhi, Bijapur, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad. Students should check the official IGNOU portal for the latest list.

Q5. Will completing the DNA programme help me get a promotion in my nursing career?

Ans. The DNA programme is designed to upgrade the administrative knowledge and skills of in-service nurses. While it is not INC-recognised, many hospital administrations and healthcare organizations value the additional qualification for internal promotions to nursing supervisor, nursing officer, or nursing administrator roles. Students should verify with their employer regarding recognition.

Q6. Can male nurses apply for the DNA programme?

Ans. Yes. Male nurses can apply for the DNA programme. However, since GNM programmes for male nurses typically do not include midwifery, male GNM nurses must have a certificate in any nursing course of 6-9 months duration prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council in lieu of midwifery, in addition to two years of work experience.