Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education (DNHE) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a one-year diploma programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Continuing Education (SOCE). The programme is a holistic package that provides opportunities to gain knowledge about nutrition and public health, and enables learners to develop skills in communicating nutrition and health-related information to the community. The programme carries 32 credits and consists of four courses, including a project work component. The total programme fee is Rs. 3,500 (plus applicable registration and development fees). It is available in both English and Hindi medium, making it accessible to a wide range of learners. The programme is popular among community health workers, NGO functionaries, government development workers, school teachers, and anyone interested in nutrition and public health education.

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 DNHE programme is offered exclusively in Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. It has one of the widest study centre networks among IGNOU diploma programmes, available across the following Regional Centres:

Hyderabad
Karnal
Shimla
Jammu
Bangalore
Cochin
Bhopal
Pune
Imphal
Shillong
Aizwal
Port Blair
Kohima
Bhubaneshwar
Khanna
Jaipur
Gangtok
Chennai
Agartala
Lucknow
Kolkata
Delhi 2 (Indraprastha Estate, ITO)
Itanagar
Srinagar
Dehradun
Ranchi
Vijayawada
Raipur
Nagpur
Jorhat
Delhi 3 (Naraina)
Noida
Guwahati
Trivandrum
Jabalpur
Rajkot
Madurai
Koraput
Siliguri
Darbhanga
Aligarh
Varanasi
Mumbai
Patna
Raghunathganj
Army Centres (Chandimandir, Udhampur, Jaipur)
Chandigarh
Delhi 1 (Mohan Estate, South Delhi)
Panaji
Bhagalpur
Visakhapatnam
Bijapur
Saharsa
Deoghar
Jodhpur
Ahmedabad
Angul
Rairangpur

Key Points

The DNHE programme is a professional training programme that develops a knowledge base in nutrition and public health, and promotes awareness about communication principles in health education.
It includes a Project Work component (DNHE 4), which requires students to undertake a community-based project in nutrition and health education.
The programme is available in both English and Hindi medium, making it accessible to learners across India.
It is particularly useful for people working with governmental and non-governmental sectors in the role of community workers, as it provides an additional qualification for professional competence and promotion.
No entrance examination is required; admission is direct based on 10+2 eligibility.
The programme is also available in an online mode (DNHEOL) for students who prefer fully digital learning.

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Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU DNHE Fees

The DNHE programme at IGNOU is highly affordable, with a total programme fee of Rs. 3,500 payable at the time of admission. In addition, students are required to pay a one-time registration fee of Rs. 200 and a development fee of Rs. 200 in the first year. An examination fee is charged separately per course at the time of submitting the Term-End Examination (TEE) form.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Programme Fee (Full Programme)	3,500
Registration Fee (First Year Only)	200
Development Fee (First Year Only)	200
Examination Fee	As applicable per course per TEE
Total Fees (excluding exam fee)	3,900

The registration fee of Rs. 200 is a one-time charge applicable only in the first year.
The development fee of Rs. 200 is also applicable only in the first year.
Examination fee is charged separately at the time of filling the TEE form (approximately Rs. 200 per course).
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 DNHE Admission 2026

Admissions to the DNHE 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 direct with no entrance examination required. Students must apply online through the IGNOU Samarth admission portal.

IGNOU DNHE Admission 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 DNHE programme. No exam dates from external bodies are applicable for this course.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed 10+2 (Senior Secondary) or equivalent from a recognized board.
There is no minimum percentage requirement for admission to the DNHE programme.
There is no upper age limit; working professionals and community workers are also eligible to apply.

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 DNHE programme from the list of available programmes.
Fill in personal, academic, and contact details in the application form.
Upload scanned copies of required documents: 10+2 marksheet, photograph, signature, and ID proof.
Select your preferred Regional Centre and Study Centre.
Pay the programme fee (Rs. 3,500) and registration fee (Rs. 200) 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: Students' Opinion

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The course at IGNOU offers affordable and stable fees compared to other universities, as it is a government institution. Students benefit from various scholarships that are awarded based on academic performance, which can further reduce the cost of education. However, the university does not have a strong reputation for job placements, meaning students may need to be proactive in seeking employment opportunities after graduation.

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IGNOU DNHE Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students pursuing the DNHE 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)
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships	Merit-based (top 20 percentile in 12th board)	Rs. 10,000 per annum (UG level)	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.
Scholarship amounts may vary based on state and category; check the NSP portal for the latest figures.

IGNOU DNHE FAQs

Ques. Who is the DNHE programme primarily designed for?

Ans. The DNHE programme is designed for community health workers, NGO functionaries, government development workers, school teachers, ASHA workers, anganwadi workers, and anyone interested in nutrition and public health education. It is also useful for those working in the food and nutrition sector who want a formal qualification.

Ques. What is the Project Work component (DNHE 4) in the programme?

Ans. DNHE 4 is a compulsory project work course carrying 8 credits. Students are required to undertake a community-based project related to nutrition and health education. The project involves field work, data collection, and a written report, and is evaluated by the programme coordinator. It is a significant component of the programme and requires active community engagement.

Ques. Is the DNHE diploma useful for ASHA workers and anganwadi workers?

Ans. Yes. The DNHE programme is highly relevant for ASHA workers, anganwadi workers, and other frontline health workers. It provides a formal academic qualification in nutrition and health education, which can support career advancement and improve the quality of community health services they deliver.

Ques. What is the difference between DNHE (ODL) and DNHEOL (Online) at IGNOU?

Ans. The DNHE is offered in Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, where students receive printed study materials and attend a study centre for support. The DNHEOL is the fully online version of the same programme. Both lead to the same diploma. Students who prefer digital learning and have reliable internet access may opt for DNHEOL.

Ques. Can I pursue DNHE if I am already working in the health sector?

Ans. Yes. The DNHE programme is specifically designed for working professionals in the health and community development sectors. As a distance learning programme, it allows students to study at their own pace without leaving their jobs.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing the IGNOU DNHE diploma?

Ans. Graduates of the DNHE programme can work as nutrition educators, community health workers, health communication officers in NGOs and government programmes, diet counsellors at the community level, and field supervisors in nutrition and health programmes such as ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) and NHM (National Health Mission). The diploma also serves as a foundation for further studies in nutrition, dietetics, or public health.

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KUSHAL KUMAR SHARMA

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Diploma, Nutrition And Health Education

Reviewed on Mar 6, 2022(Enrolled 2022)

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Fees and Financial Aid:

Fees of this course in IGNOU are very normal than other universities and also the fees remain the same for many years, Fees hike is not a problem in IGNOU becouse it is govt university and the fees are very normal. Many scholarships are provided by university according to their academic results and the job placement form the college is not very good.

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