Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Adult Education (MAAE) is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Education (SOE). The programme has a minimum duration of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years, and is offered in English medium. The total programme fee is Rs. 17,000 (Rs. 8,500 per year). MAAE is designed for those interested in entering and building careers in the field of adult education and allied areas, as well as for those already working in formal, non-formal, or informal education sectors. The revised version of the programme (effective from January 2024) is now offered in both January and July admission sessions. MAAE is popular among social workers, NGO professionals, government education officers, and those working in community development and extension education.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date to apply is 31 March 2026. Students can apply online at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Re-registration for existing students is also open till 31 March 2026 (with a late fee of Rs. 200).

Distance Mode Study Centres

IGNOU MAAE is offered exclusively through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. Students are assigned to a Study Centre (Learner Support Centre) for counselling sessions, practical activities, assignment submission, and examinations. MAAE study centres are available across all IGNOU Regional Centres in India, including in the following regional areas:

Hyderabad, Karnal, Shimla, Jammu, Bangalore, Bhopal, Pune, Imphal, Shillong, Aizawl, Port Blair, Kohima, Bhubaneswar, Khanna, Jaipur, Gangtok, Chennai, Agartala, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi, Noida, Guwahati, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Patna, Ranchi, Nagpur, Dehradun, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Bijapur, Jodhpur, Saharsa, Deoghar, Bhagalpur, Vatakara, Chandigarh, Panaji, Itanagar, Srinagar, and more.

Students should visit the official IGNOU admission portal or their nearest Regional Centre to confirm the availability of MAAE at a specific study centre.

Key Points

MAAE is offered under the School of Education (SOE) at IGNOU, which is dedicated to advancing education through research and professional development.
The revised programme (effective January 2024) is now offered in both January and July sessions, making it more accessible.
Year 1 includes a mandatory Community-based Practical Activities component (MAEL-101) worth 4 credits, providing hands-on field experience.
Year 2 offers a choice between a Dissertation (MAEP-001) worth 10 credits or a Case Study/Internship (MAET-001) worth 10 credits.
The programme covers Understanding Adult Education, Policy Planning, Knowledge Management, Extension Education, Population and Development Education, Educational Technology, Sustainable Development, Legal Awareness, Comparative Adult Education, and Lifelong Learning.
MAAE holders are eligible to appear for UGC NET in Adult Education.
The programme is particularly relevant for professionals working in literacy missions, adult education centres, NGOs, and community development organizations.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MAAE Fees

The MAAE programme at IGNOU is an affordable postgraduate option for adult education professionals and social workers. The total programme fee is Rs. 17,000, payable at Rs. 8,500 per year. In addition to the tuition fee, students are required to pay a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 and a Development Fee of Rs. 200 per year. The total cost of the programme including all charges comes to Rs. 17,700. There is no hostel facility associated with this ODL programme.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1	Year 2	Total
Tuition Fee	Rs. 8,500	Rs. 8,500	Rs. 17,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	Rs. 300	-	Rs. 300
Development Fee	Rs. 200	Rs. 200	Rs. 400
Total Fees	Rs. 9,000	Rs. 8,700	Rs. 17,700

Exam fees are not included in the above fee structure and will be charged separately as decided by the University at the time of examination form submission.
Fees can be paid via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Internet Banking.
There is no hostel facility for ODL students.
Fee once paid is non-refundable except in cases where the student withdraws within the stipulated refund period as per IGNOU policy.
SC/ST students availing financial support are required to pay the University fee as applicable and may seek reimbursement through the scholarship portal.

IGNOU MAAE Admission 2026

IGNOU follows a bi-annual admission cycle for MAAE - January session and July session. The January 2026 session admission is currently open with the last date extended to 31 March 2026. Admission is merit-based with no entrance examination. Students can apply online through the official IGNOU admission portal. Selection is based on eligibility criteria only.

IGNOU MAAE Admission Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Session Admission Opens	January 2026
Last Date for Fresh Admission (January 2026)	31 March 2026
Re-Registration Last Date (January 2026)	31 March 2026 (with late fee of Rs. 200)
Assignment Submission Last Date (June 2026 TEE)	31 March 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (without late fee)	10 March 2026 to 10 April 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (with late fee of Rs. 1,100)	11 April 2026 to 24 April 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Begins	1 June 2026
June 2026 TEE Ends (Tentative)	15 July 2026
July 2026 Session Admission Opens (Tentative)	July 2026

Examination Dates

MAAE is a merit-based programme with no mandatory entrance examination. The relevant examinations for enrolled students are the IGNOU Term-End Examinations (TEE) conducted twice a year.

Examination	Mode	Tentative Dates
IGNOU June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE)	Pen & Paper / CBT	1 June 2026 to 15 July 2026
IGNOU December 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE)	Pen & Paper / CBT	December 2026 (dates to be announced)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree from any recognized University or Institute.
There is no minimum percentage requirement specified for admission.
There is no age bar for enrollment in the MAAE programme.

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.
Create a DEB ID (mandatory before starting the application process).
Register as a new user by providing username, password, email, and mobile number.
Log in and fill in the application form with personal, academic, and contact details.
Upload scanned copies of required documents (educational certificates, photo, signature, ID proof, category certificate if applicable).
Pay the programme fee online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Internet Banking.
Submit the form and save the payment confirmation for future reference.
Candidates can also apply offline by visiting the nearest IGNOU Regional Centre.

IGNOU MAAE Scholarships 2026

IGNOU MAAE students can avail a range of scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and IGNOU's own scholarship schemes. These scholarships are primarily targeted at students from SC, ST, OBC, minority, PwD, and economically weaker sections. The scholarship application process is largely offline, and students are advised to apply through their respective State Directorate of Social Welfare or IGNOU Regional Centre.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Benefit
Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students	SC category, family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students	ST category, family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	OBC category, family income below Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum	Tuition fee reimbursement
Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi communities, income below Rs. 2 lakh per annum	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance
IGNOU Special Scholarship	Women, differently-abled, transgender students	Partial fee waiver
IGNOU Merit Scholarship	High academic scorers in previous examinations	Merit-based financial assistance
National Fellowship for PwD Students	Students with disabilities enrolled in PG programmes	Financial aid and fee waiver

All NSP scholarships can be applied for at scholarships.gov.in after receiving admission confirmation from IGNOU.
The scholarship application process is offline; forms are available at the State Directorate of Social Welfare or IGNOU Regional Centres.
Students must not be receiving any other scholarship simultaneously.
Annual family income should not exceed Rs. 3,00,000 for most IGNOU scholarship schemes.
Scholarship notification for 2025-26 was released in December 2025; students should check the official IGNOU website and NSP portal for updated deadlines.

IGNOU MAAE FAQs

Ques. What is Adult Education and who should pursue IGNOU MAAE?

Ans. Adult Education is a field that focuses on the education and learning of adults, including literacy, continuing education, vocational training, community development, and lifelong learning. IGNOU MAAE is ideal for social workers, NGO professionals, government education officers, literacy mission workers, community development workers, and those working in extension education. It is also suitable for fresh graduates who wish to build a career in the adult education sector.

Ques. What is the Community-based Practical Activities component (MAEL-101) in Year 1?

Ans. MAEL-101 is a mandatory practical component worth 4 credits in Year 1. Students are required to conduct community-based activities such as organizing adult literacy camps, awareness programmes, or community surveys. This hands-on component provides practical experience in adult education fieldwork and community engagement. Students are required to submit a report of their activities to their study centre.

Ques. What is the difference between the Dissertation and Case Study/Internship options in Year 2?

Ans. In Year 2, students can choose between a Dissertation (MAEP-001) worth 10 credits or a Case Study/Internship (MAET-001) worth 10 credits. The Dissertation involves original research in any area of adult education and is suitable for those interested in academic careers. The Case Study/Internship involves practical fieldwork in an adult education organization and is more suitable for those interested in professional careers. Students should choose based on their career goals.

Ques. Is IGNOU MAAE recognized for UGC NET in Adult Education?

Ans. Yes, MAAE holders are eligible to appear for UGC NET in Adult Education. The IGNOU MAAE degree is recognized by the UGC and is equivalent to MA Adult Education from any other UGC-recognized university. Qualifying UGC NET in Adult Education opens doors to Assistant Professor positions in colleges and universities that offer adult education programmes.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after IGNOU MAAE?

Ans. MAAE graduates can work as adult education officers, literacy programme coordinators, community development workers, extension education officers, NGO programme managers, vocational training coordinators, and researchers in adult education. Government organizations like the National Literacy Mission Authority, state literacy missions, and social welfare departments hire MAAE graduates. International organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF also work in the adult education sector.

Ques. Was MAAE recently revised? What are the key changes?

Ans. Yes, MAAE was revised with effect from January 2024 session. The revised programme includes updated course content reflecting 21st century skills in adult learning (MAE-006: Adult Learning and 21st Century Skills), Comparative Adult Education (MAEE-003), and Basics of Legal Awareness (MAEE-002). The programme is now offered in both January and July sessions, making it more accessible. The revised programme also includes updated elective courses on Sustainable Development and Vocational Education.