Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers the Master of Arts in Anthropology (programme code: MAAN) through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, under the School of Social Sciences (SOSS). The 2-year programme is based on an integrated approach incorporating insights from physical, social, and archaeological anthropology, with a thrust on in-depth understanding using both theoretical and practical techniques. It aims to develop professional competence in anthropology for careers in academic and research institutes, NGOs, government organisations, health sectors, and applied sciences. With a programme fee of Rs. 9,500 per year (total Rs. 19,300 including registration and development fees), no entrance exam, and the flexibility to complete the degree over a maximum of 5 years, the MAAN programme is a unique offering among IGNOU's social science programmes. The programme is offered in English medium only and is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Admission for the January 2026 cycle is currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form (for ODL programmes) has been extended to 30th March 2026. Students who have already enrolled for January 2026 can submit their Term-End Examination (TEE) forms for June 2026 TEE between 10th March 2026 and 10th April 2026 (without late fee), and between 11th April 2026 and 24th April 2026 (with a late fee of Rs. 1,100).

Distance Mode Study Centres:

The MAAN programme is offered exclusively in Distance/ODL mode. However, due to the practical and fieldwork components of the programme, it is available at a more limited number of study centres compared to other IGNOU MA programmes. Key regional centres offering this programme include:

Hyderabad (Nizam College), Bangalore (Mysore), Bhopal (IGNOU RC), Shillong (IGNOU RC, Women's College), Aizawl (IGNOU RC), Port Blair, Bhubaneshwar (BJB Autonomous College), Jaipur (IGNOU RC), Gangtok (Sikkim University), Chennai (Pondicherry University Community College), Lucknow (Awadh Girls Degree College), Kolkata (Vidyasagar College for Women), Srinagar (Sopore, Baramulla), Dehradun (DAV PG College, HNB Garhwal University), Ranchi (Gossner College, Simdega College), Nagpur, Delhi (RC Delhi-3, RC Noida), Guwahati (Arya Vidyapeeth College), Trivandrum (Mar Ivanios College), Jabalpur (Dr. H.S. Gour University), Darbhanga (IGNOU RC), Patna (IGNOU RC), Chandigarh, Angul, and Army study centres.

Students must select a study centre at the time of admission. A full list of study centres is available on the IGNOU admission portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in).

Key Points

No entrance exam required; admission is direct based on eligibility.
Available in English medium only (not available in Hindi).
Unique integrated approach covering Social Anthropology, Physical/Biological Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, and Anthropological Research Methods.
Includes practical and fieldwork components: Physical Anthropology practicals, Fieldwork Dissertation (MANP-001), and project-based courses.
Elective courses include Human Genetics, Human Growth and Development, Comparative Ethnography, Gender and Society, Environmental Anthropology, Social Stratification, and Tribes in India.
Flexible duration: minimum 2 years, maximum 5 years to complete the programme.
Exams are held twice a year (June and December TEE), giving students the option to appear at their own pace.
Assessment is based on 30% weightage for assignments and 70% for Term-End Examinations (TEE).
The degree is recognised by AIU and is valid for government jobs, NET/SET eligibility, and further academic pursuits.
IGNOU has been accredited with A++ grade by NAAC.

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Fees
Admission
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FAQs

IGNOU MAAN Fees

The MAAN programme at IGNOU is priced at Rs. 9,500 per year, reflecting the practical and fieldwork components of the programme. The total programme fee is Rs. 19,300 for the full 2-year course (including registration and development fees). Exam fees are charged separately at the time of TEE form submission and are not included in the programme fee.

Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Programme/Tuition Fee	9,000	9,000	18,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	300	-	300
Development Fee	200	200	400
Study Material (printed, optional)	Included	Included	Included
Examination Fee (per course/paper)	As applicable	As applicable	~200 per paper
Total Fees (excl. exam fee)	9,500	9,200	18,700
Total Fees (incl. registration)	9,800	9,200	19,000

The registration fee of Rs. 300 is a one-time, non-refundable charge.
Development fee is Rs. 200 per year.
Students opting for soft copy (e-SLM) of study material instead of printed material may be eligible for a partial fee refund if they cancel admission before confirmation.
An amount equivalent to 15% of the programme fee (subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2,000) will be deducted if cancellation is requested after confirmation of admission.
No refund is admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
There is no hostel facility at IGNOU headquarters; hostel is not mandatory.
No EMI option is officially available; fee is paid year-wise at the time of re-registration.

IGNOU MAAN Admission 2026

Admission to the MAAN programme at IGNOU is straightforward and merit-based, with no entrance examination. The January 2026 admission cycle is currently open, with the last date extended to 30th March 2026. Students admitted in the January 2026 cycle will be eligible to appear for the June 2026 Term-End Examination. The next admission cycle (July 2026) is expected to open around June 2026, based on previous year patterns.

IGNOU MAAN Admission and Examination Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Admission Cycle Opens	December 16, 2025
Last Date for Fresh Admission (January 2026 ODL)	March 30, 2026
June 2026 TEE Exam Form Submission (without late fee)	March 10, 2026 - April 10, 2026
June 2026 TEE Exam Form Submission (with late fee of Rs. 1,100)	April 11, 2026 - April 24, 2026
June 2026 TEE Hall Ticket Release	May 2026 (tentative)
June 2026 Term-End Examination	June 1, 2026 - July 15, 2026
July 2026 Admission Cycle Opens (tentative)	June 2026
Last Date for July 2026 Admission (tentative)	September/October 2026
December 2026 TEE (tentative)	December 2026

Note: IGNOU does not conduct any entrance examination for the MAAN programme. No external exam dates are applicable.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

A Bachelor's degree or higher from a recognised university in any discipline is required.
There is no minimum percentage requirement specified for general category students.
There is no upper age limit for admission.

Admission Process

Visit the IGNOU Online Admission Portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Click on 'New Registration' and complete the registration process using your own email ID and mobile number (OTP verification required).
Log in and select the MAAN programme from the list of available programmes.
Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and programme details.
Select your preferred medium of study (English only).
Upload scanned copies of required documents: photograph, signature, educational qualification certificates, and category certificate (if applicable).
Pay the programme fee online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
Select your preferred study centre from the available list (note: MAAN is available at limited study centres; check availability before applying).
Submit the form and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
Study material will be dispatched to the registered address after confirmation of admission.

IGNOU: Students' Opinion

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The college provides scholarships to support students financially. Students from reserved categories can avail of specific scholarships, while those from non-reserved categories are eligible for the Government of India scholarship. To receive these scholarships, students must fill out the necessary scholarship application forms.

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IGNOU MAAN Scholarships 2026

IGNOU offers several scholarship and fee concession options for eligible students enrolled in the MAAN programme. SC/ST students and economically weaker sections are the primary beneficiaries, and students can also apply for government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of admission.

Scholarship Schemes

Scholarship / Scheme	Eligibility	Benefit	How to Apply
IGNOU Fee Concession for SC/ST Students	SC/ST students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Up to 50% fee concession on programme fee	Apply through Regional Centre; submit caste and income certificate
Fee Exemption for Jail Inmates	Students enrolled from jail/correctional facilities	Full exemption from programme fee and registration fee (exam fee and re-registration fee applicable after release)	Through Regional Centre/Jail authorities
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities (NSP)	Minority community students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum; minimum 50% in previous exam	Rs. 20,000 per year (course fee + maintenance allowance)	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities	Students with 40%+ disability; family income below Rs. 6 lakh per annum	Full tuition fee (up to Rs. 2 lakh/year) + maintenance allowance + book allowance + device allowance	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students	SC students admitted under general category seats; family income below Rs. 8 lakh per annum	Full tuition fee (up to Rs. 2 lakh/year) + living and book allowances	Apply via Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment portal
State Government Scholarships	Varies by state; SC/ST/OBC/EWS students	Varies by state scheme	Apply through respective state scholarship portals

A student can avail only one scholarship at a time.
Scholarship forms must be certified by the Regional Director at the respective IGNOU Regional Centre before submission.
Application deadlines vary by scheme; students should check the National Scholarship Portal and their respective state portals for current deadlines.

IGNOU MAAN FAQs

Ques. What makes IGNOU MA Anthropology (MAAN) different from other IGNOU MA programmes?

Ans. The MAAN programme is unique among IGNOU's social science offerings because it includes practical and fieldwork components, which are rare in distance education. Courses like MANI-002 (Physical Anthropology - Theory and Practical), MANI-001 (Anthropology and Methods of Research - Theory and Project), and MANP-001 (Fieldwork Dissertation) require students to engage in hands-on learning. This makes the programme more rigorous and professionally oriented than typical distance MA programmes.

Ques. Is IGNOU MA Anthropology available in Hindi medium?

Ans. No. The MAAN programme is currently offered in English medium only. Students who are not comfortable with English should consider this before applying. All study materials, assignments, and examinations are conducted in English.

Ques. Is the IGNOU MA Anthropology degree valid for government jobs and NET/SET eligibility?

Ans. Yes. The IGNOU MAAN degree is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is valid for government jobs requiring a postgraduate degree. It is also accepted for UGC-NET/SET eligibility, enabling graduates to become Assistant Professors or qualify for JRF in Anthropology. IGNOU's A++ NAAC accreditation further strengthens the degree's recognition.

Ques. What is the course structure of IGNOU MA Anthropology (MAAN)?

Ans. Year 1 covers: MAN-001 (Social Anthropology), MAN-002 (Archaeological Anthropology), MANI-001 (Anthropology and Methods of Research - Theory and Project), and MANI-002 (Physical Anthropology - Theory and Practical). Year 2 includes: MANI-003 (Practicing Anthropology - Theory and Project), MANP-001 (Fieldwork Dissertation), and elective courses from MANE-001 to MANE-007 covering Human Genetics, Human Growth and Development, Comparative Ethnography, Gender and Society, Environmental Anthropology, Social Stratification, and Tribes in India.

Ques. How are marks calculated in IGNOU MA Anthropology? What is the passing criteria?

Ans. The final marks are calculated as: 30% from Assignments + 70% from Term-End Examination (TEE). For practical/project-based courses, the evaluation pattern may differ. You need to score a minimum of 40% in TEE and 40% overall (combined) to pass each course. The Fieldwork Dissertation (MANP-001) is evaluated separately based on the dissertation submitted.

Ques. What career options are available after IGNOU MA Anthropology?

Ans. Graduates of IGNOU MAAN can pursue careers in: academic and research institutions as lecturers or researchers in Anthropology; qualifying UGC-NET/SET for Assistant Professor positions; working in government organisations dealing with tribal welfare, forest departments, and social welfare; NGOs working with tribal communities, indigenous peoples, and marginalised groups; health sector roles in medical anthropology and public health; forensic anthropology; museum curation and heritage management; and pursuing PhD in Anthropology for advanced research careers.

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Fees and Financial Aid:

The fees are a decent amount you can easily arrange. Scholarships are also available for reserved category students and the above-category students are eligible for the Government of India scholarship. To avail of the scholarship they will require to fill out the scholarship form.

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