Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Corporate Social Responsibility (MACSR) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, under the School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS). The programme is designed to build capacity for trained CSR professionals, covering the fundamentals of CSR, CSR process and implementation, project management, corporate ethics, governance, and development studies. With CSR becoming a regulatory mandate under Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, there is a growing demand for qualified CSR professionals in India, making this programme highly relevant. The total programme fee is Rs. 16,000 (Rs. 8,000 per year), and no entrance examination is required. The programme is popular among working professionals in corporate, NGO, and development sectors who wish to formalise their CSR expertise.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing, with the last date for fresh admission extended to 30th March 2026. The July 2026 session is expected to open in May 2026, with registration typically closing by August 2026. Students who have completed the PG Diploma in CSR (PGDCSR) can take lateral entry directly into Year II of MACSR.

IGNOU MACSR Distance Learning Centres

The MACSR programme is offered exclusively in Distance/ODL mode. Students can enrol through IGNOU Regional Centres and their associated Study Centres (LSCs) across India. Key centres include:

Regional Centre	Key Study Centres
Hyderabad	IGNOU RC Hyderabad (0100), Vijaya Training Centre (01112P)
Bangalore	IGNOU RC Bangalore (1300), St. Aloysius College Mangalore (1302), Vidyavardhaka First Grade College Mysore (1305)
Delhi 1	IGNOU RC Delhi1 (0700)
Delhi 3 (Naraina)	IGNOU RC Delhi3 (38039), Arya Bhatt College (709), Govt. PG College (38027)
Noida	IGNOU RC Noida (3900)
Mumbai	IGNOU RC Mumbai (4900)
Chennai	IGNOU RC Chennai (2500), DDGD Vaishnava College (2501), Guru Nanak College (2578), Pondicherry University Community College (3101)
Kolkata	IGNOU RC Kolkata (2800), Muralidhar Girls' College (28140)
Pune	IGNOU RC Pune (1600)
Jaipur	IGNOU RC Jaipur (2300)
Lucknow	IGNOU RC Lucknow (2700), Bareilly College (2704), Lucknow Christian PG College (2720)
Bhubaneshwar	IGNOU RC Bhubaneshwar (2100), B.J.B. Autonomous College (2111)
Patna	IGNOU RC Patna (0500), Gaya College (511)
Chandigarh	IGNOU RC Chandigarh (0600)
Guwahati	IGNOU RC Guwahati (0400), Guwahati University (0401)
Trivandrum	IGNOU RC Trivandrum (4000), Mar Ivanios Institute of Advance Studies (1441), Sree Narayana College (1413)
Dehradun	IGNOU RC Dehradun (3100), D.A.V. PG College Dehradun (2705)
Ranchi	IGNOU RC Ranchi (3200), Marwari College Ranchi (3635)
Nagpur	IGNOU RC Nagpur (3600), Guru Nanak Bhawan Nagpur (1607), Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Institute (36029)
Ahmedabad	IGNOU RC Ahmedabad (0900)
Varanasi	IGNOU RC Varanasi (4800), DDU University Gorakhpur (2709)
Vijayawada	IGNOU RC Vijayawada (3300), KBN College Vijayawada (0103), TJPS College Guntur (0104)

Students should visit the official IGNOU admission portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in) to check the complete and updated list of active study centres for MACSR before applying.

Key Points

The programme is directly aligned with the mandatory CSR provisions under Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, making graduates highly employable in corporate CSR departments.
Students who have completed the PG Diploma in CSR (PGDCSR) from IGNOU can take lateral entry directly into Year II of MACSR.
A mandatory Project Work in CSR (MEDSP-051, 8 credits) is included in Year I, providing practical exposure.
The programme is offered in English medium only.
Study material is provided by IGNOU; students can opt for either printed or soft copy (e-SLM).
Term-End Examinations (TEE) are conducted twice a year - in June and December.
The programme is managed by the School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS), IGNOU.
No entrance examination is required; admission is open to graduates from any discipline.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MACSR Fees

The MACSR programme at IGNOU is highly affordable, with a total programme fee of Rs. 16,000 payable over two years at Rs. 8,000 per year. In addition to the programme fee, students are required to pay a one-time non-refundable Registration Fee and a Development Fee at the time of admission. The examination fee is charged separately at the time of filling the Term-End Examination form.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1	Year 2	Total
Tuition Fee (Programme Fee)	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 16,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	Rs. 300	-	Rs. 300
Development Fee	As applicable	-	As applicable
Examination Fee (per subject, approx.)	Rs. 200	Rs. 200	Rs. 400 per year
Total Fees (excl. exam fee)	Rs. 8,300	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 16,300

The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable.
Fee paid will be refunded prior to confirmation of admission.
After confirmation of admission, 15% of the programme fee (subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2,000) will be deducted if cancellation is requested.
No refund is admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.
Students opting for soft copy (e-SLM) of study material will have the study material fee waived; refund will be processed after deducting the Registration Fee only.
Examination fee of Rs. 200 per subject is payable separately at the time of submitting the exam form.
There is no hostel facility at IGNOU for distance learners.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card (Master/Visa), Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay), or Net Banking.

IGNOU MACSR Admission 2026

Admissions to MACSR at IGNOU are conducted twice a year - in January and July sessions. The January 2026 session is currently open, with the last date for fresh admission extended to 30th March 2026. No entrance examination is required; admission is purely based on eligibility. The July 2026 session is expected to open in May 2026, with registration typically closing by August 2026.

IGNOU MACSR Admission Dates 2026

Event	January 2026 Session	July 2026 Session (Tentative)
Admission Portal Opens	December 16, 2025	May 2026
Last Date for Fresh Admission	March 30, 2026	August 2026
Last Date for Re-registration	March 30, 2026	September 2026
Distribution of Study Material	January - March 2026	July - September 2026
Contact Programmes / Counselling	February - November 2026	August 2026 onwards
Assignment Submission (Year 1)	March - September 2026	October 2026 - March 2027
Term-End Examination (TEE)	June 2026 / December 2026	December 2026 / June 2027
Exam Form Submission (June TEE)	March 10 - April 10, 2026	-
June 2026 TEE Commencement	June 1, 2026	-
June 2026 TEE Last Date	July 15, 2026	-
Result Declaration	August 2026 (for June TEE)	February 2027 (for Dec TEE)

Relevant Examination Dates

Examination	Relevance	Dates
IGNOU Term-End Examination (TEE) - June 2026	Mandatory internal university exam for all enrolled students	June 1 - July 15, 2026
IGNOU TEE Exam Form Submission	Required to appear in TEE	March 10 - April 10, 2026
IGNOU TEE - December 2026	Second TEE cycle	December 2026 (tentative)

Note: MACSR does not require any external entrance examination. The TEE is the university's own internal examination and is the primary mode of assessment.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree (minimum 3-year duration) in any discipline from a recognised university.
Students who have completed PGDCSR from IGNOU are eligible for lateral entry into Year II of MACSR.
The programme is open to Indian nationals as well as international students.

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Click on 'New Registration' and create a login with a valid email ID and mobile number.
Select the MACSR programme and fill in the online application form.
Upload scanned copies of required documents: photograph, signature, graduation certificate, category certificate (if applicable).
Pay the programme fee online via Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
Select your preferred Regional Centre and Study Centre.
Submit the application and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
Admission confirmation is sent via email/SMS after verification of documents.

IGNOU MACSR Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students enrolled in MACSR can avail a range of government-sponsored scholarships and fee concessions, particularly for students from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC), economically weaker sections, persons with disabilities, and minority communities. SC/ST students are eligible for a 50% fee concession directly from IGNOU, while other categories can apply through the National Scholarship Portal. These scholarships make this already affordable programme even more accessible to students from all backgrounds.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit	How to Apply
IGNOU Fee Concession for SC/ST Students	SC/ST students enrolled at IGNOU	50% fee concession on programme fee	Apply at Regional Centre with caste certificate
Fee Exemption for Jail Inmates	Jail inmates enrolled at IGNOU	Full fee exemption (including registration fee)	Through Regional Centre
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities	Minority students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year; min. 50% in previous exam	Rs. 20,000/year + maintenance allowance (Rs. 1,000/month for hostlers, Rs. 500/month for day scholars)	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Scholarship for Top Class Education (SC Students)	SC students; family income below Rs. 8 lakh/year; admitted under general category seats	Full tuition fee (up to Rs. 2 lakh/year) + books/stationery + maintenance allowance	Apply at Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment portal
Scholarship for Students with Disabilities	Students with 40%+ disability; family income below Rs. 6 lakh/year	Tuition fee up to Rs. 2 lakh/year + Rs. 5,000 for books + maintenance allowance + Rs. 45,000 one-time for laptop	Apply at scholarships.gov.in
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Schemes	SC/ST/OBC/Minority/EWS students	Varies by scheme and state	scholarships.gov.in
State Government Scholarships	Varies by state	Varies by state	Respective state scholarship portals

Students can avail only one scholarship at a time.
Scholarship applications on the National Scholarship Portal should be submitted after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
The annual family income limit for most central government scholarships is Rs. 2.5 lakh (for minority/OBC) to Rs. 8 lakh (for SC top class scheme).
Students must keep their IGNOU student ID card, admission confirmation, and category certificates ready while applying.
Application deadlines for NSP scholarships are typically between August and October each year.

IGNOU MACSR FAQs

Ques. Is MACSR from IGNOU a good qualification for getting a job in the CSR department of a company?

Ans. Yes, MACSR from IGNOU is a well-recognised qualification for CSR roles. With CSR being mandatory under the Companies Act 2013 for qualifying companies, there is a steady demand for trained CSR professionals. The MACSR degree is recognised by the AIU and is accepted by corporate HR departments, NGOs, and development organisations. Graduates have found roles as CSR Managers, CSR Coordinators, Development Officers, and Programme Managers.

Ques. What is the difference between PGDCSR and MACSR at IGNOU?

Ans. PGDCSR (PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility) is a one-year diploma programme, while MACSR is a two-year Master's degree. Students who complete PGDCSR can take lateral entry directly into Year II of MACSR, effectively converting their diploma into a full Master's degree by completing one additional year of study.

Ques. Is there a project work component in MACSR?

Ans. Yes, MACSR includes a mandatory Project Work in CSR (MEDSP-051, 8 credits) in Year I. Students are required to undertake a field-based project related to CSR activities, which provides practical exposure to real-world CSR implementation. The project is evaluated through a written report and a viva voce.

Ques. Can I pursue MACSR while working in a corporate job?

Ans. Absolutely. MACSR is specifically designed for working professionals. The ODL mode means there are no mandatory daily classes. Students attend contact/counselling sessions at their study centre (typically on weekends), submit assignments, and appear for Term-End Examinations twice a year. This makes it fully compatible with full-time employment.

Ques. What are the career prospects after MACSR from IGNOU?

Ans. Graduates of MACSR can work as CSR Managers, CSR Coordinators, Development Programme Officers, Social Impact Analysts, NGO Project Managers, and Corporate Sustainability Consultants. They can find employment in large corporations with mandatory CSR budgets, development organisations, government bodies, and international agencies working on sustainable development goals.

Ques. Is the MACSR programme available in Hindi medium?

Ans. No, the MACSR programme at IGNOU is currently offered in English medium only. Students who are more comfortable in Hindi should be aware of this before enrolling. Study materials, assignments, and examinations are all conducted in English.