Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Development Studies (MADVS) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, designed to impart quality education and training in the area of development studies. The programme covers development theories, planning, management, gender, health, governance, and research methodology, with a minimum duration of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years. The total programme fee is Rs. 15,300 (Rs. 7,500 per year tuition + Rs. 300 registration fee), making it one of the most affordable postgraduate programmes in the country. There is no entrance exam for admission; eligibility is based on graduation marks. The programme is popular among working professionals, NGO workers, government employees, and fresh graduates seeking a career in the development sector, owing to its flexible ODL format and UGC-recognised degree.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form (for ODL programmes) is 30 March 2026. Applications can be submitted online at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The next admission cycle (July 2026) is expected to open tentatively in May 2026, based on the previous year's schedule.

Distance Mode Centres:

The MADVS programme is offered exclusively through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. Students are assigned to a Study Centre (Learner Support Centre) near their location. The programme is available across a wide network of IGNOU Regional Centres and affiliated Study Centres across India, including but not limited to:

Hyderabad (RC Hyderabad)
Shimla (RC Shimla)
Jammu (RC Jammu)
Bangalore (RC Bangalore)
Cochin / Ernakulam (RC Kaloor)
Bhopal (RC Bhopal)
Pune (RC Pune)
Imphal (RC Imphal)
Shillong (RC Shillong)
Aizawl (RC Aizawl)
Kohima (RC Kohima)
Bhubaneswar (RC Bhubaneswar)
Jaipur (RC Jaipur)
Chennai (RC Chennai)
Lucknow (RC Lucknow)
Kolkata (RC Kolkata)
Delhi (RC Delhi 1, RC Delhi 3 Naraina)
Trivandrum (RC Trivandrum)
Mumbai (RC Mumbai)
Patna (RC Patna)
Chandigarh (RC Chandigarh)
Varanasi (RC Varanasi)
Ranchi (RC Ranchi)
Nagpur (RC Nagpur)
Guwahati (RC Guwahati)
Jorhat (RC Jorhat)
Vijayawada (RC Vijayawada)
Raipur (RC Raipur)
Rajkot (RC Rajkot)
Madurai (RC Madurai)
Siliguri (RC Siliguri)
Darbhanga (RC Darbhanga)
Aligarh (RC Aligarh)
Jodhpur (RC Jodhpur)
Ahmedabad (RC Ahmedabad)
Deoghar (RC Deoghar)
Bhagalpur (RC Bhagalpur)
Vatakara (RC Vatakara)
Visakhapatnam (RC Visakhapatnam)
Bijapur (RC Bijapur)
Saharsa (RC Saharsa)
Jabalpur (RC Jabalpur)
Koraput (RC Koraput)
Port Blair (RC Port Blair)
Gangtok (RC Gangtok)
Agartala (RC Agartala)
Itanagar (RC Itanagar)
Srinagar (RC Srinagar)
Dehradun (RC Dehradun)
Raghunathganj (RC Raghunathganj)
Karnal (RC Karnal)

Key Points

The MADVS programme is offered under the School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS) at IGNOU.
The medium of instruction is English.
The programme is designed for both in-service development professionals and fresh graduates aspiring to enter the development sector.
Students can complete the programme in a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years, offering flexibility for working professionals.
The curriculum includes a project work component (MDVP-117) as an elective in Year 2, providing hands-on research experience.
The degree is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is equivalent to degrees from conventional universities.
No entrance examination is required for admission; selection is based on qualifying examination marks.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MADVS Fees

The MADVS programme at IGNOU is highly affordable, with a tuition fee of Rs. 7,500 per year. In addition to the tuition fee, students are required to pay a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 at the time of admission. A Development Fee is also applicable as notified by the university. Examination fees (Rs. 200 per subject per term-end exam) are charged separately and are not included in the programme fee. There is no hostel facility associated with this distance learning programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (Year 1)	7,500
Tuition Fee (Year 2)	7,500
Registration Fee (one-time)	300
Total Fees	15,300

Examination fee (Rs. 200 per subject per Term-End Exam) is charged separately and is not included in the above total.
Development Fee is applicable as per university norms and is charged at the time of admission.
The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card (Master/Visa), Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay), or Net Banking.
Refund Policy: Fee paid will be refunded prior to confirmation of admission. After confirmation, 15% of the programme fee (subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2,000) will be deducted. No refund is admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.
SC/ST students and other reserved category students may be eligible for fee exemption/reimbursement as per IGNOU norms.
There is no hostel facility for this ODL programme.

IGNOU MADVS Admission 2026

IGNOU conducts admissions for the MADVS programme twice a year - in January and July sessions. The January 2026 session is currently open, with the last date for application extended to 30 March 2026. Admission is merit-based (qualifying examination marks), and there is no entrance test. Students can apply online through the IGNOU Admission Portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

January 2026 Session Dates

Event	Date
Admission Portal Opens (January 2026 Session)	December 16, 2025
Last Date for Application Submission (ODL Programmes)	March 30, 2026
Tentative Batch Commencement / Study Material Dispatch	January - March 2026
Contact Programme / Counselling Sessions	February - November 2026
Assignment Submission (Year 1)	March - September 2026
Term-End Examination (June 2026)	June 1 - July 15, 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Form Submission Last Date	April 10, 2026
Result Declaration	August 2026 (Tentative)
July 2026 Session Admission Opens (Tentative)	May 2026
July 2026 Session Last Date (Tentative)	August 2026

Entrance Exam Details

Entrance Exam Details
No entrance examination is required for admission to the MADVS programme. Admission is based on merit in the qualifying examination (graduation).

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
There is no minimum percentage requirement specified by IGNOU for the MADVS programme.
The programme is open to both fresh graduates and working professionals.

Admission Process

Visit the IGNOU Admission Portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Click on "New Registration" and complete the registration process with a valid email ID and mobile number.
Log in and select the MADVS programme.
Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and address details.
Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, educational qualification certificates, and category certificate (if applicable).
Pay the programme fee online (Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking).
Submit the application form and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
Students will be allotted a Study Centre based on their preferred location.
APAAR ID must be kept ready before starting the application process.

IGNOU MADVS Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students enrolled in the MADVS programme can avail of various government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of admission. IGNOU also provides fee exemptions and reimbursements for SC/ST students, physically challenged students, jail inmates, and economically weaker sections. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships as early as possible, as selection is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit	How to Apply
IGNOU Fee Exemption (SC/ST/PwD/Jail Inmates/Weaver Community)	SC/ST, Physically Challenged, Jail Inmates, Weaver Community, Transgender; Family income less than Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum; Age below 35 years	Full or partial fee exemption/reimbursement as per IGNOU norms	Apply through IGNOU Regional Centre; submit form certified by Regional Director
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses (Minority Students)	Minority community students; Family income less than Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum; Minimum 50% marks in previous exam	Rs. 20,000 per year (tuition + maintenance allowance up to Rs. 1,000/month for hostlers, Rs. 500/month for day scholars)	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Scholarships for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities	PwD students with more than 40% disability; Family income less than Rs. 6 lakh per annum	Tuition fee up to Rs. 2 lakh/year; Books/stationery up to Rs. 5,000/year; Maintenance allowance; One-time laptop allowance of Rs. 45,000	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students	SC students; Family income less than Rs. 8 lakh per annum; Admitted under general category seats	Tuition fee up to Rs. 2 lakh/year; Books/stationery; Living expenses; One-time laptop allowance of Rs. 45,000	Apply at 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 Social Welfare Office or NSP portal

A student can avail only one scholarship at a time.
Scholarship forms must be certified by the IGNOU Regional Director before submission.
Students must apply for government scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
The IGNOU fee exemption for SC/ST students covers the programme fee; the Registration Fee is non-refundable even for exempted categories.
Jail inmates are exempted from all fees including the Registration Fee during their incarceration; applicable fees must be paid upon release.

IGNOU MADVS FAQs

Ques. Is the IGNOU MA Development Studies degree valid and recognised for government jobs and higher studies?

Ans. Yes, the MADVS degree awarded by IGNOU is fully recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is treated as equivalent to degrees from conventional universities. It is valid for government jobs, UGC-NET eligibility, and further higher studies including PhD programmes.

Ques. Can I pursue IGNOU MADVS while working full-time?

Ans. Absolutely. The MADVS programme is specifically designed for working professionals. Since it is offered through ODL mode, there are no mandatory daily classes. You attend contact/counselling sessions at your assigned Study Centre on weekends or as scheduled, and study through self-instructional printed material. This makes it ideal for NGO workers, government employees, and others in the development sector.

Ques. What is the difference between MADVS and other MA programmes at IGNOU? Is it worth doing?

Ans. MADVS is a specialised postgraduate programme focused on development studies - covering topics like development theories, planning, gender, health, governance, and research methodology. Unlike a general MA, it is specifically designed for those wanting to work in NGOs, government development programmes, international organisations, or research. It is particularly valued in the development sector and for those preparing for civil services or social sector roles.

Ques. How are assignments and exams conducted for IGNOU MADVS?

Ans. Students are required to submit assignments for each course (paper) to their Study Centre before the stipulated deadline. Term-End Examinations (TEE) are conducted twice a year - in June and December - at designated exam centres across India. Students must fill the exam form and pay the exam fee (Rs. 200 per subject) separately before the deadline. Both assignments and TEE marks contribute to the final grade.

Ques. What are the career options after completing IGNOU MA Development Studies?

Ans. MADVS graduates are equipped to work in a wide range of roles in the development sector. Common career paths include: Development Professional / Programme Officer in NGOs and INGOs, Project Coordinator or Manager in government and bilateral development projects, Policy Analyst or Researcher in think tanks and government bodies, Social Worker, Community Development Officer, and roles in international organisations like UN agencies. Graduates can also pursue PhD in Development Studies or related disciplines.

Ques. Can I change my Study Centre after admission to IGNOU MADVS?

Ans. Yes, IGNOU allows students to change their Study Centre under certain conditions. Students need to submit a Study Centre Change request to their Regional Centre. The change is generally permitted once during the programme and is subject to availability of seats at the desired centre. It is advisable to contact your Regional Centre directly for the latest procedure and applicable fees.