Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Drawing and Painting (MADP) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a 2-year, 4-semester postgraduate programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA). The programme is designed for serious Fine Arts students who wish to pursue higher education in art theory, practice, and research through the open and distance learning mode. It covers core components including elements and principles of art, Indian and Western art history, aesthetics theories, research methods, and practical studio work in drawing and painting. The programme fee is Rs. 9,000 per year (total Rs. 18,300 including registration fee). The medium of instruction is English. Admission requires a Bachelor's degree specifically in Fine Arts (Painting), Visual Arts (Painting), or Drawing and Painting - making it a specialised programme for Fine Arts graduates. The programme is popular among Fine Arts graduates who wish to advance their skills and pursue careers as professional artists, art educators, or researchers.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form for semester-based programmes may differ from ODL yearly programmes - students are advised to check the official IGNOU admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in for the exact deadline. The next admission cycle (July 2026) is expected to open tentatively in May 2026.

Distance Mode Centres:

The MADP programme is offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The programme is available at select IGNOU Regional Centres across India. The primary study centre is the School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA) at IGNOU Headquarters, Delhi. Other available centres include:

Delhi 1 - School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA), IGNOU HQ (07187P)
Bhopal (RC Bhopal)
Port Blair (RC Port Blair)
Bhubaneswar (RC Bhubaneswar)
Jaipur (RC Jaipur)
Srinagar (RC Srinagar)
Nagpur (RC Nagpur)
Noida (RC Noida)
Patna (RC Patna)
Chandigarh (RC Chandigarh)
Army - Chandimandir (Western Command HRDC)

The MADP programme has a limited number of study centres compared to other IGNOU programmes. Students are advised to verify the availability of their preferred centre on the official IGNOU admission portal before applying.

Key Points

The MADP programme is offered under the School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA) at IGNOU.
The programme is semester-based (4 semesters over 2 years), unlike most other IGNOU MA programmes which follow a yearly system.
The medium of instruction is English.
The programme carries 64 credits spread across 4 semesters (12 courses in total).
Semester 1 and 2 (Year 1) cover Modern Art of India, Understanding Elements of Art, Study of Principle of Composition, Modern Western Art, Study of Nature, and Study of Folk, Tribal and Traditional Art Styles.
Semester 3 and 4 (Year 2) cover Understanding Aesthetics and Art Education, Creative Portraiture, Creative Composition, Research Methods and Dissertation, Creative Landscape, and Creative Expression.
The programme includes practical studio work (lab courses) in addition to theory courses.
The degree is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
The programme is NOT offered for international students.

245 Views Last Year

7 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MADP Fees

The MADP programme at IGNOU is offered at Rs. 9,000 per year. A one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is payable at the time of admission, along with a Development Fee as notified by the university. Examination fees are charged separately. Since this is a semester-based programme, fees are typically paid semester-wise.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (Year 1 - Semesters 1 and 2)	9,000
Tuition Fee (Year 2 - Semesters 3 and 4)	9,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	300
Total Fees	18,300

Examination fee 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 MADP Admission 2026

IGNOU conducts admissions for the MADP programme twice a year - in January and July sessions. Since MADP is a semester-based programme, the admission deadline may be earlier than for yearly ODL programmes. Students are advised to check the official IGNOU admission portal for the exact last date. Admission requires a specific Fine Arts background (BFA/BVA in Painting or BA in Drawing and Painting).

January 2026 Session Dates

Event	Date
Admission Portal Opens (January 2026 Session)	December 16, 2025
Last Date for Application Submission (Semester-based Programmes)	Check official portal (may differ from March 30, 2026)
Semester 1 Commencement / Study Material Dispatch	January - February 2026
Contact Programme / Counselling Sessions	January - May 2026
Assignment Submission (Semester 1)	February - March 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

Entrance Exam Details

Details	Information
Entrance Exam	No entrance examination is required for admission to the MADP programme. Admission is based on merit in the qualifying examination.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold one of the following degrees from a recognised university:

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting, or
Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in Painting, or
B.A. in Drawing and Painting, or
B.A. in Fine Arts (Painting)

A general Bachelor's degree in any discipline is NOT sufficient for admission to MADP.
The programme is open to both fresh graduates and working artists/art educators.

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 MADP programme.
Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and address details.
Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, BFA/BVA/BA (Drawing and Painting) degree certificate, 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 MADP Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students enrolled in the MADP 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.

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)	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; Maintenance allowance; One-time laptop allowance of Rs. 45,000	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
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.
Students must apply for government scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of IGNOU admission.

IGNOU MADP FAQs

Ques. Can a student with a general BA degree (not in Fine Arts) apply for IGNOU MA Drawing and Painting?

Ans. No. The MADP programme has a specific eligibility requirement. Only candidates who hold a BFA (Painting), BVA (Painting), BA in Drawing and Painting, or BA in Fine Arts (Painting) from a recognised university are eligible. A general BA degree in any other subject does not qualify for admission to this programme.

Ques. Is the IGNOU MA Drawing and Painting a semester-based or yearly programme?

Ans. The MADP programme is semester-based, with 4 semesters spread over 2 years. This is different from most other IGNOU MA programmes which follow a yearly system. The admission deadline for semester-based programmes may be earlier than for yearly ODL programmes, so students should check the official portal carefully.

Ques. Does the MADP programme include practical studio work?

Ans. Yes. The MADP programme includes practical lab courses (MVAL courses) in addition to theory courses. These practical courses cover studio work in areas such as Understanding Elements of Art, Study of Principle of Composition, Study of Nature, Study of Folk, Tribal and Traditional Art Styles, Creative Portraiture, Creative Composition, Creative Landscape, and Creative Expression. Students are required to submit practical work as part of their assessment.

Ques. Is the IGNOU MA Drawing and Painting degree valid for teaching positions in art colleges?

Ans. Yes. The MADP degree from IGNOU is recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is equivalent to degrees from conventional universities. Graduates can apply for teaching positions in art colleges and universities, and are eligible for UGC-NET in Visual Arts.

Ques. What career options are available after completing IGNOU MA Drawing and Painting?

Ans. MADP graduates can pursue careers as: professional artists and painters, art teachers and educators in schools and colleges, art directors and designers in media and advertising, art critics and curators, researchers in art history and aesthetics, and further research through MPhil or PhD programmes in Fine Arts or Visual Arts.

Ques. How is the practical assessment conducted for MADP since it is a distance programme?

Ans. For the practical (lab) courses in MADP, students are required to create and submit their artwork/portfolio to their assigned Study Centre. Contact sessions are held at the Study Centre where students receive guidance from faculty. The practical work is evaluated by faculty at the Study Centre or during scheduled practical examinations. Students are advised to contact their assigned Study Centre (preferably SOPVA, IGNOU HQ) for detailed instructions on practical submission and evaluation.

Important Updates

Course Finder

Search from 20K+ Courses and 35+ Streams

Comments

No Comments To Show

shreya sharma

Feb 27, 2026 09:51

Hi, on the official portal of SOPVA ignou, I can only find MFAP (master in fine arts) along with other performing and visual art courses but not MADP(Ma in drawing and painting). Both are different courses so no the name hasn't been updated, it's the whole course that has been changed. But if i search MADP directly on google, it is shown but i guess its not the updated version as along with it other courses aren't available of SOPVA. So kindly confirm is it still available as of 2026???