Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Environmental Studies (MAEVS) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS). Designed with a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, the programme aims to generate awareness on a wide variety of environmental concerns, equip learners to address sustainability challenges, and contribute to environmental protection and management. The total programme fee is Rs. 13,700 (tuition fee Rs. 13,000 + registration fee Rs. 300 + development fee Rs. 200), with a minimum duration of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years. The programme is structured on a semester system (4 semesters) and is popular among graduates from science, social science, and humanities backgrounds who wish to build expertise in environmental issues without leaving their jobs.

Admissions for the January 2026 cycle are currently ongoing. The last date to submit the application form is March 30, 2026 (extended). Students can apply 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 Learning Centres:

Since IGNOU is an open university, the MA Environmental Studies programme is offered exclusively in distance mode. The programme is available at a large number of regional centres across India, including:

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

Key Points

The programme follows a modular approach with a lateral exit option: students completing Year 1 (Semesters I and II) are eligible to receive a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies (PGDES).
The curriculum covers environmental science, ecology, pollution control, climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental legislation, disaster management, and a project component.
The programme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and focuses on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Students can choose elective courses in Semester III from a range of specializations including climate change, environmental health, energy, and social ecology.
The programme is offered in English medium and is open to graduates from any discipline, making it highly inclusive.
IGNOU's MAEVS degree is UGC and DEB recognized, valid for government jobs, NET/JRF eligibility, and further research.

104 Views Last Year

2 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MAEVS Fees

The MA Environmental Studies programme at IGNOU is highly affordable, with a tuition fee of Rs. 6,500 per year, totalling Rs. 13,000 for the 2-year programme. A one-time registration fee of Rs. 300 and a development fee of Rs. 200 are charged at the time of admission, bringing the total programme cost to Rs. 13,700. Since the programme is offered entirely in distance mode, there are no hostel or campus facility charges.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition Fee (Year 1 - Semesters I and II)	6,500
Tuition Fee (Year 2 - Semesters III and IV)	6,500
Registration Fee (one-time)	300
Development Fee (one-time)	200
Total Fees	13,700

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.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card (Master/Visa), Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay), or Net Banking.
There is no EMI option; the full year's fee is payable at the time of admission/re-registration.

IGNOU MAEVS Admission 2026

Admissions to the IGNOU MA Environmental Studies programme are conducted twice a year - in January and July cycles. The January 2026 cycle is currently open with the last date extended to March 30, 2026. The admission process is entirely online through IGNOU's official admission portal. There is no entrance examination; admission is granted directly based on eligibility. Students must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and upload the required documents at the time of application.

Important Admission Dates

Event	Date
Admission Portal Opens (January 2026 Cycle)	December 16, 2025
Last Date for Submission of Application Form (January 2026)	March 30, 2026 (Extended)
Distribution of Study Learning Material (SLM)	January - March 2026
Contact Programmes / Counselling	February - November 2026
Assignment Submission Last Date	February - March 2026 (Sem I and II)
Exam Form Submission (June 2026 TEE) - Without Late Fee	March 10 - April 10, 2026
Exam Form Submission (June 2026 TEE) - With Late Fee (Rs. 1,100)	April 11 - April 24, 2026
Term-End Examination (TEE) June 2026	June 1 - July 15, 2026
Result Declaration	August 2026 (Tentative)
Admission Opens (July 2026 Cycle)	May 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for Submission of Application Form (July 2026 Cycle)	August 2026 (Tentative)

Exam Dates

IGNOU MA Environmental Studies does not require any entrance examination for admission. Admission is direct, based on eligibility. The Term-End Examinations (TEE) conducted by IGNOU are internal university examinations held twice a year (June and December).

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or institute.
There is no minimum percentage requirement specified; any graduate is eligible to apply.
Students must have a valid APAAR ID ready before starting the application process.

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Click on "New Registration" and complete the registration using your own email ID and mobile number (OTP verification required).
Log in and select the MAEVS programme from the list of available programmes.
Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and contact details.
Upload scanned copies of required documents: photograph (less than 100 KB), signature (less than 100 KB), educational qualification certificates (less than 200 KB), category certificate if applicable (SC/ST/OBC), and experience certificate if any.
Pay the programme fee online via Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
Submit the form and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
After confirmation of admission, study material will be dispatched to the student's address.

IGNOU MAEVS Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students pursuing the MA Environmental Studies programme are eligible to apply for various Government of India scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). These scholarships are primarily targeted at students from SC, ST, OBC, minority communities, and economically weaker sections. IGNOU actively encourages eligible students to apply for these scholarships after confirmation of admission.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Amount	Application Portal
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students	SC category students	As per state/central norms	scholarships.gov.in
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students	ST category students	As per state/central norms	scholarships.gov.in
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	OBC category students	As per state/central norms	scholarships.gov.in
Central Sector Scholarship for Minorities	Minority community students	As per scheme norms	scholarships.gov.in
Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students	SC students in top institutions	Full fee coverage + maintenance	scholarships.gov.in

Students must apply for scholarships on the NSP portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
The NSP portal is open for Academic Year 2026-27.
One Time Registration (OTR) on NSP using Aadhaar/Aadhaar Enrollment Number (EID) is mandatory before applying.
Scholarship amounts and deadlines vary by scheme and state; students should check the NSP portal for the latest details.
IGNOU does not offer its own institutional scholarships for the MAEVS programme; all financial assistance is routed through government schemes.

IGNOU MAEVS FAQs

Ques. Is IGNOU MA Environmental Studies equivalent to an M.Sc in Environmental Science?

Ans. No, MAEVS is a Master of Arts (MA) degree, not an M.Sc. While both cover environmental topics, the MA has a stronger social science and policy orientation, whereas M.Sc programmes are more science and lab-oriented. However, MAEVS is UGC-recognized and valid for NET/JRF (Environmental Sciences paper), government jobs, and further research.

Ques. Can I exit after the first year of IGNOU MA Environmental Studies?

Ans. Yes. IGNOU's MAEVS follows a modular approach with a lateral exit option. Students who complete the first year (Semesters I and II) are eligible to receive a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies (PGDES). This is a significant advantage for students who may not be able to complete the full 2-year programme.

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

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Environmental Consultants, Environmental Officers in government departments (MoEFCC, PCBs), NGO professionals, Sustainability Analysts, Environmental Educators, Research Assistants, and Policy Analysts. The programme also prepares students for competitive exams like UPSC (Environment and Ecology section) and state PSC exams.

Ques. Are there any practical or lab components in IGNOU MA Environmental Studies?

Ans. The MAEVS programme is primarily theory-based with a project component (MEVP-012) in Semester IV. There are no mandatory laboratory sessions, making it fully accessible through distance mode. The project work involves independent research on an environmental topic of the student's choice, guided by the programme coordinator.

Ques. How many elective courses can I choose in IGNOU MA Environmental Studies?

Ans. In Semester III, students must choose any three elective courses from a pool of six options: Climate Change Assessment Tools, Environmental and Occupational Hazards, Climate Change and Society, Social Ecology Globalization and Sustainability, Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, and Energy and Environment. This allows students to tailor the programme to their interests.

Ques. Is IGNOU MA Environmental Studies recognized for government jobs and NET/JRF?

Ans. Yes, IGNOU's MAEVS is fully recognized by UGC and DEB. Graduates are eligible to appear for UGC NET/JRF in Environmental Sciences, apply for government positions requiring a postgraduate degree in environmental studies or related fields, and pursue Ph.D. programmes at recognized universities.