Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Philosophy (MAPY) is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS). The programme carries 64 credits, with a minimum duration of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years, and is offered in English medium (though students may write exams in Hindi). The total programme fee is Rs. 16,000 (Rs. 8,000 per year). MAPY is designed to train the mind for logical thinking, mental discipline, critical analysis, and reflection on social and political realities. It is particularly popular among aspirants preparing for UPSC and state civil services examinations, as well as those seeking careers in academics, research, and social work.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date to apply is 31 March 2026. Students can apply online at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Re-registration for existing students is also open till 31 March 2026 (with a late fee of Rs. 200).

Distance Mode Study Centres

IGNOU MAPY is offered exclusively through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. Students are assigned to a Study Centre (Learner Support Centre) for counselling sessions, assignment submission, and examinations. MAPY study centres are available across India, including in the following regional areas:

Hyderabad, Shimla, Jammu, Bangalore, Cochin, Bhopal, Pune, Imphal, Shillong, Aizawl, Kohima, Bhubaneswar, Khanna, Jaipur, Gangtok, Chennai, Agartala, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi, Noida, Guwahati, Trivandrum, Jabalpur, Siliguri, Darbhanga, Aligarh, Varanasi, Patna, Ranchi, Nagpur, Jorhat, Dehradun, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Bijapur, Jodhpur, Saharsa, Deoghar, Angul, Rairangpur, Panaji, Chandigarh, and more.

Students should visit the official IGNOU admission portal or their nearest Regional Centre to confirm the availability of MAPY at a specific study centre.

Key Points

MAPY is offered under the School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS), reflecting its broad, cross-disciplinary approach to philosophy.
The programme comprises 16 credits of compulsory courses and 48 credits of elective courses, giving students significant flexibility in choosing their areas of focus.
Students can choose from a wide range of electives including Logic, Ethics, Epistemology, Dalit Philosophy, Gandhian Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Religion, Tribal Philosophy, and more.
The programme includes an optional dissertation/project work (MPYP-001) worth 4 credits in the second year.
The medium of instruction is English, but students are permitted to write examinations in Hindi.
The maximum duration to complete the programme is 5 years, offering significant flexibility.
MAPY is particularly useful for UPSC and state PSC aspirants, as Philosophy is a popular optional subject in civil services examinations.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MAPY Fees

The MAPY programme at IGNOU is an affordable postgraduate option for philosophy enthusiasts and civil services aspirants. The total programme fee is Rs. 16,000, payable at Rs. 8,000 per year. In addition to the tuition fee, students are required to pay a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 and a Development Fee of Rs. 200 per year. The total cost of the programme including all charges comes to Rs. 16,700. There is no hostel facility associated with this ODL programme.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1	Year 2	Total
Tuition Fee	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 16,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	Rs. 300	-	Rs. 300
Development Fee	Rs. 200	Rs. 200	Rs. 400
Total Fees	Rs. 8,500	Rs. 8,200	Rs. 16,700

Exam fees are not included in the above fee structure and will be charged separately as decided by the University at the time of examination form submission.
Fees can be paid via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Internet Banking.
There is no hostel facility for ODL students.
Fee once paid is non-refundable except in cases where the student withdraws within the stipulated refund period as per IGNOU policy.
SC/ST students availing financial support are required to pay the University fee as applicable and may seek reimbursement through the scholarship portal.

IGNOU MAPY Admission 2026

IGNOU follows a bi-annual admission cycle for MAPY - January session and July session. The January 2026 session admission is currently open with the last date extended to 31 March 2026. Admission is merit-based with no entrance examination. Students can apply online through the official IGNOU admission portal. Selection is based on eligibility criteria only.

IGNOU MAPY Admission Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Session Admission Opens	January 2026
Last Date for Fresh Admission (January 2026)	31 March 2026
Re-Registration Last Date (January 2026)	31 March 2026 (with late fee of Rs. 200)
Assignment Submission Last Date (June 2026 TEE)	31 March 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (without late fee)	10 March 2026 to 10 April 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (with late fee of Rs. 1,100)	11 April 2026 to 24 April 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Begins	1 June 2026
June 2026 TEE Ends (Tentative)	15 July 2026
July 2026 Session Admission Opens (Tentative)	July 2026

Table 2: Relevant Examination Dates

MAPY is a merit-based programme with no mandatory entrance examination. The relevant examinations for enrolled students are the IGNOU Term-End Examinations (TEE) conducted twice a year.

Examination Dates

Examination	Mode	Tentative Dates
IGNOU June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE)	Pen & Paper / CBT	1 June 2026 to 15 July 2026
IGNOU December 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE)	Pen & Paper / CBT	December 2026 (dates to be announced)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized University in any discipline.
There is no minimum percentage requirement specified for admission.
There is no age bar for enrollment in the MAPY programme.

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.
Create a DEB ID (mandatory before starting the application process).
Register as a new user by providing username, password, email, and mobile number.
Log in and fill in the application form with personal, academic, and contact details.
Upload scanned copies of required documents (educational certificates, photo, signature, ID proof, category certificate if applicable).
Pay the programme fee online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Internet Banking.
Submit the form and save the payment confirmation for future reference.
Candidates can also apply offline by visiting the nearest IGNOU Regional Centre.

IGNOU: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 2 Reviews

The college provides weekend open classes with a favorable student-teacher ratio, and all faculty have PhDs, many from prestigious Indian institutions like JNU. Faculty members bring international exposure and strong concept clarity to their teaching. The Masters in Philosophy program has fewer students, mainly attracting those aiming for academic careers or NET/JRF qualifications. Examination centers are conveniently close to study centers for student accessibility. The MA program at IGNOU does not include placement opportunities.

The course fee is split into two installments, totaling 14,000-15,000 INR, with additional exam fees, bringing the overall cost to around 20,000 INR. Scholarships are available and detailed on the IGNOU portal. The annual fee for a master's in philosophy is 7,000 INR, requiring at least 50% in previous qualifications for eligibility. This program suits students pursuing regular courses who want to further their knowledge, although it offers limited physical classes.

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IGNOU MAPY Scholarships 2026

IGNOU MAPY students can avail a range of scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and IGNOU's own scholarship schemes. These scholarships are primarily targeted at students from SC, ST, OBC, minority, PwD, and economically weaker sections. The scholarship application process is largely offline, and students are advised to apply through their respective State Directorate of Social Welfare or IGNOU Regional Centre.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Benefit
Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students	SC category, family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students	ST category, family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	OBC category, family income below Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum	Tuition fee reimbursement
Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi communities, income below Rs. 2 lakh per annum	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance
IGNOU Special Scholarship	Women, differently-abled, transgender students	Partial fee waiver
IGNOU Merit Scholarship	High academic scorers in previous examinations	Merit-based financial assistance
National Fellowship for PwD Students	Students with disabilities enrolled in PG programmes	Financial aid and fee waiver

All NSP scholarships can be applied for at scholarships.gov.in after receiving admission confirmation from IGNOU.
The scholarship application process is offline; forms are available at the State Directorate of Social Welfare or IGNOU Regional Centres.
Students must not be receiving any other scholarship simultaneously.
Annual family income should not exceed Rs. 3,00,000 for most IGNOU scholarship schemes.
Scholarship notification for 2026-27 was released in December 2026; students should check the official IGNOU website and NSP portal for updated deadlines.

IGNOU MAPY FAQs

Ques. Is IGNOU MAPY useful for UPSC Civil Services preparation?

Ans. Yes, Philosophy is one of the most popular optional subjects in the UPSC Civil Services Mains examination. IGNOU MAPY covers Indian Philosophy, Western Philosophy, Ethics, Logic, Epistemology, and other topics that directly align with the UPSC Philosophy optional syllabus. Many UPSC aspirants pursue MAPY to build a strong conceptual foundation for their optional subject while also earning a postgraduate degree.

Ques. Can I write the MAPY exams in Hindi even though the medium of instruction is English?

Ans. Yes, IGNOU explicitly permits students to write their MAPY examinations in Hindi, even though the programme is offered in English medium. The study materials are in English, but students have the flexibility to answer exam questions in Hindi. This makes the programme accessible to a wider range of students across India.

Ques. What elective courses can I choose in IGNOU MAPY?

Ans. MAPY offers a rich variety of electives including Logic, Ethics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Human Person, World Religions, Dalit Philosophy, Research Methodology in Philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science and Cosmology, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Art, Tribal Philosophy, Philosophy of Technology, Philosophy of Mind, Gandhian Philosophy, and Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo. Students choose 6 electives in Year 1 and 6 in Year 2.

Ques. Is there a dissertation requirement in IGNOU MAPY?

Ans. MAPY includes an optional dissertation/project work (MPYP-001) worth 4 credits in the second year. Students who wish to pursue research or higher studies are encouraged to opt for the dissertation. It is not compulsory, and students can choose other elective courses instead.

Ques. What career options are available after completing IGNOU MAPY?

Ans. MAPY graduates can pursue careers in academics (as lecturers or professors after qualifying NET/SET), research, civil services, social work, journalism, counselling, and NGO work. The analytical and critical thinking skills developed through philosophy are valued in law, public policy, and management as well. Many graduates also pursue PhD in Philosophy for an academic career.

Ques. How does IGNOU MAPY compare to regular MA Philosophy from other universities?

Ans. IGNOU MAPY is recognized by the UGC and is equivalent to MA Philosophy from any other UGC-recognized university. The degree is valid for NET/SET examinations, government jobs, and higher studies. The main difference is the mode of delivery - IGNOU uses self-learning materials and periodic counselling sessions rather than daily classroom teaching. The flexibility and affordability of IGNOU MAPY make it a preferred choice for working professionals and those in remote areas.

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Siddharth Rajput

2.2

MA, Philosophy

Reviewed on Nov 12, 2024(Enrolled 2023)

My experience at IGNOU (M.A philosophy)

Likes

You get study material in hand printed which is very beneficial for students who are also pursuing upsc and otter competetive exams, but if talked about vast info that is available in regular courses, that's something universty needs working on with.
All you get there is knowledge that too is theoritical 90% and practical for fewer course. Regional centres and study centre do provide with lot of help. Giving exams is very easy as exam centres are always close by.

Dislikes

Information that is provided in the textbooks is less compared to regular colleges
No practical bases knowledge and faculty lacks.

Fees and Financial Aid:

My experience at ignou ?7000/year fee for masters in philosophy has been somewhat okay as its open learning. Anybody above 50% can apply for this course. It's good for students who are currently pursing regular courses and wanna enhance their knowledge. But as u rarely get physical classes it is not worth it .

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HARSHIT MISHRA

4.4

MA, Philosophy

Reviewed on Aug 5, 2024(Enrolled 2024)

IGNOU overview

Likes

I really like the course design and circular
Study material is ultimate it's also helpful for UPSC and ugc net exam

Fees and Financial Aid:

Theoretical courses like MA don't have placements offer's. The course taken twice in a 2 installation half half each. It cost total 14-15k + exam fees extra so masters cost around 20k in IGNOU. They also provide scholarship you need to check on their portal regarding that pdf is given.

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