Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

IGNOU's M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition (programme code: MSCDFSM), offered through the School of Continuing Education, is a 2-year postgraduate programme delivered entirely via Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The programme spans a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years, carrying 72 credits, and covers advanced topics in nutrition science, food microbiology, clinical and therapeutic nutrition, public nutrition, food service management, and research methods. The total programme fee is Rs. 35,000 (Rs. 17,500 per year), making it one of the most affordable postgraduate science programmes in the country. There is no entrance exam for admission; selection is based on eligibility criteria. The programme is highly popular among working professionals such as dietitians, healthcare practitioners, food industry personnel, and educators who wish to upgrade their qualifications without leaving their jobs.

Admissions for the January 2026 session are currently open. The last date to apply is 31 March 2026. Applications are to be submitted online at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

Distance Learning Study Centres

Since this programme is offered exclusively in ODL (Distance/Open) mode, students are allotted a Programme Study Centre (PSC) near their place of residence for attending theory counselling sessions and compulsory practical sessions. Key study centres across India include:

Agartala: M.B.B. College
Ahmedabad: S.M. Patel College of Home Science
Bangalore: Mount Carmel College
Bhopal: Govt. Home Science College; Sarojani Naidu Govt. G.S. PG College
Bhubaneshwar: IGNOU Regional Centre
Chandigarh: SGGS College; IGNOU Prog Study Centre 06026P
Chennai: Jaya College of Arts and Science; PGP College of Arts and Science
Cochin: St. Theresas College; Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences
Delhi: Institute of Home Economics (South Delhi); Institute of Public Health and Hygiene (Naraina); IGNOU Regional Centre Delhi 3
Guwahati: Handique Girls College
Hyderabad: St. Ann's College for Women
Jaipur: International College of Girls
Jammu: Govt. College for Women
Jodhpur: Mahila P.G. Mahavidyalaya
Karnal: NIFTEM Kundali Sonepat
Kolkata: Woman's College, Calcutta; KPC Medical College and Hospital
Lucknow: Isabella Thoburn College
Madurai: Thasmssim Beevi Abdhul Kadar College for Women; The Gandhigram Rural Institute
Mumbai: B.M.N. College
Nagpur: Sadabai Raisoni Women College; Sevadal Mahila Mahavidyalaya
Panaji: Goa College of Home Science
Patna: IGNOU Regional Centre
Port Blair: JNR Mahavidyalaya
Pune: IGNOU Study Centre (16144)
Raipur: D.B. Girls Autonomous PG College
Rajkot: IGNOU Study Centre (960)
Shillong: St. Mary's College
Shimla: St. Bede's College Nav Bahar
Srinagar: Govt. College for Women M.A. Road; Instt. of Home Science
Trivandrum: College of Agriculture; College of Indigenous Food Technology, Konni Anakuthi
Varanasi: Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, BHU
Angul: IGNOU Regional Centre

Key Points

The programme is multidisciplinary, drawing from biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, food science, management, and biostatistics.
Students can exit after Year 1 (on completing 30 credits of coursework + 16-credit internship) with a Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition (PGDDPN).
A 3-month compulsory internship in the Dietetic Department of a recognized hospital/institution is mandatory for the award of the M.Sc. degree.
Attendance of at least 60% is compulsory for theory counselling sessions; all practical sessions are fully compulsory.
The programme is available in English medium only.
Credit transfer is available for in-service dietitians who have completed a PG Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition from a recognized institution.
Note: This programme is not approved by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP). Prospective students are advised to review the NCAHP Act (2021) before applying.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU M.Sc Food Nutrition Fees

The M.Sc. Food Nutrition programme at IGNOU is priced affordably at Rs. 17,500 per year, totalling Rs. 35,000 for the complete 2-year programme. A one-time registration fee of Rs. 300 is payable at the time of first-year admission. Additionally, an examination fee of Rs. 200 per course is charged at the time of filling the Term-End Examination (TEE) form. There are no hostel facilities associated with this ODL programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Programme Fee - Year 1	17,500
Programme Fee - Year 2	17,500
Registration Fee (one-time, at admission)	300
Examination Fee (per course, per TEE)	200
Total Programme Fee (excluding exam fee)	35,300

The registration fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable.
Programme fee is to be paid year-wise: Year 1 fee at the time of admission, Year 2 fee during re-registration (February to March of the following year).
Late re-registration in Year 2 attracts an additional fee of Rs. 200 (permissible up to 20th April).
Fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances, except if admission is not offered by IGNOU.
No EMI or instalment facility is available; fees must be paid in full at the time of admission/re-registration.
Examination fee of Rs. 200 per course is payable separately at the time of submitting the TEE form.

IGNOU M.Sc Food Nutrition Admission 2026

Admissions to IGNOU's M.Sc. Food Nutrition programme are conducted twice a year - in January and July sessions. The January 2026 session is currently open for applications. Since there is no entrance exam, admission is based purely on eligibility. The application process is entirely online through the IGNOU Samarth portal. Students are advised to apply well before the deadline to ensure timely allotment of a Programme Study Centre.

IGNOU M.Sc. Food Nutrition Admission Dates

Event	Date
Admission Portal Opens (January 2026 Session)	17 December 2025
Last Date for Fresh Admission (January 2026)	31 March 2026
Re-registration / 2nd Year Admission - Last Date (without late fee)	28 February 2026
Re-registration / 2nd Year Admission - Last Date (with late fee of Rs. 200)	31 March 2026
Re-registration Extended Deadline	20 April 2026
Assignment Submission Deadline (for June 2026 TEE)	31 March 2026
Exam Form Submission - Last Date (without late fee, June 2026 TEE)	10 April 2026
Term-End Examination (TEE) - June 2026	June 2026
Expected Batch Commencement (January 2026 Session)	January 2026

Note: No entrance exam is required for this programme. Admission is based on eligibility criteria only.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

B.Sc. (Home Science) with specialization in Food and Nutrition, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition; OR PG Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition (with B.Sc. in Food and Nutrition/Home Science).
B.Sc. (Hons.) in Home Science / Food Science and Technology / Zoology / Microbiology / Biochemistry / Pharmacy along with DNHE or CNCC or CFN offered by IGNOU (simultaneous admission to CFN/CNCC is also permitted).
MBBS / BHMS along with DNHE or CNCC or CFN offered by IGNOU (simultaneous admission to CFN/CNCC is also permitted).

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.
Click on New Registration and create login credentials using your name, mobile number, and email ID.
Log in and fill out the admission form with personal, programme, and educational details.
Upload required documents: qualifying degree certificate, passport-size photograph, and signature.
Pay the registration fee (Rs. 300) and Year 1 programme fee (Rs. 17,500) online via debit/credit card, UPI, or net banking.
After confirmation of admission, register on the Student Portal at ignou.samarth.edu.in.
Study materials will be dispatched within 6-8 weeks of the last date of admission.

IGNOU: Students' Opinion

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The course at KPC Medical College and Hospital has an average but helpful faculty, capable of resolving college-related issues, though less adept at handling university-level matters. The exam system is well-organized and requires thorough preparation due to its challenging nature. Teaching quality varies; some faculty members deliver high-quality instruction, while others may show biases based on socio-economic factors. Exams are conducted smoothly, and grading is based strictly on written responses.

The course fee for the distance program is structured at 17,000 INR, with a 300 INR registration fee. Students can benefit from the NSP scholarship, receiving 10,000 INR annually, which helps offset costs. The total course fee is 32,400 INR, and students need to pay an additional 1,000 INR for form submissions throughout the course. There is also an extra fee of about 400 INR for obtaining the course certificate.

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IGNOU M.Sc Food Nutrition Scholarships 2026

IGNOU provides scholarship support primarily for students from reserved and economically weaker sections. Scholarships are not funded directly by IGNOU but are facilitated through Government of India schemes and state government welfare departments. Students are advised to collect scholarship forms from the Directorate of Social Welfare or the Office of the Social Welfare Officer of their respective state government and submit them through the concerned IGNOU Regional Director.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit	How to Apply
SC/ST Scholarship (Govt. of India)	SC/ST students enrolled in IGNOU programmes	Fee reimbursement / financial support as per GoI norms	Apply via National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) or through IGNOU Regional Centre
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC	OBC students with family income below prescribed limit	As per GoI/state government norms	Apply via National Scholarship Portal
Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)	Physically handicapped students enrolled in IGNOU	Government of India scholarship; amount varies	Collect form from Directorate of Social Welfare; submit through IGNOU Regional Director
Merit Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC (Delhi)	SC/ST/OBC students (Delhi-based)	Up to Rs. 24,000 per year	Apply by 31 May 2026 through Delhi government welfare department
Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme	Wards of ex-servicemen / defence personnel	As per scheme norms	Apply via Kendriya Sainik Board / NSP portal

SC/ST/PwD students must pay fees at the time of admission along with other students; reimbursement is processed subsequently.
Scholarship applications must be submitted within the deadlines specified by the respective state/central government schemes.
Students are advised to check the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) for updated scheme details and deadlines.

IGNOU M.Sc Food Nutrition FAQs

Ques. I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology but no nutrition background. Am I eligible for IGNOU M.Sc. Food Nutrition?

Ans. Yes, you can be eligible if you hold a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Microbiology along with the Certificate in Food and Nutrition (CFN) or Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education (DNHE) offered by IGNOU. Importantly, IGNOU allows simultaneous admission to CFN/CNCC along with M.Sc. DFSM, so you can enrol in both at the same time if you do not already hold the certificate.

Ques. Is the M.Sc. Food Nutrition degree from IGNOU valid for government jobs and higher studies?

Ans. Yes. The M.Sc. (DFSM) degree from IGNOU is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). It is treated as equivalent to a corresponding degree from any other recognised university in India and is valid for government jobs, teaching positions, and further research (Ph.D.) admissions.

Ques. Is it mandatory to attend classes physically for this distance learning programme?

Ans. Attendance of at least 60% is compulsory for theory counselling sessions held at the allotted Programme Study Centre (PSC), typically on weekends. All practical sessions are fully compulsory and cannot be skipped. The internship (3 months at a recognized hospital) is also mandatory for the award of the degree.

Ques. Am I eligible for the Registered Dietitian (RD) exam after completing M.Sc. Food Nutrition from IGNOU?

Ans. You may be eligible for the RD exam conducted by the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA), provided you also hold a full-time undergraduate degree in Food Nutrition/Home Science (as a day scholar) and complete a 6-month continuous internship from an IDA-recognized hospital. The IGNOU M.Sc. (distance mode) alone is not sufficient; the undergraduate degree must be full-time. Students are advised to check the latest eligibility criteria on the IDA website (idaindia.com) before applying.

Ques. What happens if I cannot complete the programme in 2 years?

Ans. IGNOU offers significant flexibility. You can take up to a maximum of 4 years to complete the M.Sc. (DFSM) programme. You can choose to complete fewer credits in a given year and carry forward the remaining courses. If you are still unable to complete within 4 years, IGNOU has a re-admission provision. However, you must ensure timely re-registration for Year 2 (between February and March) to avoid losing a year.

Ques. What is the difference between M.Sc. Food Nutrition (MSCDFSM) and the Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition (PGDDPN) at IGNOU?

Ans. The PGDDPN is essentially an exit option within the M.Sc. (DFSM) programme. If you complete 30 credits of coursework plus the 16-credit internship (Year 1 courses), you can exit with the PGDDPN diploma. However, once you opt for PGDDPN, you cannot continue to complete the full M.Sc. degree. The M.Sc. requires completion of all 72 credits including the dissertation. Students who wish to eventually obtain the full M.Sc. should not opt for the PGDDPN exit.

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Rani Mukherjee

4.4Helpful

M.Sc, Food Nutrition

Reviewed on Sep 2, 2025(Enrolled 2023)

My college is my second home

Likes

Assignments and the study materials are very effective for the students those are very helpful at the time of examination
The exam patterns are very good and students friendly

Dislikes

Marks upload are take too much time which are very problematic
Practical classes are not good for knowing everything properly

Fees and Financial Aid:

The total yearly fees structure is 17000 and before the exams we have to pay fees accordingly the subjects and we have to pay extra fees for practical papers and the another amount is 2000 for the books or study material per year

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Sayima majeed

2.6

M.Sc, Food Nutrition

Reviewed on Jan 10, 2025(Enrolled 2021)

Honest Ignou student review

Likes

Was bit affordable as my course fee was 32400

Fees and Financial Aid:

16200 +500 (form submission) (yearly) Total 32400 (full course fee) + 1000 (total form submission) Extra money I paid to get my certificate as I didn't recieced it directly around 400 for that approximately

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Debjit Chakraborty

3.0Helpful

M.Sc, Food Nutrition

Reviewed on Oct 24, 2024(Enrolled 2024)

Some experience of kpc and IGNOU.

Fees and Financial Aid:

Its a distance University and my campus is kpc medical collage and hospital. My cource fee is 17000 and registration fees 300 rupees. In our department fees is almost same.and scholarship is nsp scholarship. In this nsp will give us 10,000 per year.

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