Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Hindi) programme at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, is a research-oriented doctoral programme offered under the School of Humanities (SOH). The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with a total fee of Rs. 34,650 for the minimum duration. Admission is based on UGC-NET score and an interview conducted at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi, making it one of the most accessible and affordable doctoral programmes in Hindi language and literature in India. The programme is offered in Part Time mode, meaning working professionals can pursue it alongside their employment, and it is highly popular among Hindi scholars, educators, and researchers across the country.

As of March 2026, the July 2025 session admissions are closed and the selected candidates list has been published. The next admission cycle (July 2026 session) is expected to open around April-May 2026, with a tentative last date in August 2026, based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official IGNOU website (www.ignou.ac.in) and the PhD admission portal (ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in) for updates.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Hindi) programme is offered under the School of Humanities (SOH) at IGNOU's main campus, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
Coursework is conducted at IGNOU Campus, New Delhi, with mandatory 80% attendance during the first six months.
Part Time candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of interview.
A candidate can apply for only one discipline in a given admission cycle.
Women candidates and Persons with Disabilities (40% or more) are granted a 2-year extension beyond the maximum duration of 6 years.
IGNOU has been ranked No. 1 in the Open Universities category in NIRF Rankings 2025.

290 Views Last Year

7 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU Ph.D. (Hindi) Fees

The Ph.D. (Hindi) programme at IGNOU is one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in India. The first-year fee of Rs. 17,850 covers registration, coursework, and research components. From the second year onwards, a re-registration fee of Rs. 8,400 per year is applicable. For the minimum duration of 3 years, the total fee amounts to Rs. 34,650. An additional application fee of Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable) is payable at the time of applying.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Application Fee (non-refundable)	1,000
Registration Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Course Work Fee (1st Year, 18 credits)	1,050
Research Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Total 1st Year Fee	17,850
Re-Registration Fee (per year, from 2nd year)	8,400
Thesis Submission Fee	5,000
Examination Fee	200 per subject
Total Fees (for minimum 3-year duration)	34,650 (excluding thesis submission and exam fees)

The application fee of Rs. 1,000 is non-refundable and is paid separately at the time of application.
Thesis submission fee of Rs. 5,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission.
Examination fee of Rs. 200 per subject is applicable for term-end examinations.
IGNOU does not have hostel facilities; students must arrange their own accommodation in Delhi for the coursework period.
No EMI or instalment options are officially mentioned; fees are paid annually.

IGNOU Ph.D. (Hindi) Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. (Hindi) programme at IGNOU is conducted once a year, typically for the July session. The selection is based on UGC-NET score and a personal interview at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi. The July 2025 session admissions are now closed. The next cycle (July 2026) is expected to open around April-May 2026. Candidates must have a valid UGC-NET score (with or without JRF) to be eligible.

College-Specific Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (Based on 2025 Pattern)
PhD Admission Notification / Portal Opens	April 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date to Submit Online Application	August 2026 (Tentative)
Interview Schedule Announcement	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Interviews Conducted	September 2026 (Tentative)
Merit List / Selected Candidates List	October-November 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement / Coursework Begins	January 2027 (Tentative)

Exam-Specific Dates

Event	Date
UGC-NET Phase 1 Exam	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1 Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2 Registration	April 1, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2 Exam	June 1, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2 Result	July 1, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Hindi or an equivalent qualification from a UGC-recognized university with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/EWS categories).
Candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree must have a minimum of 75% marks (70% for reserved categories) to be eligible for direct PhD admission.
A valid UGC-NET score (with JRF or without JRF, from June 2024 session onwards) is mandatory for admission.

Admission Process

Apply online at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in by paying the application fee of Rs. 1,000.
Upload all required documents including UGC-NET scorecard, master's degree marksheets, category certificate (if applicable), and NOC from employer (for Part Time candidates).
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi.
Category A (UGC-NET with JRF): Interview carries 100% weightage.
Category B (UGC-NET without JRF): UGC-NET score carries 70% weightage; interview carries 30% weightage.
Final merit list is prepared discipline-wise based on combined score and reservation policy.
Offer letters are sent to selected candidates only; no individual intimation is sent otherwise.

IGNOU Ph.D. (Hindi) Scholarships 2026

IGNOU PhD students may avail of various scholarships and fellowships based on their eligibility. The UGC-JRF fellowship is the most significant financial support available to PhD scholars at IGNOU.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (subsequent years)	UGC-NET with JRF qualified candidates
UGC Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)	Rs. 42,000/month	After 2 years of JRF, subject to assessment
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFS)	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	SC category PhD scholars
National Fellowship for OBC Students	Rs. 37,000/month	OBC category PhD scholars (limited slots)
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Rs. 37,000/month	Minority community PhD scholars
Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Women (PDF)	Rs. 40,000/month	Women candidates post-PhD

JRF/SRF fellowships are disbursed by UGC directly; IGNOU facilitates the process.
Candidates must apply separately for fellowships through the UGC portal.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by UGC from time to time.
Part Time PhD students who are already employed are generally not eligible for JRF/SRF fellowships.

IGNOU Ph.D. (Hindi) FAQs

Q1. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Hindi) from IGNOU while working full-time in another city?

Ans. The Part Time PhD at IGNOU requires you to attend coursework at IGNOU's main campus in New Delhi for the first six months with at least 80% attendance. After the coursework phase, you can conduct your research from your location under the supervision of your guide. So while the research phase is flexible, the initial coursework phase requires physical presence in New Delhi.

Q2. Is UGC-NET mandatory for IGNOU PhD Hindi admission, or is there a separate entrance exam?

Ans. Yes, a valid UGC-NET score (from June 2024 session onwards) is mandatory. IGNOU does not conduct a separate entrance exam for PhD admission. Candidates with JRF are directly called for an interview, while those with NET (without JRF) are shortlisted based on their NET score for the interview.

Q3. How many seats are available for Ph.D. Hindi at IGNOU?

Ans. Based on the July 2025 session brochure, IGNOU offered seats in Hindi under the School of Humanities (SOH). The exact number of seats varies each year and is published in the official PhD Information Brochure released at the time of admission notification. Seats are distributed across General (UR), SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories as per Government of India reservation norms.

Q4. What is the research focus area for Ph.D. Hindi at IGNOU?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Hindi) programme at IGNOU covers a wide range of research areas including Hindi literature (ancient, medieval, and modern), Hindi linguistics, Hindi criticism, folk literature, translation studies in Hindi, and Hindi language pedagogy. The specific research area depends on the availability of a supervisor with expertise in that domain.

Q5. Does IGNOU provide hostel accommodation for PhD students during coursework?

Ans. No, IGNOU does not have hostel facilities for PhD students. Students are required to make their own arrangements for accommodation in Delhi during the coursework period (first six months). This is an important practical consideration, especially for outstation candidates.

Q6. What career opportunities are available after completing Ph.D. (Hindi) from IGNOU?

Ans. A Ph.D. in Hindi from IGNOU opens doors to careers in academia (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor in colleges and universities), research institutions, translation agencies, publishing houses, media organizations, and government language departments. The UGC-NET qualification obtained during admission also makes graduates eligible for Assistant Professor positions in colleges across India.