Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

IGNOU's Ph.D. in Library and Information Science (programme code: PHDLIS) is a doctoral research programme offered under the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode through the School of Social Sciences (SOSS). The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with a first-year fee of Rs. 17,850 and a re-registration fee of Rs. 8,400 per year thereafter. Admission is based on UGC NET qualification followed by an interview at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi. The programme is popular among working librarians, information scientists, and library professionals who wish to pursue doctoral research without leaving their employment, making it one of the most sought-after part-time PhD options in the library science field.

As of March 2026, the IGNOU PhD admission for the July 2026 session is expected to open around April 2026, based on the pattern of the July 2025 session (which opened on July 19, 2025, with a last date of August 9, 2025). The application fee is Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable). 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 the official notification.

Distance Mode Centres:

The Ph.D. in Library and Information Science at IGNOU is offered under ODL (Open and Distance Learning) mode. However, coursework during the first six months is conducted at IGNOU Campus, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi only, and 80% attendance is mandatory for coursework. Research supervision is provided through the university's School of Social Sciences (SOSS). The programme does not have designated regional study centres for PhD; all coursework and interviews are conducted at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) at IGNOU.
Coursework (first 6 months) is mandatory and conducted at IGNOU Campus, New Delhi; 80% attendance is compulsory.
Part-time candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of interview.
Total seats for Library and Information Science PhD (July 2025 session): UR=02, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=02, EWS=01 (Total=07) - seats are very limited.
Women candidates and Persons with Disabilities (40% or more) are given 2 additional years beyond the maximum duration of 6 years.
IGNOU does not provide hostel facilities; students must arrange their own accommodation in Delhi during coursework.
The programme is compliant with UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degrees) Regulations, 2022.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU PhD LIS Fees

The IGNOU Ph.D. (Library and Information Science) programme has an affordable fee structure compared to regular universities. The first-year fee is Rs. 17,850, which includes registration, course work, and research fees. From the second year onwards, a re-registration fee of Rs. 8,400 per year is applicable. Additional charges include a thesis submission fee of Rs. 5,000 and examination fees of Rs. 200 per subject. The application fee of Rs. 1,000 is non-refundable and paid at the time of applying.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Application Fee (non-refundable)	1,000
Registration Fee (1st Year)	1,000
Course Work Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Research Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Total Fees - 1st Year	17,850
Re-Registration Fee (per year, from 2nd year)	8,400
Thesis Submission Fee (one-time)	5,000
Examination Fee	200 per subject

The application fee of Rs. 1,000 is non-refundable.
Hostel facility is NOT available at IGNOU. Students must arrange their own accommodation in Delhi during the mandatory coursework period.
Examination fee is charged separately and is not included in the total fees above.
No EMI or instalment option is officially mentioned; fees are to be paid online at the time of registration/re-registration.
Total fees for a 3-year PhD (minimum duration): Rs. 17,850 (Year 1) + Rs. 8,400 x 2 (Years 2 and 3) + Rs. 5,000 (thesis) = approximately Rs. 39,650 (excluding exam fees).

IGNOU PhD LIS Admission 2026

IGNOU PhD Library and Information Science admissions are conducted once a year for the July session. The selection is entirely based on UGC NET qualification and an interview at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi. For the July 2026 session, the admission process is expected to begin around April 2026. With only 7 seats available (as per the July 2025 session), competition is high. Candidates with UGC NET JRF are directly called for interview (100% weightage on interview), while candidates with UGC NET without JRF are shortlisted based on NET score (70% weightage) and interview (30% weightage).

Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
PhD Admission Notification Release	April 2026 (expected)
Online Application Form Opens	April 2026 (expected)
Last Date to Submit Application Form	May 2026 (expected)
Application Fee	Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable)
Interview Notification on IGNOU Website	June 2026 (expected)
Interview at IGNOU HQ, New Delhi	June-July 2026 (expected)
Admission/Result Announcement	July 2026 (expected)
Batch Start / Coursework Commencement	July 2026 (expected)

Dates are tentative and based on the July 2025 session pattern (application opened July 19, 2025; last date August 9, 2025). Official dates will be published on www.ignou.ac.in and ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in.

UGC NET Exam

Exam	Conducting Body	Relevance	Remarks
UGC NET (Library and Information Science)	National Testing Agency (NTA)	Mandatory for PhD admission at IGNOU	Candidates with JRF are Category A; without JRF are Category B

Candidates must have a valid UGC NET score (2024 or later) in Library and Information Science.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Master's Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Library and Information Science from a UGC-recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC non-creamy layer/EWS/Differently-Abled candidates).
Valid UGC NET qualification (with or without JRF) in Library and Information Science is mandatory.
Candidates applying for part-time PhD must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer.

Admission Process:

Register and fill the online application form at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in and pay the application fee of Rs. 1,000.
Category A candidates (UGC NET with JRF) are directly called for interview; interview carries 100% weightage.
Category B candidates (UGC NET without JRF) are shortlisted based on NET score (70%) and called for interview (30% weightage).
Interviews are conducted at IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi only.
Selected candidates receive offer letters; list of selected candidates is published on the IGNOU website.
Admitted students must complete mandatory coursework (first 6 months) at IGNOU Campus, New Delhi, with 80% attendance.

IGNOU PhD LIS Scholarships 2026

IGNOU PhD Library and Information Science students can avail various fellowships and scholarships, primarily through national-level schemes. The most significant is the UGC-JRF fellowship for Category A candidates, which provides a monthly stipend. IGNOU also offers its own Research Fellowship (IGNOU-RF) scheme. Additionally, government scholarships for SC/ST/OBC/EWS students are available through the National Scholarship Portal.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Remarks
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (after 2 years)	UGC NET with JRF qualified candidates	Applied through UGC; not directly through IGNOU
IGNOU Research Fellowship (IGNOU-RF)	Rs. 8,000/month (PhD scholars)	IGNOU enrolled PhD students; merit-based	30 fellowships awarded per year across all disciplines; highly competitive
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Scholarships	Varies	SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Minority students	Applied through scholarships.gov.in

The IGNOU-RF scheme provides 100 fellowships in total across all disciplines; only 30 are awarded per year, making it highly competitive.
JRF fellowship is available only to Category A candidates (UGC NET with JRF); it is not provided by IGNOU but by UGC.
All fellowships and scholarships are admissible at IGNOU as per the official notification.
Application deadlines for NSP scholarships are typically between October and December each year.

IGNOU PhD LIS FAQs

Ques. Is IGNOU PhD in Library and Information Science a distance learning programme?

Ans. IGNOU PhD Library and Information Science is offered under ODL (Open and Distance Learning) mode. However, it is NOT a fully distance programme - the mandatory coursework for the first 6 months must be attended in person at IGNOU Campus, New Delhi, with 80% attendance. Research work can be done remotely under the supervision of an IGNOU faculty guide.

Ques. Can I pursue IGNOU PhD Library and Information Science while working as a librarian?

Ans. Yes, IGNOU specifically offers the PhD in part-time mode for working professionals including librarians. You need to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer. The coursework phase (first 6 months) requires regular attendance at IGNOU HQ, New Delhi, so you may need to take leave or make arrangements during this period.

Ques. How many seats are available for PhD Library and Information Science at IGNOU?

Ans. As per the July 2025 session brochure, only 7 seats were available: UR=02, SC=01, ST=01, OBC=02, EWS=01. This is one of the most competitive PhD programmes at IGNOU due to the very limited number of seats.

Ques. Is M.Phil. in Library and Information Science required for IGNOU PhD LIS admission?

Ans. No, M.Phil. is not required. The eligibility criteria states Master's Degree and/or M.Phil. Degree in Library and Information Science. Candidates with only a Master's degree (MLIS) are eligible to apply, provided they meet the minimum marks requirement and have a valid UGC NET score.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing PhD in Library and Information Science from IGNOU?

Ans. After completing the PhD, graduates can pursue careers as professors and researchers in library science departments of universities, senior librarians and information managers in academic and research institutions, information specialists in government agencies and corporate organizations, knowledge management consultants, and digital library specialists.

Ques. Does IGNOU provide hostel accommodation for PhD Library and Information Science students during coursework?

Ans. No, IGNOU does not have hostel facilities for PhD students. Students must make their own arrangements for accommodation in Delhi during the mandatory 6-month coursework period at IGNOU Campus, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.