IGNOU PG Diploma Computer Applications: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA_NEW) is a one-year, semester-based distance learning programme offered by IGNOU's School of Computer and Information Sciences (SOCIS). The programme consists of 10 courses (6 theory + 4 practical) worth 32 credits, divided into two semesters, and is designed to prepare graduates for productive careers in the software industry as programmers, web developers, or lab technicians. The total programme fee is Rs. 21,600 (Rs. 10,800 per semester), making it an affordable option for those seeking a postgraduate computer applications qualification through distance mode. Admission is offered in both January and July sessions, with no entrance exam required. The programme is popular among working professionals, science and commerce graduates, and those looking to transition into the IT sector without attending regular classes.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form (for ODL programmes, except certificate and semester-based programmes) is 30th March 2026. However, since PGDCA_NEW is a semester-based programme, students should verify the specific deadline on the official IGNOU Samarth Admission Portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in). The July 2026 session is expected to open in May 2026.

Distance Mode Centres:

PGDCA is offered exclusively through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The programme is available at select Study Centres across IGNOU's Regional Centre network. Key study centres include institutions in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Pune, Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi, Noida, Jaipur, Mumbai, Patna, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, Madurai, and many more cities across India. Army Study Centres are also available for defence personnel.

Key Points

The programme is semester-based with two semesters per year (January-June and July-December), with term-end examinations in June and December respectively.
Practical lab courses are an integral part of the curriculum, covering Windows/Linux Lab, C and Python Lab, Data Structures Lab, and DBMS and Java Lab.
Students without Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation level must complete BCS-012 (Graduate Level Mathematics) as a Bridge Course before enrolling.
The programme prepares students for roles as programmer, web developer, software developer, or lab technician in institutions and software companies.
Study material is available in both digital (eGyanKosh) and printed formats.
IGNOU degrees and diplomas are recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU PGDCA Fees

The PGDCA_NEW programme has a fee of Rs. 10,800 per semester, totalling Rs. 21,600 for the full one-year programme. In addition, a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is payable at the time of admission, along with applicable Development Fee. There are no hostel facilities for this distance learning programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Semester I Fee	10,800
Semester II Fee	10,800
Registration Fee (one-time)	300
Development Fee	As applicable
Total Fees	21,900 + Development Fee

The Registration Fee 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 of fee is admissible after 60 days of the closing date of admissions.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card (Master/Visa), Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay), or Net Banking.
SC/ST students may be eligible for fee exemption/reimbursement as per IGNOU norms.

IGNOU PGDCA Admission 2026

Admissions to PGDCA_NEW are offered in January and July sessions. The January 2026 session is currently open. Since PGDCA_NEW is a semester-based programme, students should check the specific admission deadline on the IGNOU Samarth portal. The admission process is entirely online and no entrance exam is required.

IGNOU PGDCA Admission Dates

Event	Date
Admission Portal Opens (January 2026 Session)	December 16, 2025
Last Date for Fresh Admission (Semester-based Programmes - verify on portal)	Check ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Term-End Examination (Semester I - June)	June 2026 (Tentative)
Term-End Examination (Semester II - December)	December 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Form Submission Last Date	10th April 2026 (for June TEE)
Tentative July 2026 Session Admission Opens	May 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Date
No entrance exam is required for admission to PGDCA_NEW. Admission is granted directly on the basis of eligibility.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Any Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years duration from a recognised university AND Mathematics as one of the subjects at 10+2 level or graduation level.
OR Any Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years duration from a recognised university without Mathematics - such students must complete BCS-012 (Graduate Level Mathematics) as a Bridge Course.
There is no upper age limit for admission.

Admission Process

Visit the official IGNOU Samarth Admission Portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.
Click on New Registration and create a login with your email and mobile number (verified via OTP).
Log in and fill out the online application form for PGDCA_NEW, selecting your preferred Regional Centre and Study Centre.
Upload scanned copies of required documents: photograph, signature, graduation certificate, Mathematics certificate (if applicable), category certificate (if applicable).
Pay the semester fee and registration fee online via Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
Download and save the application summary and fee receipt for future reference.
Admission confirmation is sent to the registered email/mobile after verification of documents.

IGNOU PGDCA Scholarships 2026

IGNOU offers several scholarship and fee exemption options for eligible students. SC/ST students, physically challenged students, economically weaker sections, jail inmates, and students from the Weaver community and transgender community are eligible for fee exemptions or reimbursements. Students can also apply for Government of India scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of admission.

Scholarship Schemes

Scholarship / Scheme	Eligibility	Benefit
IGNOU Fee Exemption for SC/ST Students	SC/ST students enrolled in IGNOU programmes	Up to 50% fee concession / full fee reimbursement as per state norms
IGNOU Fee Exemption for Physically Challenged Students	Students with more than 40% disability	Fee exemption/reimbursement as applicable
IGNOU Fee Exemption for Jail Inmates	Jail inmates enrolled in IGNOU programmes	Full fee exemption including registration fee
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minority Students	Minority students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year; minimum 50% in previous exam	Rs. 20,000/year; maintenance allowance Rs. 500-1,000/month
Scholarships for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities	Specially abled students with 40%+ disability; family income below Rs. 6 lakh/year	Full tuition up to Rs. 2 lakh/year; books/stationery Rs. 5,000/year; one-time laptop allowance Rs. 45,000
Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students	SC students admitted under general category seats; family income below Rs. 8 lakh/year	Full tuition up to Rs. 2 lakh/year; books/stationery Rs. 3,000/month; one-time laptop allowance Rs. 45,000
National Scholarship Portal (State/Central Schemes)	As per individual scheme eligibility	Varies by scheme

A student can avail only one scholarship at a time.
Students must apply for government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
IGNOU scholarship forms are available at Regional Centres and must be certified by the Regional Director before submission to the State Social Welfare Office.
Family income should generally not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum for IGNOU's internal scholarship schemes.

IGNOU PGDCA FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between the old IGNOU PGDCA and the new PGDCA_NEW programme?

Ans. The older IGNOU PGDCA programme has been revised and relaunched as PGDCA_NEW with an updated curriculum. The new programme includes modern courses like Programming in C and Python, Object Oriented Programming using Java, DBMS, and Data Structures, replacing older course codes. Students should ensure they are enrolling in PGDCA_NEW (the current version) when applying.

Ques. Are practical lab sessions mandatory in PGDCA_NEW? How are they conducted in distance mode?

Ans. Yes, PGDCA_NEW includes four practical lab courses (Windows/Linux Lab, C and Python Lab, Data Structures Lab, DBMS and Java Lab). These practicals are conducted at designated Study Centres. Students must attend practical sessions at their assigned Study Centre and submit lab records for evaluation.

Ques. Can I pursue PGDCA_NEW while working full-time?

Ans. Yes, PGDCA_NEW is designed for distance learners and working professionals. Theory study can be done at your own pace using IGNOU study materials. However, you must attend practical sessions at your Study Centre and appear for term-end examinations at designated exam centres in June and December.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after PGDCA_NEW from IGNOU?

Ans. After completing PGDCA_NEW, graduates can work as software programmers, web developers, database administrators, lab technicians in educational institutions, or freelance software developers. The diploma also serves as a stepping stone for those wishing to pursue MCA or other advanced IT qualifications.

Ques. Is PGDCA_NEW from IGNOU equivalent to a regular PGDCA from other universities?

Ans. IGNOU's PGDCA_NEW is recognised by all AIU member institutions and is equivalent to PGDCA programmes offered by other recognised universities. However, for government jobs or higher studies, students should verify specific recognition requirements with the concerned authority or institution.

Ques. What happens if I fail a subject in the term-end examination?

Ans. IGNOU allows students to re-appear in failed subjects in subsequent term-end examinations. The maximum duration to complete PGDCA_NEW is not explicitly capped at one year - students can take additional attempts within the permissible time frame. Exam fee of Rs. 200 per subject is applicable for each attempt.

Important Updates

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IGNOU: 1 Answered Question

Is it difficult to do PGDCA from IGNOU?

Tulsi MBSc Physics Majors from University of Mumbai, Graduated 2016

One of my friends had a very bad experience in IGNOU. She applied for CCP which has 6 months of certification but the university allowed 2 years to complete it.

She wanted to complete the course within 6 months so she appeared on all the exams on time. She had to follow up with her professors for project work daily. After she did submit her project, they lost it. After 5-6 months the Delhi branch called to inform her that her project was not good enough. Apart from this episode, she shared more drawbacks she faced:

Out of 8-10 classes only 3 were conducted.
They took 6-7 months to inform her that the project wasn’t good.
She did not receive any books and had to get them personally by visiting the centre 4-5 times
They increased the fees suddenly in the second year

She scored 1st division in CCP but did not get the certificate for the same. So it’s not recommended for you to do PGDCA from IGNOU.

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