Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Family Therapy (PGDCFT) is a one-year programme offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under its School of Continuing Education. The programme is designed to develop awareness and sensitivity around mental health and wellbeing, and equips learners with foundational skills in counselling and family therapy. With a total programme fee of Rs. 18,000 and a minimum duration of one year (extendable up to 3 years), the programme is accessible to graduates from any discipline. A unique feature is that on successful completion, learners can enrol directly into the second year of IGNOU's M.Sc. in Counselling and Family Therapy (MSCCFT) through credit transfer, making it a valuable stepping stone for those seeking a postgraduate qualification in this field.

Admissions for the January 2026 cycle are currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form is 30th March 2026. Students can apply online through the IGNOU Samarth admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

Important Notice: IGNOU has placed an official disclaimer that this programme is NOT approved by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), which governs professional registration in this field. The UGC has also directed institutions to stop fresh enrolments in healthcare-related ODL courses from July-August 2025 onwards. Prospective students are strongly advised to review the NCAHP Act (2021) and make an informed decision before applying, particularly if they intend to practice professionally as a counsellor or therapist.

Distance Mode Study Centres

Since PGDCFT is offered exclusively in ODL (Distance) mode, students must attend supervised practicum sessions at designated IGNOU Study Centres. The programme is currently offered at the following study centres:

Regional Centre	Study Centre
Karnal	Govt. College for Women (1031)
Jammu	Deptt. of Home Science (12108P)
Bangalore	Montfort College (13180)
Bangalore	Spandana Nursing Home Instt. for PG and Psyc. (13139P)
Cochin	IGNOU Regional Centre Kaloor Ernakulam (14000)
Bhopal	Barkatullah University Bhopal (15276)
Bhopal	IGNOU Regional Centre Bhopal (1500)
Khanna	Nirman Campus of Education Research and Training, Sunam (2299)
Jaipur	International College of Girls, Jaipur (2353)
Chennai	Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women (25231)
Lucknow	National P.G. College, Lucknow (27195)
Dehradun	D.A.V. P.G. College, Dehradun (2705)
Dehradun	IGNOU Regional Centre Dehradun (3100)
Dehradun	M.B. P.G. College, Haldwani (2711)
Ranchi	IGNOU Regional Centre Ranchi (3200)
Vijayawada	TJPS College (0104)
Nagpur	Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha (36061)
Delhi 3 (Naraina)	Bharati College (38043)
Noida	IGNOU Regional Centre Noida (3900)
Trivandrum	College of Agriculture (1455)
Trivandrum	IGNOU Regional Centre Trivandrum (4000)
Trivandrum	Mar Ivanios Institute of Advanced Studies (1441)
Jabalpur	Mata Gujari Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Jabalpur (1599)
Varanasi	Budha Post Graduate College, Kushi Nagar (27128)
Varanasi	Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidya Peeth, Varanasi (48046)
Varanasi	V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur (2745)
Patna	IGNOU Regional Centre Patna (0500)
Chandigarh	IGNOU Regional Centre Chandigarh (0600)
Chandigarh	IGNOU Regular Study Centre (6027)
Delhi 1 (South Delhi)	Institute of Home Economics (0787)
Jodhpur	IGNOU Regional Centre Jodhpur (8800)
Ahmedabad	L.D. Arts College (0901)

Key Points

PGDCFT is specifically designed for teachers, social workers, health professionals, NGO workers, and anyone interested in mental health and family wellbeing.
The programme includes supervised practicum components (MCFTL courses) and a Reflective Journal, which require in-person attendance at the allotted study centre.
A unique pathway exists: on successful completion of PGDCFT, learners can directly enrol into the second year of IGNOU's M.Sc. in Counselling and Family Therapy (MSCCFT) through credit transfer.
The programme is NOT approved by NCAHP; students who wish to practice professionally as a registered counsellor or therapist should be aware of this limitation.
The UGC has directed institutions to stop fresh enrolments in healthcare-related ODL courses from July-August 2025 onwards; IGNOU is continuing admissions under its Academic Council's ratification with a disclaimer.
Maximum duration to complete the programme is 3 years from the date of enrolment.
Assignments carry 30% weightage and term-end examinations carry 70% weightage in the final assessment.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU PGDCFT Fees

The PGDCFT programme is offered at an affordable fee of Rs. 18,000 for the full programme, making it one of the most cost-effective postgraduate-level counselling qualifications in India. In addition to the programme fee, a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 and a Development Fee of Rs. 200 are charged at the time of admission. Examination fees are charged separately when students submit their Term-End Examination forms.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Programme (Tuition) Fee	18,000
Registration Fee (one-time, non-refundable)	300
Development Fee (one-time)	200
Examination Fee - Theory (5 papers x Rs. 200)	1,000
Examination Fee - Practicum/Lab (5 papers x Rs. 300)	1,500
Total Fees	21,000

The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable under all circumstances.
If a student cancels admission after confirmation, 15% of the programme fee will be deducted, subject to a maximum deduction of Rs. 2,000.
No refund is admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.
Examination fees are paid separately at the time of submitting the examination form and are not included in the programme fee.
Hostel facility is not applicable for this distance learning programme.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card, Debit Card (Visa/Master/RuPay), or Net Banking through the IGNOU Samarth portal.

IGNOU PGDCFT Admission 2026

Admissions to PGDCFT are open twice a year in January and July cycles. The January 2026 cycle is currently active, with the last date for application extended to 30th March 2026. There is no entrance exam; admission is based on eligibility and is on a first-come, first-served basis. The June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) is scheduled from 1st June to 15th July 2026. Students must submit their exam forms between 10th March and 10th April 2026 (without late fee) or between 11th April and 24th April 2026 (with a late fee of Rs. 1,100).

IGNOU PGDCFT Admission and Exam Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Admission Opens	16th December 2025
Last Date for Application (January 2026 Cycle)	30th March 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (without late fee)	10th March - 10th April 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (with late fee of Rs. 1,100)	11th April - 24th April 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Begins	1st June 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Ends	15th July 2026
July 2026 Admission Cycle (Tentative)	July 2026

Relevant Exam Dates

There is no external entrance exam required for admission to IGNOU PGDCFT. Admission is direct based on eligibility. The only examination relevant to this programme is IGNOU's own Term-End Examination (TEE), details of which are provided in Table 1 above.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university
No minimum percentage requirement as per the official IGNOU prospectus
No age bar for admission
The programme is not available for international students

Admission Process:

Visit the IGNOU Samarth portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in and register as a new user
Select PGDCFT from the list of available programmes and carefully read the programme details including the NCAHP disclaimer
Fill in the online application form with personal, academic, and study centre details
Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, educational qualification certificates, and category certificate (if applicable)
Pay the programme fee, registration fee, and development fee online
Submit the application form and save/print the confirmation for future reference
Await confirmation of admission from IGNOU; study material will be dispatched to the registered address
Attend supervised practicum sessions at the allotted study centre as per the schedule announced by the Regional Centre

IGNOU PGDCFT Scholarships 2026

IGNOU offers fee support and scholarship opportunities to eligible students, making the PGDCFT programme accessible to a wider audience. SC/ST students can avail a full programme fee waiver subject to income criteria. Students can also apply for central government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal after confirmation of admission.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fee Support	Eligibility	Benefit
SC/ST Fee Waiver (IGNOU)	SC/ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Full programme fee waiver (tuition fee exemption)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Scholarships	As per individual scheme criteria (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/PwD/EWS)	Varies by scheme; covers tuition fee and/or maintenance allowance
State Government Scholarships	As per respective state government norms	Varies by state and category

SC/ST students must submit a valid caste certificate and income certificate at the time of admission to avail the fee waiver.
Students who received fee exemption at the time of fresh admission are also eligible for fee exemption at the time of re-registration.
Applications for NSP scholarships can be submitted at scholarships.gov.in after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable and is not covered under the fee waiver.

IGNOU PGDCFT FAQs

Ques. Can I practice as a professional counsellor or therapist after completing IGNOU PGDCFT?

Ans. This is a critical question. IGNOU's official programme page clearly states that PGDCFT is NOT approved by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), which now governs professional registration for counsellors and therapists in India. The UGC has also directed institutions to stop fresh ODL enrolments in such courses from July-August 2025. While IGNOU is continuing admissions under its Academic Council's ratification, students who wish to practice professionally as a registered counsellor should carefully review the NCAHP Act (2021) before enrolling.

Ques. Can I use PGDCFT as a pathway to IGNOU's M.Sc. in Counselling and Family Therapy (MSCCFT)?

Ans. Yes. One of the most valuable features of PGDCFT is that on successful completion, you can directly enrol into the second year of IGNOU's MSCCFT programme through credit transfer, as per university rules. This means PGDCFT effectively serves as the first year of the two-year MSCCFT, allowing you to complete a full master's degree over two years.

Ques. Are the practicum/supervised sessions mandatory? How many hours are required?

Ans. Yes, the supervised practicum components (MCFTL-001 to MCFTL-005) and the Reflective Journal (MCFTL-008) are mandatory parts of the programme. These require in-person attendance at your allotted study centre. The schedule for practicum sessions is announced by the respective Regional Centre. Students cannot complete the programme entirely through self-study at home.

Ques. What is the difference between PGDCFT and a regular M.Sc. Psychology or Counselling programme?

Ans. PGDCFT is a one-year ODL diploma that provides foundational knowledge in counselling and family therapy. It is not equivalent to a full M.Sc. in Psychology or Counselling from a regular university. Regular M.Sc. programmes involve intensive clinical training and are recognised by NCAHP for professional registration. PGDCFT is better suited for those seeking awareness, personal development, or a pathway to IGNOU's MSCCFT, rather than direct professional practice.

Ques. What happens if I miss the Term-End Examination in a particular cycle?

Ans. IGNOU allows a maximum duration of 3 years to complete the PGDCFT programme. If you miss a TEE in a particular cycle (June or December), you can appear in the next available TEE without re-enrolling, as long as you are within the maximum programme duration. However, assignments must be submitted before the prescribed deadline for each cycle.

Ques. Is PGDCFT useful for teachers, HR professionals, or social workers who are not planning to practice as therapists?

Ans. Yes, absolutely. PGDCFT is widely pursued by teachers, HR professionals, social workers, NGO workers, and healthcare professionals who want to develop counselling skills for use in their existing roles. For such learners, the NCAHP recognition issue is less relevant, as they are not seeking professional registration as therapists. The programme provides practical communication, empathy, and conflict resolution skills that are valuable across many professions.