IGNOU July Admission 2026: Registration deadline extended till Sep 30; check steps to apply

The Indira Gandhi National Open University announced that the deadline for its July 2026 fresh admissions for online programmes, excluding certificate and semester‑based courses, has been extended to 30 September 2026. Applicants can submit applications through the university’s Samarth admission portal.

The extension applies to all open and distance learning (ODL) programmes offered online, and candidates must complete registration, select a programme, upload documents and pay the prescribed fees on ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The registration fee is non‑refundable; cancellations are irreversible, and refunds are subject to university rules, with up to 15 % of the programme fee (capped at ₹2,000) deducted after admission confirmation. Refunds are not processed after 60 days from the admission closing date.

IGNOU, India’s largest open university, conducts admissions twice a year, and the deadline shift gives prospective students additional time to meet eligibility criteria and secure seats in popular courses such as the newly announced one‑year MA in Development Studies. The move is expected to benefit thousands of learners across the country who rely on flexible, distance‑learning options for higher education.