IGNOU offers a comprehensive distance MBA program approved by AICTE, ideal for both fresh graduates and working professionals. The total annual fee for the distance MBA is approximately INR 64,000. The MBA program offers 35 specializations which includes Human Resources, Finance, Operations, Marketing etc. Common eligibility requires a Bachelor’s Degree of minimum three years duration with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) from a recognized university. No entrance exam is currently required for admission.
Admissions for the July 2025 academic session commenced on 06 June 2025, with the last date for application submission being 15 August 2025*. Moreover, the application fee is typically around INR 300 for the general category and INR 200 for SC/ST.
About University: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), established in September 1985 by an Act of Parliament, is headquartered in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. As a central university under the Government of India, it’s governed by its own Act. IGNOU offers a vast array of courses which includes over 200 certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines like Arts, Science, Commerce, Management, Computer Applications, Health Sciences, and more. Furthermore, the university employs a multi-tier evaluation system, which includes continuous evaluation through assignments (contributing 30% to the final grade) and Term-End Examinations (TEE), held twice annually in June and December (contributing 70% to the final grade). Also, a comprehensive grading system (A, B, C, D, E) is used to assess student performance.
IGNOU University Distance Education Highlights
| Feature | Details |
| University | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Mode of Education | Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Learning |
| Location | Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, India. |
| Courses Offered | UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate, and (PhD) programs. |
| Accreditation | NAAC ‘A++’ Grade |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with minimum 50% for general category candidates and 45% for candidates aggregate marks. |
| Application Fee | INR 300 for the general category and INR 200 for SC/ST |
| Application Form Release | 06 June 2025 |
| Admission Last Date | 15 August 2025* |
| Official Website | www.ignou.ac.in |
Why choose IGNOU Distance MBA?
IGNOU stands out as a premier institution for Distance MBA programs for several compelling reasons. As one of the world’s largest providers of distance education, IGNOU offers unique advantages. First and foremost, it’s an autonomous institution established by the Government of India, ensuring the legitimacy and credibility of its courses. The MBA program is affiliated with both the AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education) and the UGC (University Grants Council), adding further weight to its recognition.
Moreover, IGNOU’s Distance MBA program is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing learners to have multiple exit points. This means that even if you need to drop out at some point, you may still be eligible for a Diploma in Management or similar qualifications, depending on the courses you’ve completed. Finally, the program’s fee is comparatively lower than those of other Indian universities offering distance MBA programs, making it an affordable option for many.
IGNOU Distance MBA Admission 2025-26
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers a comprehensive Distance MBA course for both graduates and working professionals. Moreover, it provides a wide array of MBA specializations which includes Human Resource, Financial, Operations, Marketing, Banking and Finance, Construction, Logistics & Supply Chain etc. Apart from the specialization a general MBA and an online MBA is also available. Admission is generally merit-based by considering academic performance in the bachelor’s degree. Additionally, the course spans a minimum of 2 years (4 semesters) to a maximum of 4 years (8 semesters). The program typically costs around INR 65,000 in total for the distance mode and INR 58,000 for the online mode, plus a registration fee of INR 300. For the July 2025 academic session, applications were opened on 06 June 2025 and the last date of application submission is 15 August 2025.
IGNOU Distance MBA Course with Fees
| MBA Specialization | Fees (Total for 2 Years) |
| Financial Management | INR 63,500 |
| Banking & Finance | INR 63,000 |
| Real Estate Management | INR 65,500 |
| Business Management | INR 65,000 |
| Banking and Insurance | INR 63,500 |
| Banking Financial Services & Insurance | INR 61,500 |
| Digital Marketing | INR 63,000 |
| Direct Selling Management | INR 63,500 |
| Marketing & Finance | INR 65,500 |
| Investment Banking and Equity Research | INR 65,000 |
| International Trade | INR 65,500 |
| Agri-Business Management | INR 65,000 |
| Business Analytics | INR 63,000 |
| Data Science | INR 63,500 |
| Data Science & Analytics | INR 65,000 |
| Digital Entrepreneurship | INR 65,500 |
| Digital Marketing & E-commerce | INR 65,000 |
| International Business Management | INR 63,500 |
| Infrastructure Management | INR 65,000 |
| HRM & Finance | INR 65,500 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain | INR 63,000 |
| Entrepreneurship and Leadership | INR 65,500 |
| Power Management | INR 65,000 |
| Marketing and Sales | INR 61,000 |
| IT and FinTech | INR 61,500 |
| AI and Machine Learning | INR 61,000 |
| Digital Finance | INR 65,000 |
| Biotechnical Management | INR 65,500 |
| International Marketing | INR 65,000 |
| Finance and Accounting | INR 61,500 |
| International Finance | INR 65,000 |
| Finance And Leadership | INR 65,500 |
| Aviation Management | INR 65,000 |
| Leadership and Strategy | INR 65,500 |
IGNOU University Distance Admission Process
The admission process for IGNOU’s Distance programs is primarily conducted online, the general process involves the following key steps:
- Online Registration: Visit IGNOU Admission Portal ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/index and create a username and password.
- Fill Application: Log in and complete the form with personal, academic, and program details.
- Upload Documents: Provide scanned copies of photo, signature, education certificates, age proof, experience certificate etc.
- Pay Fees: Submit application and first installment fees online (credit, debit, net banking).
- Admission Confirmation: After verification, IGNOU confirms admission.
- Student Portal & ABC: Once admitted, activate your Student Portal account and create an Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) account.
Eligibility Criteria
- A bachelor’s degree with minimum of three year of duration is required from any recognized university.
- The admission are based on merit. The minimum marks required to be eligible are 50% for any candidate belonging to general category whereas 45% for anyone belonging to SC/ST.
- The minimum age to be eligible for doing MBA is minimum 20 years.
Required Document
The required documents for IGNOU Distance MBA admission, typically uploaded during the online application process, generally include:
- Passport-size photograph.
- Signature
- 10th, 12th, and Bachelor’s Degree Marksheet.
- Birth Certificate or DOB proof
MBA Syllabus Table
| Category | Course Codes & Titles |
|---|---|
| Core (Common to all specializations) | MS‑1 ☰ Management Functions & BehaviourMS‑2 ☰ Management of Human ResourcesMS‑3 ☰ Economic & Social EnvironmentMS‑4 ☰ Accounting & Finance for ManagersMS‑5 ☰ Management of Machines & MaterialsMS‑6 ☰ Marketing for ManagersMS‑7 ☰ Information Systems for ManagersMS‑8 ☰ Quantitative Analysis for Managerial ApplicationsMS‑9 ☰ Managerial EconomicsMS‑10 ☰ Organisational Design, Development & ChangeMS‑11 ☰ Strategic Management |
| Specialization Subjects (5) | HR Management: MS‑21 Social Processes & Behavioural Issues; MS‑22 HR Development; MS‑23 HR Planning; MS‑24 Employment Relations; MS‑25 Managing Change in Organisations; MS‑26 Organisational Dynamics; MS‑27 Wage & Salary Administration; MS‑28 Labour Laws; MS‑29 International HRM Financial Management: MS‑41 Working Capital Management; MS‑42 Capital Investment & Financing Decisions; MS‑43 Management Control Systems; MS‑44 Security Analysis & Portfolio Management; MS‑45 International Financial Management; MS‑46 Management of Financial Services Marketing Management: MS‑64 bundle (Consumer Behaviour; Sales Management; Product & Brand Management; International Marketing; Marketing of Services; Marketing Research; Advertising & Communication; Rural & Retail Marketing) Operations Management: MS‑52 Operations Research; MS‑53 Project Management; MS‑54 Production/Operations Management; MS‑55 Management Information Systems; MS‑56 Logistics & Supply Chain Management; MS‑57 Materials Management; MS‑58 Maintenance Management; MS‑59 R&D & Innovation Management |
| Elective (1 course) | MS‑92 ☰ Management of Public EnterprisesMS‑93 ☰ Management of New & Small EnterprisesMS‑94 ☰ Technology ManagementMS‑96 ☰ Total Quality ManagementMS‑97 ☰ International Business |
| Mandatory Courses (All Students) | MS‑91 ☰ Advanced Strategic ManagementMS‑95 ☰ Research Methodology for Management Decisions |
| Project (Equivalent to 2 Courses) | MS‑100 ☰ Project Work (Final Project in chosen specialization) |
IGNOU University Rating & Ranking
IGNOU University Ranking: IGNOU is a leading institution in distance education and has earned strong recognition in various rankings. It secured 1st place in the Open University category in NIRF 2024 and Outlook 2025. The IIRF 2024 ranked IGNOU at #36 in India, while QS placed it at 426 globally. Additionally, AD Scientific Index 2025 highlights IGNOU’s strong academic performance, reflecting its reputation and credibility in higher education.
Ratings
- NAAC Accreditation: IGNOU has been accredited with the highest A++ Grade by NAAC.
- Component-wise Ratings (based on student reviews):
- Academic: 4.2/5
- Faculty & Course Curriculum: 3.8 – 4.2/5
- Infrastructure: 3.5 – 4.1/5
- Accommodation: 4.0/5
- Social Life/Crowd & Campus Life: 3.4 – 4.0/5
- Placements: 3.1 – 4.2/5
- Value for Money: 4.1/5
IGNOU University Address And Contact Information
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has its main office situated at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068, India. For general inquiries, students can contact the Student Service Centre at 011-29572513 or 011-29572514, or utilize the university’s centralized exchange at 011-29571000. Also, specific contact numbers are available for various departments: for online admissions, call 011-29571301 or 011-29571528. Furthermore, for student grievances, the official IGNOU Grievance Portal is available at igram.ignou.ac.in, and emails can be sent to ssc@ignou.ac.in for general grievances or sedgrievance@ignou.ac.in for student evaluation issues. Further information and a comprehensive contact directory, including regional centers, can be found on the official IGNOU website at www.ignou.ac.in.
I am Alisha Dhal, Assistant Professor of Marketing at IMT Ghaziabad. I hold a Ph.D. in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore), where my academic journey was rooted in a deep passion for consumer behavior, digital marketing, and brand strategy.
I created mbadistanceeducation.info to support and guide aspiring MBA students—especially those exploring distance education—as they navigate the evolving landscape of management education.