Hello everyone and welcome back to OpenStudyInfo! I am really happy to see you. Today we’re going to talk about something that confuses almost every new student. If you have decided to take admission in Indira Gandhi National Open University, you probably went straight to their website and downloaded the common prospectus.
IGNOU Login Portals Guide
To be completely honest, that prospectus is over 300 pages long! It’s literally like reading a novel just to find one simple graduation course. I get a ton of messages from students who are totally lost in that massive PDF. They don’t know which course is for graduation, which one is a diploma, or what those weird short codes even mean.
That is exactly why I decided to do the heavy lifting for you. In this post, I am sharing the IGNOU Complete Course List. I’ve broken it down into easy categories: Undergraduate (UG) courses, Postgraduate (PG) courses, Diplomas, and Certificates. This guide will help you choose your course without the headache.
Why are IGNOU courses so popular?
Before looking at the list, you might wonder why millions of students choose IGNOU every year. The answer is pretty simple. The courses are extremely affordable compared to regular colleges. Plus, you get amazing flexibility. You can study from home, keep doing your day job, or prepare for government exams like UPSC or SSC. And yes, an IGNOU degree is fully recognized by the UGC and is valid all over the world.
1. IGNOU Undergraduate (UG) Degree Courses
These are your standard bachelor’s degree courses. You can apply for these right after clearing your 12th board exams. IGNOU recently shifted its syllabus to the CBCS (Choice Based Credit System), so the new course codes have an extra ‘G’ at the end now.
- Bachelor of Arts (General) – BAG: You just need to be 10+2 pass or equivalent. It takes a minimum of 3 years to complete.
- Bachelor of Commerce (General) – BCOMG: Also requires 10+2. Perfect for commerce students and takes 3 years.
- Bachelor of Science (General) – BSCG: You need a 10+2 background with Science subjects. The duration is 3 years.
- Bachelor of Computer Applications – BCA: Requires 10+2. A big relief is that Maths is not compulsory for this one. Duration is 3 years.
- Bachelor of Social Work – BSW: 10+2 pass or equivalent is needed. It takes 3 years.
- Bachelor of Tourism Studies – BTS: 10+2 or equivalent. Duration is 3 years.
2. IGNOU Postgraduate (PG) Degree Courses
If you already completed your graduation from any recognized university, you can apply for a Master’s degree. Doing your Master’s from IGNOU is super helpful if you are working a full-time job and want a promotion, or if you plan to apply for teaching jobs in the future.
- Master of Arts (English) – MEG: You need a Bachelor’s Degree. Takes 2 years.
- Master of Arts (History) – MHI: Requires a Bachelor’s Degree. 2 years to complete.
- Master of Arts (Political Science) – MPS: Bachelor’s Degree needed. 2 years duration.
- Master of Commerce – MCOM: You must have a Bachelor’s in Commerce or Management. Takes 2 years.
- Master of Computer Applications – MCA: You need a BCA, BSc, or BCom with Maths. 2 years duration.
- Master of Business Administration – MBA: Requires a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks, plus you need to clear their entrance exam. It takes 2 years.
3. IGNOU Diploma & Post Graduate Diploma Courses
Sometimes you don’t want to spend two or three years grinding for a degree. You just want a specific skill to boost your resume. This is exactly where Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) courses come in handy.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management – PGDHRM: Takes just 1 year.
- Post Graduate Diploma in International Business Operations – PGDIBO: 1 year duration.
- Diploma in Creative Writing in English – DCE: 1 year to complete.
- Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education – DNHE: Takes 1 year.
- Diploma in Tourism Studies – DTS: 1 year to finish.
4. IGNOU Certificate Courses
Certificate courses are very short. They usually wrap up in just 6 months. These are perfect if you have some free time and want to learn something completely new without a massive time commitment.
- Certificate in Guidance – CIG: Great option for teachers or parents.
- Certificate in Teaching of English – CTE: Perfect for anyone wanting to teach English.
- Certificate in Disaster Management – CDM: Good for NGO or social workers.
- Certificate in Food and Nutrition – CFN: Great if you are into health and diet.
- Certificate in Information Technology – CIT: A solid computer course for absolute beginners.
How to Choose the Right IGNOU Course?
Now that you have the list, you might be thinking, which one should I pick? As someone who guides students daily, here is my honest advice.
First, look at your end goal. If you are preparing for UPSC or state services, take BAG with History or Political Science. The IGNOU study materials for these subjects are basically the holy grail for UPSC prep.
Second, if you want an IT job but don’t have a science background, BCA is your best friend. IGNOU actually allows non-maths students to pursue BCA if they clear a basic bridge course.
Please don’t just pick a course because your friend is doing it. Look at the syllabus on the website and ask yourself if you actually want to read those books for the next three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is an IGNOU degree valid for government jobs?
Answer: Yes, it is 100% valid. IGNOU is a central university. You can confidently apply for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and any state government job using your IGNOU degree.
Q2: Can I pursue two courses from IGNOU at the same time?
Answer: Yes! The UGC recently changed the rules. You can do one degree in regular mode from a physical college and one degree in distance mode from IGNOU at the exact same time. You can also do a degree and a short certificate course together within IGNOU.
Q3: Are there any entrance exams for admission?
Answer: For general courses like BAG, BCOMG, and MA, there is no entrance exam. You get direct admission. However, for professional courses like MBA, B.Ed, and Post Basic BSc Nursing, you definitely have to pass an entrance test first.
Q4: Will I get physical books or just PDFs?
Answer: IGNOU sends printed study materials directly to your registered home address via post. If you don’t want physical books, you can opt for digital PDFs and get a 15% discount on your admission fee!
Q5: What if I fail an exam in IGNOU?
Answer: Don’t panic. The best part about IGNOU is its flexibility. If you fail a subject in the June exams, you can simply fill out the exam form and reappear for that specific subject in the December exams without losing a whole year.
Final Thoughts
I really hope this IGNOU Complete Course List made things simple for you. The admission portal can look scary, and the prospectus is way too long. But at the end of the day, picking the right course is just about matching your personal interests with your career goals.
Take your time, check the courses I provided, and make a smart choice. If you are still confused between two courses, or if you want to know the exact fee for any specific program, just drop a comment down below. I read the comments every day and will definitely help you out. Take care and good luck with your admission!