With over 3.5 million enrollments since IGNOU's inception across its 370 programmes, IGNOU is truly a people’s university. Studying at IGNOU gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace while balancing work and personal commitments.
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Without a proper weekly and daily plan, it is easy to fall behind on assignments or feel unprepared for the exam. A simple daily and weekly study routine can make all the difference.
Working professionals, fresh graduates, homemakers, and learners in remote areas all take up IGNOU due to its flexibility. As the mode of study is flexible, consistent effort and discipline are extremely important.
The table below shows the ideal daily and weekly study hours for different programme levels, helping students balance coursework, assignments, and research while staying on track.
| Programme Level | Weekly Study Hours | Daily Study Hours | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
Certificate | 6–8 Hours | 1–1.5 Hours | Basic Concepts, Quick Skills, Assignments |
Diploma | 10–12 Hours | 1.5–2 Hours | Applied Learning, Fieldwork, Assignments |
Undergraduate | 15–18 Hours | 2–3 Hours | Theory + Practicals, Labs, Assignments |
Postgraduate | 18–20 Hours | 2–4 Hours | Advanced Study, Research, Dissertation |
Doctoral | 25–30 Hours | 3–5 Hours | Research, Thesis Writing, Data Collection |
Success at IGNOU is built on discipline and steady learning. By following the suggested daily and weekly hours, students can easily manage their studies. This ensures stress-free academic progress.
Whether it is a certificate, diploma, an undergraduate degree, a master’s programme, or a doctoral course, your daily and weekly study hours schedule will play a big role in the eventual outcome. Study plans for each level, which will help you balance theory, assignments and real-world applications while making full use of IGNOU’s unique resources.
Certificate courses are best for quick upskilling. IGNOU issued 1,61,150 certificates in the last year alone.
Daily (1–1.5 Hours): Spend 30 minutes reading and going through your Self Learning Material (SLM), 20 minutes watching IGNOU e-Content or SWAYAM videos, and around 20 minutes drafting notes or assignments.
Weekly (6–8 Hours): Revise twice a week and solve one set of past TEE questions over the weekend.
Student Tip: Use your commute time to listen to GyanVani FM or podcasts. Even as little as 15 minutes daily listening to FM and Podcasts will add up substantially to the overall understanding and learning of the subject.
Diplomas go deeper and often include practical work. IGNOU awarded 52,559 diplomas last year in areas like Dairy Technology, Watershed Management, and Creative Writing.
Daily (1.5–2 Hours): 45 minutes to theory, 30 minutes to online lectures, and 30 minutes to assignments or practical logs.
Weekly (10–12 Hours): Set aside one day just for applied tasks, fieldwork, case studies, or lab practice.
Student Tip: Join or start a WhatsApp/Telegram group with batchmates. Peer discussions keep you motivated and accountable.
UG programmes are the largest at IGNOU, with 1,13,876 degrees awarded in 2022–23. With CBCS (Choice-Based Credit System), you can personalise your learning.
Daily (2–3 hrs): 1 hour reading, 30 min for video/audio lectures (GyanDarshan TV or YouTube), 45 min writing TMAs (assignments), and 30 min self-testing.
Weekly (15–18 hrs): Keep your weekends for labs, practical work, or group revision.
Student Tip: Do not wait until the last week for assignments. Write 1–2 questions every week, due to which the workload at the end becomes much easier to manage.
At PG level, in-depth knowledge matters. IGNOU awarded 1,08,911 master’s degrees last year, covaering programmes from MBA to MA in Journalism, Sustainability, and more.
Daily (2–4 Hours): 1.5 hours reading advanced material, 1 hour analysing research papers, and 30–60 minutes writing assignments or dissertations.
Weekly (18–20 Hours): Dedicate one day to seminar participation, online group discussions, or connecting with mentors.
Student Tip: Use the IGNOU e-Content app to read journal articles and references on the go. Turn idle time into study time.
If you are pursuing a Ph.D. or M.Phil., your focus should be quality research. IGNOU currently has 762 active Ph.D. students across 23 disciplines, with 359 theses already submitted to Shodhganga.
Daily (3–5 Hours): 2 hours literature review, 1 hour thesis writing, and 30–60 minutes on data analysis or methodology.
Weekly (25–30 Hours): Reserve weekends for writing research papers and supervisor discussions.
Student Tip: Join IGNOU’s Innovation Club or attend webinars. Sharing your research ideas early sharpens them faster.
At IGNOU, consistency is the key, no matter the study level. By utilising your daily and weekly study hours, you can easily manage your assignments, revision, and practical work. Steps like listening to lectures during travel or writing a few assignment answers weekly can make a big difference in the longer run.
IGNOU’s convocation showcased the achievements of its student community, with nearly 2.92 lakh students being awarded degrees, diplomas, and certificates. From doctoral scholars to certificate achievers, the event showcased academic achievements, including 33 gold medallists and strong participation with over 60,000 graduates registered for the ceremony.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Total Students Awarded | 2,91,588 students completed degree/diploma/certificate requirements |
Awardees by Level | Masters: 10,8911 Bachelor: 1,13,876 Diploma: 52,559 Certificate: 16,150 |
Other Degrees Conferred | Ph.D.: 75 M.Phil.: 17 |
Gold Medalists | 33 students (Toppers in Minimum Duration Programs) |
Graduates Registered | 60K+ students registered for the 35th convocation |
At IGNOU, distance learning doesn’t mean learning alone. The university has established one of India’s strongest student support systems, providing guidance, resources, and opportunities for interaction for every learner.
69 Regional Centres (including Army, Navy, Assam Rifles, and Leh) and 2,062 Learner Support Centres provide counselling, assignment help, and exam guidance. Over 51,000 academic counsellors support students.
IGNOU offers 193 SWAYAM MOOCs with 13.5 lakh+ learners, 126 courses adopted by universities for credit transfer. Many courses are available in eight regional languages.
GyanDarshan TV, SWAYAM PRABHA channels, and GyanVani FM broadcast 13 hours of daily lectures and counselling. Interactive Radio Counselling and Gyandhara internet radio enable direct faculty interaction.
The c portal supports 45 programmes with e-content, counselling, and updates. Students also access materials through the IGNOU e-Content App and eGyankosh repository.
The Student Service Centre resolved 4.28 lakh grievances and 58 lakh queries in 2022–23. Regional Centres held 1,073 induction sessions for new learners.
IGNOU operates Special Centres for Persons with Disabilities, enrolling over 4,200 students with disabilities. Accessible resources include 6.77 lakh e-books via Sugamaya Pustakalaya.
Studying at IGNOU is about building consistent habits. Whether you are planning to pursue a certificate for upskilling yourself or a Doctorate to gain more knowledge, consistency and discipline is the key. Plan your week, stick to your daily hours, and use IGNOU’s resources smartly.
Remember, you chose IGNOU for flexibility. With the right routine, that flexibility helps you complete the programme.
On Question asked by student community
Hello aspirant,
Yes, IGNOUs PG Diploma in Geriatric Medicine is usually offered and continues to run as part of its medical and health sciences programmes. For the 2026 cycle , IGNOU generally opens admissions i jaunary and july sessions , and you can check official IGNOU prospectus or student portal for the exact status and last dates . You should contact the IGNOU regional centre or visit their website to confirm if the current session admissions are open.
FOR REFERENCE : https://www.careers360.com/university/indira-gandhi-national-open-university-new-delhi/courses
Hope the details will help you.
THANK YOU
Hello
Yes, you can do an IGNOU B.Ed (distance mode) along with a regular M.Sc from another university at the same time.
UGC rules now allow students to pursue two degree courses simultaneously.
One course should preferably be in distance/ODL mode and the other in regular mode, which fits your case.
Both degrees will be considered valid, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each course. You will need to manage your classes, exams, and schedules on your own. It’s always best to confirm once with IGNOU and your M.Sc university before final admission.
Having currently doing the PGDMCH from IGNOU, the eligibility for you to take the DNB PDCET after the completion of your ongoing diploma course to obtain a secondary degree might modify. You can check out the latest requirements and eligibility criteria for the DNB PDCET follow the given link
Hello,
You cannot directly transfer your M.Com admission from IGNOU to Jain University. IGNOU and Jain University follow different systems, so credit transfer between them is usually not allowed.
If you want to study at Jain University, you will need to take fresh admission there. You can, however, check with Jain University if they accept credit transfer or lateral entry from IGNOU, though this is very rare.
So, most likely, you will have to take new admission in M.Com at Jain University and start again from the first year.
Hope it helps !
Hello,
Yes, you can transfer your BCA credits from Andhra University to IGNOU through the External Credit Transfer (ECT) process.
Steps you may follow.
Your final IGNOU degree is valid for UPSC and all government jobs, as IGNOU is UGC and AIU-recognized.
Hope you understand.
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