IGNOU begins registration for January 2026 fresh admission

A social media post of IGNOU said: “The Fresh Admission for the January, 2026 session for the notified programmes offered in ODL commenced from 16th December, 2025 on the Samarth Portal. Samarth Portal may be referred for the notified Programmes. The last date of Fresh Admissions for the January, 2026 Session is 31st January, 2026.”

IGNOU fresh admission form 2025: How to fill

Step 1: First, students will have to visit the official website of IGNOU – ignou.ac.in or ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Step 2: Go to the Register Online’ tab and click on it followed by ‘Fresh Admissions’
Step 3: Click on the ‘New Registrations’ tab
Step 4: Fill in all the required registration details
Step 5: Set a ‘Username’ and ‘Password’
Step 6: Fill all the required information and submit
Step 7: With the login details received on the email ID and phone number, login using the same and fill in all the details required
Step 8: Select the programme to be studied
Step 9: Submit the IGNOU registration form

Students are asked to keep their APAAR ID ready before starting the application process for the January 2026 session.

Before proceeding for filling the form online the applicant must have the following:-
Scanned Photograph (less than 100 KB)
Scanned Signature (less than 100 KB)
Scanned copy of relevant Educational Qualification (less than 200 KB)
Scanned Copy of Experience Certificate (if any) (less than 200 KB)
Scanned Copy of Category Certificate, if SC/ST/OBC (less than 200 KB)

Eligible students can also apply for government scholarships on the national scholarship portal at – scholarships.gov.in after confirmation of admission.

The registration fee is non-refundable. However, the fee paid will be refunded if a request for cancellation is received before the confirmation of admission.

In cases where the cancellation request is submitted after admission has been confirmed, an amount equivalent to 15 per cent of the programme fee, subject to a maximum deduction of Rs 2,000, will be deducted from the fee paid.

If a student has opted for a soft copy of the study material, the refund will be processed after deducting only the registration fee. For students who have availed a fee exemption and have paid only the registration fee and development fee, only the development fee will be refunded upon cancellation. No refund of fees will be admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.