IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission 2026: Admission window is now open for the session 2025-26 for the IGNOU PhD program in psychology lasts 3 to 6 years. In order to be eligible for this program, candidates must have a master’s degree in psychology or an equivalent degree from an accredited board or university, with a minimum grade of 55% (or 50% for students in the reserved category). Indira Gandhi National Open University offers a PhD program in psychology, and candidates can apply online at the university’s official website. Last date to enrol in PhD Psychology program is 31st January 2026*. However, candidates must take the National Testing Agency (NTA), a national entrance exam administered by the University’s Doctoral Research Committee, to be admitted to a PhD program. Candidates with an M.Phil degree or those who have already passed tests like JRF, GATE, or NET are eligible to attend the interview in person.
IGNOU PHD Psychology Admission 2026 Latest Updates:
- IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission is live now for January 2026 session for all Online and ODL programmes. The admission portal will remain open till 31st January 2026*. Source
- The Re-registration is open for the academic year 2026-27. Students can register through IGNOU’s official website before the extended end date of 31st January 2026. Source
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mind. This study tells us about what people feel, think, and act in different unwanted or wanted situations. Various topics like thoughts, emotions, relationships, and motivation are explored by expert psychologists. Psychologists mainly aim to learn about a person’s behaviour and find ways to improve their well-being and mental health. Subjects of psychology is used in various fields like education, sports, healthcare, and business to solve problems of each and every person by promoting personal growth with science, as it helps in a better understanding of ourselves.
Scope of Psychology:-
- Human Development
- Social Behaviour
- Emotions
- Personality
- Abnormal psychology
IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission 2026-27 Highlights
| Particulars | Program Detail |
| Program Name | Phd in Psychology |
| Duration | 3 to 6 years |
| Institute Name | IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Average Course Fee | INR 15,000 to INR 55,000 |
| Program Level | Doctoral Level |
| Age Limit | No age limit |
| Job Roles | Counseling Psychologist, Neuropsychologist, Addiction Counselor |
| Salary Provided (Average) | 2 lakh to 10 lakh per annum |
| Session | January and July |
IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission 2026
Admission form acceptance has started in IGNOU for Phd in Psychology for the session January 2026. The last date for the program is 31st January 2026. The duration of this program is 3 to 6 years with a total fee of INR 15,000 to INR 55,000. Candidates must have passed a Master’s degree in psychology or equivalent.
IGNOU conducts admission 2 times in a year, in January and July sessions. The July session admission gets started in May every year, so you can apply for admission directly by visiting the official website portal of IGNOU
(@ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in) And if anyone wants to submit the application form in offline mode, they need to visit the nearest centre of IGNOU to submit the form.
IGNOU Phd Psychology Admission Form
For the January session IGNOU PhD Psychology admission form submission is open now for both fresh and re-registration. Visit the IGNOU Samarth portal to apply for the program. Make sure to fill in each detail carefully mentioned in the application form, with the submission of the important documents along with the application fee.
IGNOU PhD Psychology Entrance Exam Question Paper
IGNOU PhD Psychology fresh admission for the January session is currently open, and Students who have qualified for the entrance exam can prepare for the interview under their selected discipline. The interview for the different disciplines is going on. Now, the entrance exam will be conducted for the January 2026 session. Every student has to qualify for the entrance exam (PET) to get admission to the PhD program. To find the question papers, students need to visit the official website of the IGNOU entrance exam question paper.
IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission Eligibility Criteria
Applicants need to have a Master’s degree with a minimum of 55% of marks for general caste and 50% for reserved category students, or equal to in the relevant field, to get qualified for admission in the PhD program at IGNOU. 5% of special relaxation is granted for the students who are from other categories like SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or differently abled.
- Must have a master’s degree from a UGC approved university in a similar specialization or equivalent.
- Students are required to have a master’s degree with a minimum of 55% of marks for the general category and 50% for reserved category students belonging to (SC, ST, OBC) or students with any kind of disability
- If you have done an M.Phil degree ( with at least 55% of marks or equivalent score) are also eligible for the Phd admission.
- Individuals with a four-year bachelor’s degree can also apply for Phd if they have scored a minimum of 75% of marks in UG degree.
IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission Fee Structure
IGNOU PhD fee range can basically depend upon the INR 15,000 to INR 55,000. The duration of the program is 3 to 6 years, so the fee range can change accordingly. Additional fees may be included in this total fee, such as registration, research fee, or practical work fee, etc.
| Particulars | Total Program Fee |
| Total Program Fee | INR 15,000 to INR 55,000 |
| Annual Fee | INR 15,000 approx for the first year |
| Duration of the Program | 3 to 6 years |
| Registration Fee | INR 1,000 |
IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission Process (Online)
The Admission Process for Phd in IGNOU involves an entrance test, registration, and a personal interview. Applicants need to qualify for the entrance test or should have an M.Phil degree. Selected candidates are invited for the interview, where the subject domain, communication skills are checked.
Step 1: Visit the official portal of IGNOU (@ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in) and get registered for the PhD program.
Step 2: Make sure you are eligible to pursue the IGNOU PhD Psychology admission, and you should have a master’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum percentage of 50 to 55% of marks, including reserved category student relaxation.
Step 3: IGNOU conducts Phd entrance exam for applicants who are interested in enrolling in this program, so candidates need to appear for the entrance test.
Step 4: Selected individuals in the entrance test of IGNOU Phd are asked to visit for a personal interview.
Step 5: After the successful payment of the application fee, the selected candidate will get an offer letter for the specific course they are going to pursue.
Documents Required for IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission
- Certificate of 10th and 12th Marksheet
- Category Certificate if required
- Passport Size photograph (Recent)
- Scanned Signature
- Identity Proof ( Aadhar Card, Pan Card)
- Address Proof
IGNOU PhD Psychology Admission Process (Offline)
Step 1: Applicants are required to visit the nearest IGNOU Regional Centre
Step 2: From the Student Service cell, you will get an IGNOU PhD Psychology admission form to apply.
Step 3: Fill the registration form with accurate information about personal and academic details
Step 4: Write the specialization you are interested in pursuing from IGNOU
Step 5: Attach the required documents asked in an application form, like for PhD, they need a Master’s degree certificate, Marksheets of both 10th and 12th certificates, Category certificate if belonging to (SC, ST, OBC) with identity proof.
Step 6: Application fee of INR 1000 needs to be submitted for session 2026 to complete the application process for the PhD admission in IGNOU.
FAQs:
Que. 1) What are the IGNOU PhD Psychology admission eligibility?
Ans.) Students have at least 55% marks in their master’s for the general category for 50% marks for the reserved category for the PhD Psychology at IGNOU admission.
Que. 2) When will the IGNOU PhD Psychology admission 2026 start?
Ans.) Admission for PhD Psychology at IGNOU has already started from 16th December 2025*.
Que. 3) Is there any entrance exam for admission PhD in Psychology?
Ans.) An entrance exam is conducted for the students by IGNOU to take admission in PhD in Psychology, but candidates who secured good marks in GATE, JRF, GMAT don’t need to give the entrance exam.
Que. 4) What is IGNOU PhD eligibility?
Ans.) To pursue PhD in IGNOU a candidate should score a minimum of 55% marks in a Master’s Degree or 75% marks in 4 year bachelors degree, and should clear the entrance exam and interview.
