Yes, IGNOU is UGC approved, so masters degrees from IGNOU are acceptable for Ph.D. courses in top universities.
But to get admission you will have to meet the other eligibility criteria as well. The university will check your marks, rank, average, and age. As IGNOU is an open university, there is no age bar for learning any degree.
Recently, UGC stated that only Full-time Phd courses will be Valid and distance PhD is no more valid. The new full-time Ph.D. course will be delivered through the New Delhi main Campus of IGNOU. This change in itself has raised the worth and credibility of a Ph.D. from IGNOU. Here are a few Ph.D. programs offered in regular mode by IGNOU
Moreover, IGNOU is the largest open university in the world, so the credibility of any degree from here cannot be doubted. What actually matters is the level of effort you put into research in the concerned field. Try to earn your degree and not just get one.
If you are considering pursuing a Ph.D. at IIT-M, you might be interested in knowing about the similarities and differences between a regular Ph.D. and a direct Ph.D. Here's what you need to know:
Selection Procedure:
Coursework:
Comprehensive Exam:
Financial Assistance:
Stipend:
Pre-Post Doc Fellowship:
If you want to achieve self-satisfaction by gaining maximum knowledge about your research area, a Ph.D. could be a great way to do so. Consider coming to IIT Bombay if you are always enthusiastic about learning something new and doing something innovative. Your work will depend on your area and how far you can reach in the industry. For example, if your area is controlled, you can reach many consulting firms or industries that deal with automation problems. In fact, my lab deals with many industrial problems related to such issues. Your work will be recognized as an asset for IITB, and research is the foremost thing that every professor looks forward to.
Apart from that, you can enjoy a good life as a Ph.D. student here, with the freedom to think in many directions and develop your research skills at your own pace. A Ph.D. degree from IIT Bombay is well-recognized. Many of the students, who are doing their Ph. D.s here in controls, are well settled abroad or in India, which proves the worth of this degree.
It’s highly illogical to question why some students in IIT leave high-paying jobs and join graduate schools for Ph.D. This is because some people tend to do whatever makes them happy rather than following the sheep mentality. They don’t consider money as the only source of happiness. And they know that a high-paying job will rob them of mental peace due to a lot of responsibilities they might not even enjoy. So they choose a happier and simpler part which is pursuing a Ph.D.
Another major reason why people may pursue a Ph.D. rather than working at a top company is their strong inclination to words academics, and they may not be satisfied with a bachelor's degree and crave higher studies in the form of PhD. Basically, the reason behind such a decision is subjective and depends solely On the particular individual, and cannot be objectified.
The common reason why people make such a decision is that they have more interest in studies and doing a job would hinder that passion. Doing a Ph.D. gives you opportunities to travel and enjoy life generally. That being said, it's not necessary that a Ph.D. is easy for everyone. It strictly depends upon one’s preferences and capabilities.
The placement scenario after PhD in IIT Bombay is generally poor, according to student feedback and departmental elections.
The average salary for a Ph.D. student at IIT Bombay ranges from INR 3.4 Lakhs to INR 4.2 Lakhs per year.
PhD from IGNOU is as valuable as from any other university. The UGC has recently ruled that PhD from distance education is no longer valid. This is applicable to every university.
PhD is valid only in regular mode. This can be both part-time or full-time. IGNOU offers both so yes PhD from IGNOU is valuable. In fact, it is more valuable than the same degree from Manipal or Lovely Professional University.
PhD from IGNOU is valuable because of the following reasons:
Affordable fees
Both part-time and full-time available ( both approved by UGC)
Easy distance education
Can be pursued alongside a business or profession.
What really matters is what you learn during your course and how you apply it.
The table below shows the key placement highlights of MSc applied statistics students of IIT Bombay.
Particulars |
Statistics |
Median Salary |
INR 55.4 LPA |
Average Salary |
INR 17.9 LPA |
Placement Percentage |
66.67% |
International Offers |
58 |
Top Recruiters |
Accenture | Analog Devices | Apple | CITI Bank | Google | Hindustan Unilever | HONEYWELL | IBM | ISRO |
Well, getting a Ph.D. from IISc is indeed difficult. In my opinion, the true meaning of a Ph.D. is investing your entire efforts, time, and knowledge in one specific region. In India though, Ph.D. is just considered a degree one can achieve by publishing some paper in some conference or journal. The quality of these papers is poor and substandard bringing down the sort of the degree.
However, IISc being a prestigious institute has managed to maintain the dignity and credibility of the degree so far. You need to prepare yourself for committing to hard work and high-level dedication. Know that your next 5-6 years will be spent proving and disproving every hypothesis possible and conducting infinite experiments.
As a Ph.D. student, you will be publishing a few journals in top international forums and also writing your own thesis, which will culminate your entire work and present it before other researchers and professors of the institute. You will then be assessed thoroughly. Only after proving your point strongly and convincing them will you be able to get the degree.
During this whole time, you will face many struggles dealing with your PI and securing funds for your research work. But trust me the result will be worth the effort!
The mentors and research facilities at IITs are much better than at BITS Pilani. However, the passing process is as much more difficult at IITs.
BITS Pilani, on the other hand, is flexible to incorporate the changing scenario and a PhD from BITS Pilani is much more industry relevant.
One of my cousins had a bad experience at BITS Pilani during his Ph.D. in the Mechanical branch. According to him, a large number of Ph.D. students in BITS Pilani drop out because of the intense pressure for producing results. PhD students are burdened with numerous tasks including the evaluation work for B.Tech. The saving grace for Ph.D. at BITS is that under a guide, your Ph.D. will be completed in 3 years like an MS from IIT.
Considering my cousin’s experience, you should consult the alumni at BITS Pilani before choosing the institution for pursuing your Ph.D. Otherwise, BITS Pilani is a reputable institution and its Ph.D. degree will hold great relevance. More so, if you get the right mentors and the right facilities, the name tag of an institution becomes secondary.