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The Post Graduate Diploma in Analytical Chemistry (PGDAC) is a one-year continuing education programme offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under its School of Sciences. Designed primarily for working chemists employed in industry, R&D, and national laboratories, the programme covers modern analytical techniques including separation methods, spectroscopic methods, and electroanalytical methods. The total programme fee is Rs. 10,000 (plus applicable registration and development fees), with a seat intake open to all eligible candidates across IGNOU's study centres. The programme carries 32 credits and is offered exclusively in English medium, making it a highly accessible and affordable upskilling option for science graduates and working professionals in the chemical sciences.

Admissions for the January 2026 cycle are currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form is 30th March 2026. Students can apply online through the IGNOU Samarth admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

Distance Mode Study Centres

Since PGDAC is offered exclusively in ODL (Distance) mode, students must attend practical/lab sessions at designated IGNOU Study Centres. The programme is currently offered at the following study centres across India:

Regional Centre	Study Centre
Hyderabad	Kavitha Memorial Degree College (0148)
Hyderabad	Nizam College (01152)
Karnal	Dayal Singh College IGNOU LSC 1087
Jammu	Govt. M.A.M. College (1232)
Bangalore	N.M.K.R.V. College for Women (13158)
Bhopal	Bherulal Patidar Govt. P.G. College (15256)
Bhopal	Career College Campus (15260)
Bhopal	Government Girls P.G. College, Vidisha (15245)
Bhopal	Government SMS P.G. College, Shivpuri (15247)
Bhopal	Govt. P.G. Arts and Science College (15234)
Bhopal	Govt. P.G. College, Morena (15272)
Bhopal	IGNOU Regional Centre Bhopal (1500)
Pune	Abeda Inamdar Senior College (16144)
Pune	M.S.P. Mandal's Balbhim Arts, Science and Commerce College (1639)
Pune	Vidya Pratishtan's School of Biotechnology (1693P)
Port Blair	JNR Mahavidyalaya (0201)
Bhubaneswar	KIIT, Patia (2101)
Khanna	Guru Nanak Girls College (2206)
Jaipur	Government College Gandhi Circle (23193)
Jaipur	Govt. College, Ajmer (2306)
Jaipur	Govt. P.G. College, Jhalawar (2368)
Chennai	DDGD Vaishnava College (2501)
Agartala	Tripura University (2601)
Lucknow	Lucknow Christian P.G. College (2720)
Delhi 2 (ITO)	Zakir Hussain College (29058)
Srinagar	Shri Pratap Singh College (1209)
Dehradun	D.S.B. Campus, Kumaon University, Nainital (2762)
Dehradun	M.B. P.G. College, Haldwani (2711)
Nagpur	Hislop College (36055)
Nagpur	Institute of Science, Nagpur (36009P)
Delhi 3 (Naraina)	Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences (38042)
Noida	Government P.G. College (2739)
Noida	Govt. Raza P.G. College, Rampur (27127)
Noida	Hindu College (2714)
Noida	S.D. College, Muzaffarnagar (2749)
Noida	St. John's College (2702)
Guwahati	Arya Vidyapeeth College (04177)
Trivandrum	Catholicate College (1404)
Trivandrum	Mar Ivanios College (40043)
Trivandrum	Mar Ivanios Institute of Advanced Studies (1441)
Jabalpur	RDVV University, Jabalpur (1502)
Madurai	Bishop Heber College (2504)
Madurai	G.T.N. Arts College (43080)
Madurai	Rani Anna Govt. College for Women (40032)
Varanasi	B.R.D. P.G. College, Deoria (27119)
Varanasi	D.A.V. Azamgarh (48034)
Varanasi	Udai Pratap Autonomous College (2708)
Patna	IGNOU Regional Centre Patna (0500)
Patna	T.P.S. College (0568)
Army-Udhampur	HRDC HQ Northern Command (5501)
Delhi 1 (South Delhi)	Jamia Millia Islamia University (0765)
Visakhapatnam	IGNOU Regional Centre Visakhapatnam (8400)
Visakhapatnam	M.V.R. Degree College, Shramika Nagar (84019)
Jodhpur	Govt. College, Pratapgarh (2370)
Angul	IGNOU Regional Centre Angul (8900)

Key Points

PGDAC is a continuing education programme specifically designed for working chemists and science graduates seeking to enhance their skills in modern analytical techniques.
The programme includes both theory and practical (lab) components, with lab sessions conducted at designated IGNOU Study Centres.
Students must attend practical counselling sessions at their allotted study centre; the programme cannot be completed entirely from home.
The programme is offered only in English medium.
Maximum duration to complete the programme is 4 years from the date of enrolment.
Assignments are a mandatory component and must be submitted before appearing in the Term-End Examination (TEE).
The programme is not available for international students.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU Latest Updates and News

06 May, 2026 IGNOU has opened re-registration for the Jul 2026 session for all ODL and Online programs. Register now! The last date to apply @ignou.ac.in is Jun 30, 2026.

IGNOU PGDAC Fees

The PGDAC programme is one of the most affordable postgraduate-level chemistry qualifications available in India. The total programme fee is Rs. 10,000, payable at the time of admission. In addition, a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 and a Development Fee of Rs. 200 are charged, bringing the total payable at admission to Rs. 10,500. Examination fees are charged separately each time a student appears for the Term-End Examination.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Programme (Tuition) Fee	10,000
Registration Fee (one-time, non-refundable)	300
Development Fee (one-time)	200
Examination Fee - Theory (per paper, 4 papers x Rs. 200)	800
Examination Fee - Practical/Lab (per paper, 4 papers x Rs. 300)	1,200
Total Fees	12,500

The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable under all circumstances.
If a student cancels admission after confirmation, 15% of the programme fee will be deducted, subject to a maximum deduction of Rs. 2,000.
No refund is admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.
Examination fees are paid separately at the time of submitting the examination form and are not included in the programme fee.
Hostel facility is not applicable for this distance learning programme.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card, Debit Card (Visa/Master/RuPay), or Net Banking through the IGNOU Samarth portal.

IGNOU PGDAC Admission 2026

Admissions to PGDAC are open twice a year - in January and July cycles. The January 2026 cycle is currently active, with the last date for application extended to 30th March 2026. There is no entrance exam for this programme; admission is based on eligibility. Students must apply online through the IGNOU Samarth portal and upload scanned copies of required documents. The June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) is scheduled from 1st June to 15th July 2026.

IGNOU PGDAC Admission and Exam Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Admission Opens	16th December 2025
Last Date for Application (January 2026 Cycle)	30th March 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (without late fee)	10th March - 10th April 2026
Exam Form Submission - June 2026 TEE (with late fee of Rs. 1,100)	11th April - 24th April 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Begins	1st June 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE) Ends	15th July 2026
July 2026 Admission Cycle (Tentative)	July 2026

Relevant Exam Dates

There is no external entrance exam required for admission to IGNOU PGDAC. Admission is direct based on eligibility. The only examination relevant to this programme is IGNOU's own Term-End Examination (TEE), details of which are provided in Table 1 above.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Science Graduate with Chemistry as a subject, OR
B. Pharma degree holders, OR
B.Tech degree holders (relevant discipline)
No age bar for admission

Admission Process:

Visit the IGNOU Samarth portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in and register as a new user
Select PGDAC from the list of available programmes and verify your eligibility
Fill in the online application form with personal, academic, and study centre details
Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, educational qualification certificates, and category certificate (if applicable)
Pay the programme fee, registration fee, and development fee online
Submit the application form and save/print the confirmation for future reference
Await confirmation of admission from IGNOU; study material will be dispatched to the registered address
Attend practical/lab counselling sessions at the allotted study centre as per the schedule announced by the Regional Centre

IGNOU PGDAC Scholarships 2026

IGNOU offers fee support and scholarship opportunities to eligible students, making the PGDAC programme even more accessible. The most significant benefit is the SC/ST fee waiver, which covers the full programme fee for eligible students. Additionally, students can apply for central government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal after confirmation of admission.

Scholarship Benefits

Scholarship / Fee Support	Eligibility	Benefit
SC/ST Fee Waiver (IGNOU)	SC/ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Full programme fee waiver (tuition fee exemption)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Scholarships	As per individual scheme criteria (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/PwD/EWS)	Varies by scheme; covers tuition fee and/or maintenance allowance
State Government Scholarships	As per respective state government norms	Varies by state and category

SC/ST students must submit valid caste certificate and income certificate at the time of admission to avail the fee waiver.
Students who received fee exemption at the time of fresh admission are also eligible for fee exemption at the time of re-registration.
Applications for NSP scholarships can be submitted at scholarships.gov.in after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable and is not covered under the fee waiver.

IGNOU PGDAC FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue IGNOU PGDAC while working full-time in a lab or industry?

Ans. Yes, PGDAC is specifically designed for working professionals. The ODL format means you study at your own pace using self-learning materials. The only mandatory in-person requirement is attending practical/lab sessions at your allotted study centre, which are typically scheduled on weekends or in batches to accommodate working students.

Ques. Is the IGNOU PGDAC degree/diploma recognised by industries and government labs?

Ans. IGNOU is a central university established by an Act of Parliament and is recognised by the UGC. The PGDAC qualification is recognised and accepted by industries, R&D organisations, and government laboratories. However, for roles requiring NCAHP-recognised qualifications, note that NCAHP recognises qualifications acquired through regular mode only.

Ques. What happens if I cannot complete the programme in one year?

Ans. IGNOU allows a maximum duration of 4 years to complete the PGDAC programme from the date of enrolment. If you miss a Term-End Examination, you can appear in the next available TEE (June or December cycle) without re-enrolling, as long as you are within the maximum programme duration.

Ques. Are the practical/lab sessions mandatory? What if the study centre allotted to me is far from my location?

Ans. Yes, practical sessions are mandatory for PGDAC as the programme includes 4 lab courses (MCHL 1 to MCHL 4). You must attend these at your allotted study centre. At the time of applying, you can choose your preferred study centre from the list of active centres. It is advisable to select a centre closest to your location. The schedule for practical sessions is announced by the respective Regional Centre.

Ques. Can I appear in the Term-End Examination without submitting assignments?

Ans. No. Submission of assignments is a mandatory prerequisite for appearing in the Term-End Examination. Students must submit the required number of assignments for each course to their study centre before the prescribed deadline. Assignments also carry internal assessment marks that contribute to the final result.

Ques. Is there any difference between the January and July admission cycles for PGDAC?

Ans. Both cycles offer the same programme content and fee structure. The key difference is the timing of the Term-End Examination: students admitted in the January cycle typically appear for the June TEE, while those admitted in the July cycle appear for the December TEE. The availability of study centres may vary slightly between cycles, so it is advisable to check the IGNOU admission portal for the list of active centres at the time of applying.