Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies (programme code: PHDITS) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, is a unique doctoral programme offered under the School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS). The programme provides a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies with specializations in Culture and Civilization, Migration and Diaspora, Labour Studies, Gender Studies, and Tribal Studies. It spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with the total fee for the minimum duration being Rs. 34,650 (excluding thesis submission and exam fees). Admission is based on UGC NET qualification followed by an interview at IGNOU headquarters, New Delhi. The programme is popular for its unique interdisciplinary approach, affordable fee structure, and IGNOU's NAAC A++ accreditation and NIRF Rank 1 in the Open University category.

Admission for the July 2026 session is expected to open around April 2026, with the application portal at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in. For the July 2025 session, the last date to apply was August 9, 2025. The upcoming July 2026 session application window is tentatively expected from April to May 2026. All coursework is conducted at IGNOU's main campus in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, with mandatory 80% attendance during the 6-month coursework phase.

Note: IGNOU PhD (Interdisciplinary Studies) is offered in regular mode (Part Time and Full Time categories), not in distance mode. Both categories of students must attend coursework physically at IGNOU Campus, New Delhi.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS), which was awarded the Best School Award at IGNOU's 36th Foundation Day in 2022.
Specializations available include Culture and Civilization, Migration and Diaspora, Labour Studies, Gender Studies, and Tribal Studies.
The programme draws upon theoretical, empirical, and methodological resources cutting across disciplinary boundaries.
Both Part Time and Full Time categories are available; Part Time candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer.
Coursework is conducted for the first 6 months at IGNOU's headquarters, New Delhi, with mandatory 80% attendance.
Eligibility is broad: any Master's Degree from a UGC-recognized university is accepted, making it accessible to scholars from diverse academic backgrounds.
The medium of instruction is English.
IGNOU has its own Research Fellowship scheme for full-time scholars (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Fellowship for male scholars and Savitribai Phule Fellowship for female scholars).

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU PhD Fees

The Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary Studies) programme at IGNOU follows the standard PhD fee structure applicable to all IGNOU doctoral programmes. The first-year fee of Rs. 17,850 covers registration and coursework charges, while subsequent years require a re-registration fee of Rs. 8,400 per year. For the minimum 3-year duration, the total programme fee amounts to Rs. 34,650, with an additional thesis submission fee of Rs. 5,000 payable at the time of thesis submission.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Registration Fee (1st Year)	9,450
Course Work Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Re-Registration Fee (2nd Year)	8,400
Re-Registration Fee (3rd Year)	8,400
Thesis Submission Fee	5,000
Total Fees (3 Years + Thesis)	39,650

Application fee of Rs. 1,000 is non-refundable and is paid at the time of applying.
Examination fee is Rs. 200 per subject (charged separately, not included above).
IGNOU does not have hostel facilities; students must arrange their own accommodation in Delhi.
The fee structure is applicable from 2020 onwards as per the official IGNOU fee structure document.

IGNOU PhD Admission 2026

Admission to IGNOU Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary Studies) is conducted once a year for the July session. The selection process is based on UGC NET qualification and an interview conducted at IGNOU's headquarters in New Delhi. For the July 2026 session, the application process is expected to begin around April 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official IGNOU website (ignou.ac.in) and the PhD admission portal (ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in) for updates.

IGNOU PhD Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Portal Opens (Tentative)	April 2026
Last Date to Apply (Tentative)	May 2026
Interview Schedule Announcement	June 2026 (Tentative)
Interviews at IGNOU HQ, New Delhi	June - July 2026 (Tentative)
Result / Selected Candidates List	July 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement / Coursework Begins	July 2026 (Tentative)

Reference: For July 2025 session, the last date to apply was August 9, 2025.

UGC NET Exam Dates

Event	Phase 1 (Completed)	Phase 2 (Upcoming - Tentative)
Registration Start	October 7, 2025	April 1, 2026
Registration End	November 7, 2025	May 1, 2026
Admit Card Release	December 28, 2025	June 1, 2026
Exam Dates	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026	June 2026
Answer Key Release	January 14, 2026	July 1, 2026
Result Declaration	February 4, 2026	July 1, 2026

Source: Verified. Official source: https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s301eee509ee2f68dc6014898c309e86bf/uploads/2025/10/20251007780775027.pdf

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have a Master's Degree from a University recognized by UGC or any other qualification recognized as equivalent thereto, with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC non-creamy layer/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates).
Candidates must have a valid UGC NET score (with or without JRF) from June 2024 session onwards in a relevant discipline.
UGC NET JRF holders (Category A) are directly called for interview; UGC NET without JRF holders (Category B) are shortlisted based on NET score (70% weightage) and interview (30% weightage).

Admission Process

Register and fill the online application form at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in and pay the non-refundable application fee of Rs. 1,000.
Upload all required documents including academic certificates, UGC NET scorecard, and NOC from employer (mandatory for Part Time candidates).
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview at IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
The interview evaluates Research Methodology (40%), Subject Domain (40%), and Communication Skills (20%).
Selected candidates are notified via the IGNOU official website; no individual intimation is sent.
Offer letters are issued to selected candidates, who must then complete the admission formalities and pay the programme fee.
Seats are reserved as per Government of India norms (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD).

IGNOU PhD Scholarships 2026

IGNOU PhD scholars in Interdisciplinary Studies have access to multiple fellowship and scholarship schemes from IGNOU and external funding agencies. IGNOU's own Research Fellowship scheme provides financial support to full-time scholars, while external fellowships from UGC, ICSSR, ICHR, and government bodies are also available. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the programme, scholars may be eligible for fellowships from multiple funding agencies depending on their specific research area.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount
IGNOU Research Fellowship (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Fellowship - Male)	Full-time PhD scholars at IGNOU (selected by committee)	Rs. 8,000/month + Rs. 8,000/year contingency grant
IGNOU Research Fellowship (Savitribai Phule Fellowship - Female)	Full-time PhD scholars at IGNOU (selected by committee)	Rs. 8,000/month + Rs. 8,000/year contingency grant
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Candidates who qualify UGC NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) / Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship	Social science / humanities research scholars	Rs. 25,000/month + contingency
ICHR Research Fellowship	History and related disciplines	As per ICHR norms
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Minority community candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) / Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC)	SC category candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) / Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
National Fellowship for OBC Students (NFOBC)	OBC category candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) / Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
National Fellowship for ST Students (NFST)	ST category candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) / Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)

IGNOU Research Fellowship is available only to full-time PhD scholars; Part Time scholars are not eligible.
External fellowships require separate applications to the respective funding agencies.
Candidates already receiving a fellowship from any other source are generally not eligible for IGNOU's own fellowship.
For detailed guidelines, visit: ignou.ac.in/pages/197

IGNOU PhD FAQs

Ques. What makes IGNOU PhD Interdisciplinary Studies different from other PhD programmes?

Ans. IGNOU PhD Interdisciplinary Studies (PHDITS) is unique because it allows scholars to pursue research that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Unlike conventional PhD programmes confined to a single discipline, this programme enables research in areas like Migration and Diaspora, Tribal Studies, Labour Studies, and Gender Studies, drawing upon multiple disciplines simultaneously. This makes it ideal for scholars whose research questions cannot be addressed within a single discipline.

Ques. What UGC NET subject should I qualify for IGNOU PhD Interdisciplinary Studies?

Ans. Since the programme is interdisciplinary, candidates can qualify UGC NET in any relevant discipline related to their proposed research area. For example, candidates researching Gender Studies may qualify NET in Women's Studies or Sociology; those researching Tribal Studies may qualify in Anthropology or History; and those researching Migration and Diaspora may qualify in Sociology or History. Candidates should check with the programme coordinator for specific subject requirements.

Ques. Is IGNOU PhD Interdisciplinary Studies a distance learning programme?

Ans. No, IGNOU PhD (Interdisciplinary Studies) is NOT a distance learning programme. Both Part Time and Full Time PhD students must physically attend the 6-month coursework at IGNOU's main campus in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, with mandatory 80% attendance. After the coursework phase, research work can be carried out with periodic visits to the supervisor.

Ques. Can a candidate from a science background apply for IGNOU PhD Interdisciplinary Studies?

Ans. Yes, since the eligibility requires only a Master's Degree from a UGC-recognized university, candidates from science, social science, or humanities backgrounds can apply, provided their proposed research area aligns with the specializations offered by SOITS (Culture and Civilization, Migration and Diaspora, Labour Studies, Gender Studies, Tribal Studies). The interdisciplinary nature of the programme welcomes diverse academic backgrounds.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from IGNOU?

Ans. A PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from IGNOU opens doors to careers in academia (Assistant Professor in interdisciplinary departments, cultural studies, gender studies, diaspora studies), research institutions (ICSSR, ICHR, IIAS - Indian Institute of Advanced Study), government policy research, NGOs working in tribal welfare, gender equality, and migration issues, think tanks, and international organizations. The degree is UGC-compliant and recognized across India.

Ques. How does the research supervision work for IGNOU PhD Interdisciplinary Studies?

Ans. Research supervision is provided by faculty members of SOITS, IGNOU, who have specializations in History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Tribal Studies, Sociology, Disability Studies, Gender Studies, Diaspora Studies, Sustainability Science, and Environmental Studies. The Doctoral Research Committee evaluates whether the university has the specialization in which the candidate wants to carry out research. Candidates are advised to review the faculty profiles on the SOITS page before applying to ensure their research interests align with available supervisors.