The Indira Gandhi National Open University has extended the last date for July 2026 admission to October 13, 2026. Students apply at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in for distance courses. Online course students apply at ignouiop.samarth.edu.in.
IGNOU is the central open university of India. It runs two admission cycles a year. One starts in January. One starts in July.
This is not the first extension for this cycle. The same deadline has already moved several times.
It opened with a last date of July 31, 2026. Then it moved to August 16. Then to September 15. Then to September 30. Now it is October 13, 2026.
A deadline that keeps moving has a cost. It pushes the start of classes back. It also teaches students to wait, and the portal slows down near every new date.
Who can apply before October 13?
The new date is for fresh admission to most ODL and online programmes. ODL means Open and Distance Learning. It covers degree, diploma and most other courses.
The extension does not cover every course. Certificate courses are left out. Semester-based courses are left out too.
So a student joining a certificate course cannot use this new date. Check your programme type before you plan around October 13.
How to apply for IGNOU July 2026 admission
Distance course students apply at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Online course students apply at ignouiop.samarth.edu.in.
Keep your APAAR ID ready before you start. APAAR ID is the student ID used across Indian education records. The form asks for it.
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What happens if you cancel after applying?
A cancellation after admission is confirmed is not free. IGNOU keeps 15% of the course fee. This is capped at Rs 2,000.
So the most you lose on a cancellation is Rs 2,000. Apply only for the course you mean to study.
Why the date keeps moving
IGNOU extends when too few students have applied by the set date. More time means more forms. It also means classes start later than the original plan.
