| The degrees of IGNOU are accepted by the University Grants Commission. They are accepted completely to apply to jobs in the government sectors, private sectors, or further education. However, there is a general perception that IGNOU degrees are not accepted in jobs. That is totally wrong. |
Indira Gandhi National Open University, also known as IGNOU, is a distance learning public university in New Delhi, India. The university was instituted under the name of the former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. It was established in 1985 with a budget of ₹20 million after a ruling was passed in Indian Parliament by the Indian Parliament in the form of the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985 (IGNOU Act 1985). IGNOU is also a government-owned organization by the central government of India and has total active enrollment of over 4 million students. It is the largest university in the world.
Is IGNOU Degree Valid?
Go through the table to know the validity of IGNOU degree and its place in distance education.
Aspect | Details |
Degree Conferral Authority | IGNOU has the authority to confer degrees under Clause 5(1)(iii) of the IGNOU Act, 1985. |
Recognition as Central University | IGNOU is recognized as a Central University by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. |
Association of Indian Universities (AIU) | AIU recognizes IGNOU's degrees as equivalent to those awarded by other universities that are its members. |
AICTE Accreditation | AICTE accredits IGNOU’s Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. |
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) | In 1993, IGNOU was chosen by COL as the first Centre of Excellence for Distance Education, enabling it to support open learning in the Commonwealth, especially in developing countries. |
Role in Distance Education | IGNOU serves as an accreditor for open and distance education in India through the Distance Education Council (DEC), as authorized by Clause 16 and Statute 28 of the IGNOU Act, 1985. |
NAAC Accreditation | IGNOU holds an A++ grade, the highest awarded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). |
Distance Education Bureau (DEB) Approval | The distance education programs of GNOU are valid as they are recognised by the Distance Education Bureau. This is for the reason that it is the Distance Education Bureau which accredits distance learning institutes or institutions which assure the quality of courses and programs. |
IGNOU Degree Acceptance and Recognition
Government Acceptance in Jobs
- This certification can be easily deemed acceptable by the government departments for the purpose of employment.
- The students can appear for the central and state government tests and also in UPSC, SSC, and any other state PSC tests .
- Although competitive, IGNOU graduates in reality become equal to the graduates from open-and-closed universities in the government recruitment processes.
Professional and Corporate Acceptance
- Most of the private organizations support IGNOU degrees. However, this may vary from one organization to another and even from employer to employer in some firms.
- IGNOU gets accepted by IT, management, education, and public administration.
- The international presence of IGNOU and its connections with different international universities enhance the credibility of this degree. Thus, it gets accepted in accredited and recognized firms.
International Recognition
- IGNOU degrees are accepted everywhere in the world, but there might be some specific requirements or institutions in certain countries for the recognition equivalence.
- Quite a number of IGNOU graduates have successfully pursued further studies or employment abroad, especially in those countries that have strong bonding with Indian education standards.
Obstacles and Misconceptions concerning an IGNOU Degree
Despite the pros and official recognition, an IGNOU degree goes hand in hand with some misconceptions and limitations, including:
- Value Compared to Traditional Degrees: Many students have reservations about getting absorbed into the mainstream after graduation because employers and other academic institutions prefer traditional full-time degrees. However, perception is gradually improving with the success stories of IGNOU alumni across the world.
- Open and distance learning format: IGNOU requires much more self-motivation and discipline, therefore it may not be possible for all.
- International recognition: IGNOU degrees are accepted across most of the world but some foreign universities and employers seek extra equivalency checks. This is primarily because of the varying standards of distance education created worldwide.
| FAQs on Is IGNOU Degree Valid |
| Q. Can IGNOU students apply for UPSC? |
| A. Yes, IGNOU students can definitely apply for UPSC. The minimum qualification for UPSC exam is graduation in any discipline. |
| Q. Does IGNOU degree have value? |
| A. When it comes to validity, it is well recognized and accepted for all official purposes. When it comes to value, it depends upon what you wish to do with the degree. |
| Q. What is the value of IGNOU MBA? |
| A. An MBA degree from an open university such as IGNOU is always of lesser scope as compared to a full-time MBA programme. MBA curriculum in most universities is highly extensive in which students are expected to go through regular case studies discussions and knowledge sharing. This aspect of an MBA course gets difficult to meet in the distance learning mode. |
| Q. Is IGNOU degree valid in Canada? |
| A. Yes, IGNOU degree valid in Canada. However, you must check for requirements or pre-requisites of the specific university. |
| Q. Is IGNOU degree valid in the USA? |
A. Yes, IGNOU degree is valid in the USA in many universities. Some of them are:
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