IGNOU MCA admission 2026: Indira Gandhi National Open University started the admission for MCA course under the 2026 academic session, and the last date to submit an application form is 31 January 2026. This is a postgraduate course that can give you a deeper understanding of the Computer Application field. The duration of the course is 2 to 4 years, which is divided into 4 semesters by the university. Candidates can learn this course in an open and distance mode of learning.
The Master of Computer Application course fee is INR 13,000 per semester at IGNOU. The application form fee is INR 300 for each candidate. To fill in the application form, students can visit the official website of the university @ignou.ac.in before the last date to avoid late fee charges and other issues.
IGNOU is a #category-1 open university or #no.1 open university in the NIRF ranking framework 2025. It is a central university that offers an MCA course in the ODL mode of education. The university is approved by UGC-DEB and AICTE for higher studies in India. NAAC also awarded it with an ‘A++’ grade. Along with this, 21 million+ students are enrolled in academic courses at the university from their comfort zone.
IGNOU MCA Course Highlights Table
| Particulars | Details |
| Course Name | Master of Computer Applications (MCA) |
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Mode of Study | Distance / Online Learning |
| Duration | Minimum 2 Years / Maximum 4 Years |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation level |
| Admission Process | Entrance / Merit-Based (as per IGNOU norms) |
| Academic Sessions | January & July |
| Medium of Instruction | English |
| Course Fee | INR 52,000 total |
| Examination Mode | Term-End Examination (Offline) |
| Core Subjects | Programming, Data Structures, DBMS, OS, Software Engineering |
| Skills Developed | Application Development, Problem Solving, System Design |
| Career Scope | Software Developer, System Analyst, Web Developer |
| Degree Recognition | UGC-Recognized |
| Official Website | ignou.ac.in |
IGNOU MCA Course Details
IGNOU offers an MCA course in computer applications for a duration of 24 months. Candidates can study the course in a semester system, which includes industry-driven topics, like Java, Python, C++, software engineering, web technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud and data science, mobile computing, and so on.
The course is bound to give skills in the field of computer applications, technology, and engineering. Students will have a chance to learn skills such as cloud computing, programming, problem solving, critical thinking, ethics in the digital era, etc. The university provides the course through in-class and online classes and advanced teaching methods.
IGNOU MCA Admission 2026
The IGNOU admission submission process has started for MCA course into the January 2026 academic year. Interested students can go to the official website of IGNOU by clicking on the link @ignou.ac.in to start the form-filling process. MCA is a master’s degree in computer application, which is a specialised course that is offered by the university in ODL (Open and Distance learning) mode.
31st January 2026 is the last date to apply for IGNOU MCA admission 2026 January session. The admission process for the MCA course is going to be based on a merit list or direct admission for graduates. INR 300 is the registration fee, a non-refundable fee for all the candidates who want to take admission in the 2026 academic session.
IGNOU MCA Course Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the IGNOU MCA admission 2026 process are described below. That includes qualification, age limit, and marks like:
- Applicants should have a graduation degree in mathematics, science, or an equivalent subject.
- Scored 50% marks from a recognised university.
- 5% of relaxation is given to the reserved categories.
- No age barrier to apply for this course.
- No entrance exam to take admission to IGNOU.
IGNOU MCA Course Fee Structure
IGNOU MCA Course fee is INR 52,000 for 2 years inclusive, and the fee on a semester-wise basis will be INR 13,000. This is the course fee; apart from this, IGNOU fee structure is based on examination fee, registration fee, college development fee, study material fee, and others. INR 300 is the registration or admission fee, which has to be paid by each candidate at the time of the form submission process.
INR 200 is the examination fee for each course that will be paid at the end of each session to sit in the exam. The university provides the option to pay the fee in semesters or annually to the ODL students. To pay the fee, you can use a digital payment system such as Net banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI for a fast and secure fee transaction.
IGNOU MCA Course Syllabus
| Course Code | Title of the Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| I Year | Semester 1 | |
| MCS 211 | Design and Analysis of Algorithms | 4 |
| MCS 212 | Discrete Mathematics | 4 |
| MCS 213 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| MCS 214 | Professional Skills and Ethics | 2 |
| MCS 215 | Security and Cyber Laws | 2 |
| MCSL 216 | DAA and Web Design Lab | 2 |
| MCSL 217 | Software Engineering Lab | 2 |
| 2 Semester | ||
| MCS 218 | Data Communication and Computer Networks | 4 |
| MCS 219 | Object Oriented Analysis and Design | 4 |
| MCS 220 | Web Technologies | 4 |
| MCS 221 | Data Warehousing and Data Mining | 4 |
| MCSL 222 | OOAD and Web Technologies Lab | 2 |
| MCSL 223 | Computer Network and Data Mining Lab | 2 |
| 2nd Year | 3rd Semester | |
| MCS 224 | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | 4 |
| MCS 225 | Accountancy and Financial Management | 4 |
| MCS 226 | Data Science and Big Data | 4 |
| MCS 227 | Cloud Computing and IoT | 4 |
| MCSL 228 | AI and Machine Learning Lab | 2 |
| MCSL 229 | Cloud and Data Science Lab | 2 |
| 4th Semester | ||
| MCS 230 | Digital Image Processing and Computer Vision | 4 |
| MCS 231 | Mobile Computing | 4 |
| MCSP 232 | Project | 12 |
Career Scope After IGNOU MCA Course
BCA or other graduates can apply for the IGNOU MCA Admission process for the 2026 academic session. After completing the course, students can get placement opportunities in the field of information technology, engineering, data science, mechanical engineering, consulting, and so on.
The most demanding job profiles for MCA holders are data analyst, software engineer, cybersecurity analyst, full-stack developer, etc. Freshers can get a handsome salary package of INR 3 LPA to INR 15 LPA, and it can be different for experienced individuals. Like, they can expect a salary of up to INR 10 LPA to INR 30 LPA in a reputable company within India.
Jobs After Completing the IGNOU MCA Admission
| Job Role |
Average Salary (Per Year – India)
|
| Software Developer | INR 5 L – INR 10 L |
| Full Stack Developer | INR 6 L – INR 12 L |
| Data Analyst | INR 5 L – INR 9 L |
| Web Developer | INR 4 L – INR 8 L |
| System Analyst | INR 6 L – INR 11 L |
| Cloud Engineer | INR 7 L – INR 14 L |
| Database Administrator | INR 6 L – INR 12 L |
| Cyber Security Analyst | INR 6 L – INR 13 L |
| AI / ML Engineer (Junior) | INR 7 L – INR 15 L |
| Government / PSU IT Officer | INR 6 L – INR 12 L+ |
Frequently Asked Question Related IGNOU MCA Admission
Que 1. How to get admission in IGNOU MCA?
Ans. IGNOU MCA admission process is open for the 2026 session, and you can visit the official website of the university to get admission to this course.
Que 2. What is the last date for MCA from IGNOU?
Ans. 31st January 2026 is the last date for MCA from IGNOU.
Que 3. Who is eligible for IGNOU MCA 2026?
Ans. Graduates with 50% marks are eligible for IGNOU MCA 2026.
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