How to Select a Course in IGNOU in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide.
So, sometimes selecting the right course in IGNOU can be such a decision where your whole future or even career is at stake. IGNOU is just one of the hundreds of institutes in India, but it offers hundreds of courses across various disciplines, which allows most students, working professionals, and people looking to advance their skills to pursue one.
We have step-by-step instructions that you may follow below so that you can decide on the best course at IGNOU which will help get a successful career. Along with the above, we provide an account of the most professional and job-oriented courses, along with demand for certain programs and some insight into campus placement data for IGNOU.
What is IGNOU’s Curriculum design?
IGNOU provides a diversified programmes of study at different levels to serve various types of career objectives. ODL offers you the flexibility to select courses as per your professional interest, schedule and budget.
Click Here To Visit All Programmes
Some of the broad categories of courses available are:
Undergraduate (UG) Programs: These are the regular undergraduate programs leading to a bachelor’s degree-conferring foundation knowledge and basic skills.
PG Courses: All the advanced degrees pursued for the purpose of specialization in a single field .
Diploma and PG Diploma Courses: Deals with special skill-based practices, and being less than the entire duration as that of full course .
Certificate Courses: Short-term courses, which are designed especially for the quest of skill enhancement.
Appreciation Courses: Special courses meant for creating awareness and sharing understanding over special subjects.
New courses: Newly designed courses, introduced into the market, to be in line with changing demands in the job market.
IGNOU Fee Structure For some Important/Flagship Programs in 2024:
With this diversity in students, IGNOU has constructed their programs. Here is the detailed fee structure for 2024 with graduate-level classes:
UG Courses:
– BA (General): ₹10,200 for whole course. ₹3,400 annual
– BCom: ₹10,200 for whole course. ₹3,400 annual
– BSc: ₹15,600 for whole course. ₹5,200 annual
– BCA: ₹40,200 for whole course. ₹6,700 per semester
– BSW (Bachelor of Social Work): ₹18,000 for the whole course (₹6,000 per year).
Post Graduate Courses:
– MA (Specializations): ₹14,400 for the whole course (₹7,200 per year)
– MCom: ₹15,600 for the whole course (₹7,800 per year)
– MSc (Mathematics): ₹26,400 for the whole course (₹13,200 per year)
– MBA: ₹37,800 for the whole course (₹2,100 per module of the course
– MCA: ₹64,800 for the whole course (₹10,800 for each semester)
– MSW: Rs. 32,400 for the whole course (Rs. 16,200 per year)
Diploma and Certificate Programs:
– Diploma in Nursing: Rs. 13,200 for the whole course
– Diploma in Creative Writing: Rs. 4,200 for the whole course
– Certificate in Tourism Studies: Rs. 3,600 for the whole course
Research Programs (MPhil, PhD):
– MPhil: Rs. 12,600 for the whole course
– PhD: Rs. 16,800 for course work + Rs. 14,000 for registration fees.
All Courses of IGNOU with Fees, Eligibility, Durations.
How to Choose a Right Course Step by Step:
Step 1: Evaluate Your Career Objectives:
Outline where you would like to see yourself in the next 5-10 years. If you are shooting for some specific profession, outline qualifications required. Research market demand for certain jobs and industries to understand what employers want to find in applicants.
Step 2: Investigate IGNOU’s Courses:
Surf the website link of [IGNOU](https://ignou.ac.in) to get an idea about all courses it has. Every course details its syllabus, duration, eligibility criteria, and fees. You can classify them under:
Field of interest (Arts, Science, Commerce, IT, Social Science etc.)
Type of qualification (UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate)
Make sure that you fulfill the minimum requirements of the course that you would wish to pursue. Requirements are quite different from one program to another, mainly between the UG, PG, and the specialized diplomas.
Step 4: Course Length and Flexibility:
Reflect on the time you can give to the course. If you are working, look out for part-time courses or a course that could give you room for flexibility regarding the timelines. IGNOU modular approach provides the balance in between your other commitments and studies.
Step 5: Analyze Career Scope and Placement Statistics:
Read about the career prospects of each programme. Look at the IGNOU placement cell and campus recruitment statistics for professional programmes like MBA, MCA, and specialized diplomas. The higher the placement percentage is, the more applicable the course will be in the market.
Step 6: Choose Courses Which Are Industry-Friendly and Job-Based:
Additionally, find courses with direct applicability to industry. Courses such as MBA, MCA, PG Diploma in Journalism, and BSc in IT would be a better option for employment opportunities. Look at the courses that provide internships, practical knowledge, or work with the industry.
Step 7: Consultation and Reviews:
Ask friends, relatives, or colleagues who are or have been IGNOU students for suggestions. Join online social media platforms such as forums or groups relating to courses or IGNOU. The ratings could be helpful for knowing the material, instructor’s help, and problems one might face.
Step 8: Finalize and Apply:
Now finalize the best course from the list obtained above. Follow the procedure to apply to the IGNOU, monitoring deadlines and all other documents that might be needed.
Video credit: www.youtube.com/@ignouguide
Best Professional and Job-Based Courses in IGNOU:
1. Master of Business Administration (MBA): Much more in-demand in a large number of managerial positions.
2. Master of Computer Applications (MCA): To be followed in IT and software industries, project management-related fields as well.
3. BSc in Nursing (Post Basic): Only for those nurses who already work in the health sector.
4. BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications): IT constitutes the core of this course, while taking care of coding and software professionals.
5. PG Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM): Candidates who wish to pursue careers as an HR professional.
6. PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication: This course caters to the needs for those who want to pursue careers either as mass media professionals or content creators or communications.
7. DECE (Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education): for teaching and childcare careers.
Hot Courses:
Those courses that have shot up, this year, based on the new demands of the current job market are:
– MBA (specializations in finance, marketing, HR)
– PG Diploma in Cyber Law
– Bachelor of Tourism Studies (BTS)
– PG Diploma in International Business Operations (PGDIBO)
– Certificate in Digital Marketing
– Diploma in Data Science and Analytics
Campus Placement Programmes IGNOU is in collaboration with many organizations through which campus placements are provided to various programmes. The programmes of MBA, MCA and PG Diplomas in special field have always seen companies approaching IGNOU for campus recruitment. These programmes are very much industry oriented and therefore more sought after by industry.
Campus Placement Record by Year:
– 2020: 70% of MBA graduates placed.
– 2021: 75% in PG Diplomas like Journalism and International Business.
– 2022: 80% in IT and Computer Science domains, BCA, MCA
– 2023: On campus, to reckon with the growing demand in digital marketing, HR, and media, 82% were placed from courses related.
New and Emerging Courses at IGNOU:
The current trends in the industry have led IGNOU to introduce new programs:
– PG Diploma in Artificial Intelligence
– Certificate in Data Analytics
– Cyber Security Diploma
– Certificate in Web Development
– MSc in Environmental Science
Each of these courses has been designed to cater to emerging needs in the IT, Sustainability, and other Digital Industries.
IGNOU Important Courses Distribution:
1. Under Graduate Courses:
– Total: 29
Popular courses: BA, BCom, BSc, BCA, BSW, BTS.
2. Post Graduate Courses:
Total: 26 courses
MA (other subjects), MSc, MCom, MBA, MCA;
3. PG Certificate Programs:
No. of courses here is 13
Fields included here are Cyber Law, Food and Nutrition, Rural Development, Adult Education
4. Certificate Programs:
Total no. of courses here is 40.
Short-term skill-based courses here include Digital Marketing, Tourism Studies, and Business Skills .
5. Appreciation Courses:
Total no. of courses here is 5.
As mentioned earlier, these courses belong to subjects like Environmental Management and Consumer Rights
6. Diploma and PG Diploma Programs
– Total: 38 Diploma + 42 PG Diploma courses
– Popular fields: Management, IT, Journalism, Early Childhood Care, Education.
Total No. of Popular Courses Of IGNOU:
– In general: 193 courses (UG, PG, Certificate, Diploma, and Appreciation).
It is very critical to choose the right course at IGNOU and ideally much before. It may be very easy to make the best of opportunities offered by this distance-learning institution if academic choices are made in tandem with career goals.