If you are living outside India and want to pursue higher education through Indira Gandhi National Open University, IGNOU provides an international support network through its Overseas Study Centres (OSCs).
IGNOU currently has 25 Overseas Study Centres across 15 foreign countries. Through these centres, the University offers academic programmes in certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and other categories. IGNOU’s International Division handles international operations, including admission, examination, evaluation, degree-related services and student support.
This guide explains the IGNOU Overseas Study Centres, countries, programmes available to international students, admission process, fees, study material and important points to check before applying.
IGNOU Overseas Study Centres at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Indira Gandhi National Open University |
| International support | IGNOU International Division |
| Overseas Study Centres | 25 |
| Countries with OSCs | 15 |
| Mode | Mainly Open & Distance Learning through approved overseas centres |
| Programme levels | Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma, UG, PG and other programmes |
| International presence | Broader presence through various agreements/projects |
| International student support | Admission, examination, evaluation, degree and ICT support |
IGNOU states that its International Division is the single window for international operations and is responsible for recognition of Overseas Study Centres and support for overseas learners.
What Are IGNOU Overseas Study Centres?
Overseas Study Centres are institutions or organisations outside India that are recognised by IGNOU to provide support to students enrolled in the University’s programmes.
These centres can provide services such as:
- Student admission support
- Counselling and learner support
- Study material support
- Examination-related assistance
- Assignment-related guidance
- Practical support where applicable
- Communication with IGNOU’s International Division
However, students should not assume that every IGNOU programme is available at every overseas centre. Programme availability can vary by centre and country.
This is particularly important when selecting a programme from outside India.
Which Countries Have IGNOU Overseas Study Centres?
According to IGNOU’s recent internationalisation information, its 25 Overseas Study Centres are spread across 15 countries. The countries are:
| No. | Country |
|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan |
| 2 | Bahrain |
| 3 | Ethiopia |
| 4 | Guyana |
| 5 | Ivory Coast / Côte d’Ivoire |
| 6 | Kenya |
| 7 | Kuwait |
| 8 | Kyrgyzstan |
| 9 | Mauritius |
| 10 | Nepal |
| 11 | Oman |
| 12 | Saudi Arabia |
| 13 | Singapore |
| 14 | Sri Lanka |
| 15 | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
IGNOU’s internationalisation report specifically identifies these 15 countries as the locations of its Overseas Study Centres.
Important: 15 Countries Does Not Mean IGNOU Is Present Only in 15 Countries
This is an important distinction for international students.
IGNOU’s Overseas Study Centre network covers 15 countries, but the University’s wider international presence is larger because it also has collaborations, agreements and projects with institutions and organisations in other countries.
For example, IGNOU’s internationalisation report describes academic engagements across a much wider group of countries, including initiatives involving Africa, Europe, Asia and other regions.
Therefore:
15 countries = countries with Overseas Study Centres
Broader international presence = countries covered through different agreements, projects and collaborations
IGNOU Courses Available Through Overseas Study Centres
The programme list for students registering through Overseas Study Centres contains programmes from several academic levels.
The official IGNOU list published for July 2025 onwards contains 173 listed programme entries, covering undergraduate, postgraduate, PG diploma, diploma, certificate and awareness/appreciation categories.
The exact programme available to a student can depend on the applicable Overseas Study Centre and current operational arrangements.
Undergraduate Programmes
Some undergraduate programmes listed for overseas students include:
| Programme | Code |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | BAM |
| Bachelor of Commerce | BCOMF |
| Bachelor of Social Work | BFSW |
| Bachelor of Computer Applications | BCA_NEW |
| Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences | BLIS |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | BBA |
| Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management | BFTTM |
| Bachelor of Arts (Vocational Studies) Tourism Management | BAFVTM |
| Bachelor of Arts Micro Small and Medium Enterprises | BAMSME |
The published list also includes several four-year undergraduate and honours programmes.
Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes
The overseas programme list includes major-based programmes such as:
- BA Major English — BAFEG
- BA Major Hindi — BAFHD
- BA Major Sanskrit — BAFSK
- BA Major Urdu — BAFUD
- BA Major History — BAFHI
- BA Major Economics — BAFEC
- BA Major Philosophy — BAFPY
- BA Major Political Science — BAFPS
- BA Major Public Administration — BAFPA
- BA Major Sociology — BAFSO
- BA Major Journalism and Digital Media — BAFJDM
- Bachelor of Commerce — BCOMF
- Bachelor of Social Work — BFSW
- BA Micro Small and Medium Enterprises — BAMSME
- BA Vocational Studies Tourism Management — BAFVTM
- Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management — BFTTM
These programme codes and names come from IGNOU’s official overseas programme list.
IGNOU Master’s Programmes for International Students
Students looking for postgraduate study can also find several Master’s programmes in the Overseas Study Centre list.
Examples include:
| Programme | Code |
|---|---|
| Master of Commerce | MCOM |
| Master of Business Administration | MBA |
| MBA (Banking and Finance) | MBF |
| MBA – Human Resource Management | MBAHM |
| MBA – Financial Management | MBAFM |
| MBA – Operations Management | MBAOM |
| MBA – Marketing Management | MBAMM |
| MA English | MEG |
| MA Hindi | MHD |
| MA Sanskrit | MSK |
| MA Urdu | MAUD |
| MA Political Science | MPS |
| MA History | MAHI |
| MA Sociology | MSO |
| MA Economics | MAEC |
| MA Public Administration | MPA |
| Master of Library and Information Sciences | MLIS |
| Master of Computer Applications | MCA_NEW |
| Master of Social Work | MSW |
| MA Education | MAEDU |
| MA Distance Education | MADE |
| Master of Tourism and Travel Management | MTTM |
| MA Philosophy | MAPY |
| MA Rural Development | MARD |
| MA Gandhi and Peace Studies | MGPS |
| MA Migration and Diaspora | MAMIDI |
| MA Development Studies | MADVS |
| MA Women and Gender Studies | MAWGSR |
| MA Gender and Development Studies | MAGD |
| MA Translation Studies | MATS |
| MSc Information Security | MSCIS |
The official list also includes specialised MBA programmes such as Construction Management, Logistics & Supply Chain, Agribusiness Management and Health Care and Hospital Management.
IGNOU PG Diploma Programmes Overseas
Students interested in shorter postgraduate-level qualifications can also find PG Diploma programmes in the overseas list.
Examples include:
- PG Diploma in Rural Development — PGDRD
- PG Diploma in Translation — PGDT
- PG Diploma in International Business Operations — PGDIBO
- PG Diploma in Environment and Sustainable Development — PGDESD
- PG Diploma in Gandhi and Peace Studies — PGDGPS
- PG Diploma in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management — PGDDRRM
- PG Diploma in Higher Education — PGDHE
- PG Diploma in Educational Technology — PGDET
- PG Diploma in School Leadership and Management — PGDSLM
- PG Diploma in Educational Management and Administration — PGDEMA
- PG Diploma in Development Studies — PGDDVS
- PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication — PGJMC
- PG Diploma in Digital Media — PGDIDM
- PG Diploma in Computer Applications — PGDCA_NEW
- PG Diploma in Human Resource Management — PGDIHRM
- PG Diploma in Financial Management — PGDIFM
- PG Diploma in Marketing Management — PGDIMM
- PG Diploma in Operations Management — PGDIOM
This is only a selection; the official overseas programme document contains a larger list.
IGNOU Diploma and Certificate Courses Abroad
IGNOU’s international programme list is not limited to degree programmes.
It also contains diploma and certificate-level options.
Examples of Diploma Programmes
- Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education — DECE
- Diploma in Nutrition & Health Education — DNHE
- Diploma in Creative Writing in English — DCE
- Diploma Programme in Urdu — DUL
- Diploma in Horticulture — DHORT
- Diploma in Women’s Empowerment and Development — DWED
- Diploma in Modern Office Practice — DMOP
- Diploma in Paralegal Practice — DIPP
- Diploma in Value Education — DPVE
Examples of Certificate Programmes
The list includes programmes such as:
- Certificate in Library and Information Science — CLIS
- Certificate in Disaster Management — CDM
- Certificate in Environmental Studies — CES
- Certificate in Food and Nutrition — CFN
- Certificate in Rural Development — CRD
- Certificate in Information Technology — CIT
- Certificate in Mobile Application Development — CMAD
- Certificate in Teaching of English as a Second Language — CTE
- Certificate in Functional English — CFE
- Certificate in Urdu Language — CUL
- Certificate in Sanskrit Sambhashan — SSB
- Certificate in Human Rights — CHR
- Certificate in Consumer Protection — CCP
- Certificate in International Humanitarian Law — CIHL
- Certificate Programme in NGO Management — CNM
- Certificate in Arabic Language — CAL
- Certificate in French Language — CFL
- Certificate in Russian Language — CRUL
- Certificate in Japanese Language — CJL
- Certificate in Korean Language & Culture — CKLC
- Certificate in Spanish Language & Culture — CSLC
- Certificate in German Language — CGL
- Certificate in Persian Language — CPEL
IGNOU’s published list also contains visual arts, performing arts, environmental, agriculture and other specialised certificate programmes.
Is IGNOU Study Material Available for Overseas Students?
Yes. IGNOU provides study-material support for overseas students through the international learner-support system.
According to IGNOU’s International Division, overseas students should contact their concerned Overseas Study Centre regarding study material. Foreign Students Residing in India have a separate process involving the Material Production and Distribution Division and International Division.
Students can therefore use their programme and course codes to identify the correct learning resources.
For example, a student enrolled in:
- MBA
- MCOM
- BCA
- BBA
- MA English
- MA History
- MSW
should first confirm the exact programme and course structure before selecting books, notes or other study resources.
This is particularly useful when searching for IGNOU study material, assignments, previous-year question papers and exam preparation resources.
How to Take Admission in IGNOU from Another Country?
The admission process for an overseas student is different from simply applying through an Indian Regional Centre.
If you are outside India and want to register through an Overseas Study Centre, the basic process is:
Step 1: Identify Your Country
First check whether your country has an approved IGNOU Overseas Study Centre.
IGNOU currently lists 15 countries with Overseas Study Centres.
Step 2: Find the Relevant Overseas Study Centre
The next step is to identify the centre operating in your country.
Do not select a programme only because it appears on IGNOU’s general programme list. Check whether the programme is actually available through your relevant overseas centre.
Step 3: Check Programme Eligibility
Review the eligibility requirements for your selected programme.
Requirements can differ between programmes. For example, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes may have different educational requirements.
Step 4: Check the International Programme List
IGNOU publishes a separate programme list for candidates registering through Overseas Study Centres.
The currently published list linked by the International Division is for July 2025 onwards.
Step 5: Check International Fee
Overseas students should not assume that the Indian fee structure applies to them.
IGNOU publishes a separate fee structure for students registering through Overseas Study Centres.
The published fee document separates charges for SAARC countries and countries other than SAARC, with fees shown in INR and US dollars respectively.
Step 6: Complete Admission Through the Applicable Channel
After confirming the programme, eligibility, centre and fee, follow the admission instructions applicable to international students and the concerned Overseas Study Centre.
IGNOU Overseas Student Fees
One of the most important things for international applicants is understanding that overseas programme fees are different from standard domestic fees.
For example, the official fee document for students registering through Overseas Study Centres from July 2025 lists:
- One-time registration charge of ₹2,000 for SAARC countries
- One-time registration charge of US$100 for countries other than SAARC
Programme fees then vary according to the programme and may be charged per year or per semester.
For instance, the published overseas fee document lists the BAM programme at ₹10,000 per year for SAARC countries and US$600 per year for other countries. BCA_NEW is listed at ₹17,000 per semester for SAARC countries and US$1,000 per semester for other countries.
Always check the latest official fee document before making payment, because international fee structures can change.
IGNOU Overseas Study Centres and Online Programmes
Overseas Study Centres are not the only way IGNOU reaches international learners.
IGNOU’s International Division also acts as the nodal centre for promoting and monitoring online programmes for international students. The University has also been involved in international online education initiatives through projects and collaborations.
This means an international student should distinguish between:
- ODL programmes offered through an Overseas Study Centre
- Online programmes offered through IGNOU’s international arrangements
- Programmes available to Foreign Students Residing in India
These categories may have different admission procedures, fees and eligibility requirements.
IGNOU for Foreign Students Residing in India
If you are a foreign national but currently living in India, your situation is different from an overseas student living outside India.
IGNOU states that Foreign Students Residing in India (FSRI) may register in academic programmes offered to national students through IGNOU Regional Centres, subject to educational and other requirements.
The Common Prospectus also specifies that foreign students residing in India with a valid student visa for the required duration may seek admission to selected IGNOU programmes, subject to the applicable international requirements.
Therefore, country of residence and student status matter when choosing the correct admission route.
What Support Does IGNOU Provide to International Students?
IGNOU’s International Division provides a range of services for international learners.
These include:
- Admission
- Re-registration
- Re-admission
- Examination
- Evaluation
- Results
- Grade card
- Degree-related services
- Duplicate degree/grade card
- Student ID-related services
- Verification
- Transcript
- Migration
- Project and synopsis-related support
- Assignment-related support
IGNOU specifically identifies the International Division as the contact point for several international student services.
How to Get IGNOU Study Material Outside India
Students studying through an Overseas Study Centre should first contact their concerned Overseas Study Centre regarding physical study material. IGNOU’s International Division specifically directs overseas students to their concerned centre for study material queries.
For online preparation, students can also use IGNOU’s official digital learning resources and identify material using the exact programme and course code.
For example, instead of searching only for:
IGNOU MBA books
a student can search using the exact programme and course code.
Similarly:
IGNOU MCOM study material
IGNOU BCA study material
IGNOU MEG study material
IGNOU MPS study material
Course-code-based searches generally make it easier to identify the relevant material.
Important Things to Check Before Joining IGNOU from Abroad
Before paying any fee, international students should verify these points:
1. Is IGNOU available in my country?
Check whether your country is included in the Overseas Study Centre network.
2. Is there an active centre?
The existence of an old centre or historical IGNOU reference does not automatically mean that every programme is currently operational there.
3. Is my programme available?
A programme can appear in the overall international programme list without necessarily being available at every individual centre.
4. What is the international fee?
Check the latest fee document for your country category.
5. What is the admission route?
Determine whether you should apply through an Overseas Study Centre, online international route or the FSRI route.
6. How will I receive study material?
Confirm the study-material process with your concerned Overseas Study Centre.
7. Where will examinations be conducted?
Check examination arrangements with the applicable centre and International Division.
IGNOU Overseas Study Centres: Country-Wise Quick List
For quick reference, the 15 countries with Overseas Study Centres are:
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and UAE.
Among these, countries such as UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Mauritius, Singapore and Kenya are particularly relevant to Indian-origin learners and international students looking for flexible higher-education options.
However, students should verify the current operational centre and programme availability before applying.
IGNOU Overseas Study Centres vs IGNOU International Presence
This is one of the most common areas of confusion.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Overseas Study Centres | Recognised centres through which IGNOU supports overseas learners |
| 15 OSC countries | Countries currently identified with the OSC network |
| International presence | Broader collaborations, agreements and projects |
| Online international programmes | Online offerings and international initiatives |
| FSRI | Foreign Students Residing in India |
IGNOU’s internationalisation report notes that the University has a wider international presence through academic engagements and collaborations beyond the countries containing Overseas Study Centres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IGNOU operate outside India?
Yes. IGNOU operates internationally through Overseas Study Centres and other international collaborations and projects. The University currently states that it has 25 Overseas Study Centres across 15 foreign countries.
Which countries have IGNOU Overseas Study Centres?
The 15 countries identified by IGNOU are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and UAE.
Can I study at IGNOU while living outside India?
Yes, eligible international students can register through applicable Overseas Study Centres and other international routes, depending on the programme and country.
Is every IGNOU course available outside India?
No. Programme availability depends on the international programme list and the relevant Overseas Study Centre. Students should verify availability before applying.
Can I pursue an IGNOU MBA from abroad?
MBA is included in IGNOU’s programme list for candidates registering through Overseas Study Centres. Specialised MBA programmes are also listed, subject to the applicable centre and admission conditions.
Is IGNOU MCOM available for overseas students?
Yes. MCOM is included in the published programme list for candidates registering through Overseas Study Centres.
How can overseas students get IGNOU study material?
IGNOU advises overseas students to contact their concerned Overseas Study Centre regarding study material.
Are IGNOU fees the same in India and abroad?
Not necessarily. IGNOU publishes a separate fee structure for students registering through Overseas Study Centres, including different fee categories for SAARC and non-SAARC countries.
Can a foreign student living in India apply to IGNOU?
Yes, Foreign Students Residing in India may be eligible for selected programmes subject to the applicable requirements, including visa and other conditions.
Does IGNOU have international online programmes?
Yes. IGNOU’s International Division is the nodal centre for promoting, offering and monitoring online programmes for international students.
Final Takeaway
IGNOU’s international network makes it possible for eligible learners outside India to pursue higher education through recognised Overseas Study Centres and other international learning routes.
The key point is that international availability is programme- and centre-specific. IGNOU currently identifies 25 Overseas Study Centres across 15 countries, while its broader international collaborations extend to many more countries.
If you are planning to enrol from outside India, first verify:
Country → Overseas Study Centre → Programme → Eligibility → International Fee → Admission Route → Study Material → Examination Support
For study preparation, always use the exact IGNOU programme and course code when looking for notes, books, assignments, previous-year papers and other learning resources.
The official IGNOU International Division page should be treated as the final reference for current overseas admission, centre, programme and fee information.