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IGNOU Online MA Public Administration

Rank No. 1 In NIRF Ranking 2024: Open University Category

(146 Reviews)
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About IGNOU Online MA Public Administration

Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA) is offered through ODL (Open and Distance Learning) mode at IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) under the SOSS (School of Social Science). The main objective of the program is to offer comprehensive and in-depth knowledge to the students with a perspective of the classification and relationship of society, state, management, and administration. The curriculum of the program is updated and revised according to the latest education policy to offer world-class education to students, and with the assistance of distance education, students from remote areas can pursue their higher studies. Students Also Ask - IGNOU MA Distance!

What’s new at IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University)?

IGNOU has extended the January 2026 ODL Admission and re-registration deadline till March 15th, 2026 Click here

 

The program includes major aspects of public administration such as public systems management, decentralization and local governance, public systems management, human resource management, research methodologies and methods, and so on. The duration of the program is 2 years, but IGNOU offers a leverage of an additional 3 years, i.e., students can complete their degree in a maximum of 5 years.

The eligibility criteria of the program require only a bachelor’s or higher degree in any stream from a valid and recognized university. IGNOU offers a flexible and open learning environment to the students and highly accessible study material, which can be accessed at any point in time according to the comfort and preference of the students. 

IGNOU is the largest open university in the world and the first open university in India that is accredited with an NAAC “A++” grade simultaneously. The university has also received recognition from UGC-DEB (University Grants Commission-Distance Education Bureau).

IGNOU has been known for its amazing facilities and world-class education, and the fee structure of every program offered at the university is specially designed in such a way that it becomes affordable and pocket-friendly for students and working professionals. After completing an MA in Public Administration from IGNOU, there are various career opportunities students can opt for, such as administrative officer, consultant, teacher, civil services, management analyst, and so on. 

Online Degree Acceptance

Online degrees earned from a government-approved university, just like a regular degree, are accepted by the top recruiters worldwide including government & private sectors.

Value of Online Degree

Online degrees earned from a government-approved university, just like a regular degree, are accepted by the top recruiters worldwide including government & private sectors.

Quality of Education

Online degrees earned from a government-approved university, just like a regular degree, are accepted by the top recruiters worldwide including government & private sectors.

Specialization Benefits

  • MA in Public Administration is offered through distance education at IGNOU but it holds the same value and recognition as of a regular degree.
  • IGNOU offers print materials, audio/video programs, counseling sessions, teleconferencing, and various facilities to students to offer a world-class education experience.
  • The duration of the program is 2 years but IGNOU allows students to complete it in a maximum of 5 years.
  • Students can directly enroll in the program through the official website of the university, there is no admission test or entrance exam.
  • The program is offered in Hindi and English both languages, students can opt for the most preferred and suitable option.
  • There are various career opportunities to choose after completing MPA, such as Administrative officer, consultant, teacher, civil services, management analyst, and so on.
  • The curriculum of the program includes Public Policy and Analysis, Research Methodologies and Methods, Administrative Theory, Human Resource Management, State, Society, and Public Administration.
  • The university is UGC-DEB (University Grants Commission-Distance Education Bureau) approved and accredited with an NAAC “A ++” grade.
  • The fee structure of the program is affordable and budget-friendly for working professionals and students meanwhile, the university allows yearly payment of fees i.e. Rs 7,300.

IGNOU Approved By

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UGC-DEB

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AIU

RANK 1 (Open University Category)nirf logo

NIRF

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WES

logo naac a plus plus

NAAC A++

Who Can Apply?

The eligibility criteria for pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Administration program at IGNOU are mentioned below:

  • The university follows a policy of openness and flexibility under which it allows all graduates eligible to enroll in the course even those who do not have a Public Administration background but the graduates must have completed their bachelor’s or higher degree from a valid and recognized university.

Other Specializations

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IGNOU Online MAPsychology

IGNOU Online MA

Psychology

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IGNOU Online MAHistory

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History

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IGNOU Online MAEconomics

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Economics

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IGNOU Online MAPolitical Science

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Political Science

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IGNOU Online MAJMC

IGNOU Online MA

JMC

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IGNOU Online MASociology

IGNOU Online MA

Sociology

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IGNOU Online MAEnglish

IGNOU Online MA

English

Right Choice for Right Education

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IGNOU Online MAHindi

IGNOU Online MA

Hindi

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IGNOU Online MAIslamic Studies

IGNOU Online MA

Islamic Studies

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IGNOU Online MAGeneral

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General

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IGNOU Online MAUrdu

IGNOU Online MA

Urdu

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IGNOU Online MAEducation

IGNOU Online MA

Education

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Specialization Wise Updated Fees 2025

SpecializationFeesDuration
Psychology 19,200 (Full Fee)2 Years
History 14,600 (Full Fee)2 Years
Economics 16,800 (Full Fee)2 Years
Political Science 14,600 (Full Fee)2 Years
Public Administration 14,600 (Full Fee)2 Years
JMC 25,000 (Full Fee)2 Years
Sociology 14,600 (Full Fee)2 Years
English 13,200 (Full Fee)2 Years
Hindi 12,000 (Full Fee)2 Years
Islamic Studies 28,000 (Full Fee)2 Years
General 28,250 (Full Fee)2 Years
Urdu 12,200 (Full Fee)2 Years
Education 19,000 (Full Fee)2 Years

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Sample Certificate from IGNOU

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IGNOU EMI Details

IGNOU Online offers the option of credit card/debit card/net banking in its fee payment options but does not provide you a “No Cost EMI” option as of now for any of the online courses.

IGNOU Online MA Public Administration Admission Process

The process for IGNOU online course admission can be completed via the official website’s admission portal. The steps involved in the admission process are listed below.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the university and click on the “Apply Now” tab.

Step 2: Fill out the student registration form and register yourself with the university.

Step 3: After registration, re-log in to the admission portal and fill out the admission application form.

Step 4: Upload the scanned copies of mandatory documents and submit the application form.

Step 5: Make the fee payment using the payment methods as mentioned on the website.


IGNOU January Admission Cycle 2026. For the ODL Program Official Link - Apply Here | For Online Programme Official Link - Apply Here.

According to the latest UGC guidelines, all candidates must create their ABC ID and DEB ID to get admission. Click here to know more!

According to the latest UGC guidelines, all candidates must create their ABC ID and DEB ID to get admission. Click here to know more!

What is the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) Notification by UGC? Must Watch!

Now, get admission twice a year, in July/August and January/February. Latest Notice by UGC: Click here to know.

IGNOU Results - Term-End Latest. Click Here to Find!.

IGNOU Grade Card/Marks Sheet. Click Here to Find!.

Know Your IGNOU Admission/Registration Details. Click Here to Find!.

IGNOU January Admission Cycle 2025 Scholarship—Eligible students can apply for Government of India Scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal at https://scholarships.gov.in/ after confirmation of admission.

Download the Common IGNOU Prospectus and carefully read the Rules of the University as mentioned in the common prospectus. Click Here to Donwnload!.

UGC updated the list of approved Online programs for the academic batch of 2026. Click here to get the list!

Precautions to be taken by the students before enrolling for programs offered under ODL & Online Learning Mode: Click here to know!

A degree obtained through ODL mode is equivalent to a traditional degree. Click here to know!

UGC declares a 100% fee refund policy for students within a specified period by universities.Click hereto read the full notice.

UGC issues a public notice regarding misleading abbreviations in the names of Universities & Colleges. Read the UGC Letter.

IGNOU Online MA Public Administration Syllabus / Curriculum

l Year 

ll Year 

  • Public Systems Management
  • State, Society, and Public Administration
  • Human Resource Management
  • Administrative Theory
  • Research Methodologies and Methods
  • Electronic Governance
  • Public Policy and Analysis
  • India: Democracy and Development
  • Disaster Management
  • Decentralisation and Local Governance
  • Project Work

IGNOU Online MA Public Administration Examination Pattern

The examination pattern followed at IGNOU online for different types of courses is semester mode, i.e., exams are conducted by the university at an interval of 6 months. For online courses, exams are conducted through an AI-proctored tool for an unbiased performance evaluation of students.

Job Roles after Online MA in Public Administration

Public administration is required in every industry and sector, therefore the need for a compatible candidate in the industry is in high demand. The program offers comprehensive and in-depth knowledge to the students with a perspective of classification and relationship of society, state, management, and administration. A few job opportunities for students can look upon after completion of their course are mentioned below:

  • Administrative officer
  • Civil services
  • Consultant
  • Customs Inspector
  • Teacher
  • Management Analyst

The average salary offered to an individual after completing their Master’s degree in Public Administration from IGNOU are mentioned below: 

Job Profile 

Average salary package (in INR)

Business Analyst

3.5 LPA

Human Resource Manager

6 LPA

Healthcare Administrator 

5-6 LPA

Consultant 

2.5 LPA

Operations Manager

3.2 LPA

Frequently Asked Questions?

A Master of Arts in Public Administration is a professional degree in public administration that upskill and enhances the abilities of a leader.

There is a good career aspect after completing the MPA degree, students can enter several industries like entertainment, civil services, production, and multimedia industry.

The admission process for the MPA program is done twice a year, in July and January. The last date for registration is 20 October 2023.
 

The fee structure of the program is Rs. 14,600 and students can pay it yearly. The fee structure is affordable and pocket-friendly for students as well as working professionals. 

Every query is essential.

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IGNOU Reviews

Student Reviews

2.3 out of 5

(146)
5 star
3%
4 star
9%
3 star
30%
2 star
36%
1 star
21%
How are ratings calculated?

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don't use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer chose this University on College Vidya. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.


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R

Riya

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

I respect IGNOU for making higher education accessible to so many students across India. That said, accessibility alone is not enough. The overall student journey — from support to communication to process clarity — could be much better.

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Pratik Tank

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

IGNOU is a decent option if you need flexibility or missed traditional college admissions. But if I had the option of a more structured and student-friendly university within budget, I would probably choose that instead.

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Harish Verma

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

IGNOU is functional, and thousands of students complete their education through it, so clearly it works. But I would not call it efficient. Many processes feel slower and more manual than they should in today’s time.

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Mosauvir Shahroz

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

Some counselors and faculty members are helpful, but the experience is not consistent across centers and courses. That unpredictability is frustrating because your academic experience should not depend so much on chance.

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Spoorti s panchakshari

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

If your goal is simply to complete a recognized degree while managing work or personal responsibilities, IGNOU can help. But if you are looking for an enjoyable and interactive learning experience, it may feel underwhelming.

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Kajal Mondal

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

IGNOU is affordable and has good recognition, which is why many students choose it. But the repeated follow-ups, portal confusion, and delayed updates can become mentally tiring over time. It is useful, but not always comfortable.

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Nikhil yadav

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

There were many times during my course when I felt there was no proper support channel for small but important queries. Whether it was assignment confusion or exam clarification, the process often felt like students had to solve everything themselves.

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Manish pandey

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

I think IGNOU is a very useful university for people who had to pause their studies or want a second chance in education. But the system still needs modernization. It gives opportunity, but not always convenience.

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pari patel rajubhai

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

IGNOU is not a bad university academically, especially for distance education. The real issue is the communication gap. Students often remain confused because important updates are either delayed or not explained clearly enough.

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Sufiyan shaikh

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Reviewed in India on March 27, 2026

My honest opinion is that IGNOU is only as good as your own discipline. If you are serious, organized, and self-driven, you can make it work. But if you expect the university to keep you consistently engaged, it may not meet your expectations.

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Summary

IGNOU

2.3

Student Reviews

2.3 out of 5

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