The latest to join the bandwagon of universities offering free education, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on January 12, 2017 announced to exempt fee for SC/ST candidates who want admissions in IGNOU for 2018-19 academic session.
“All IGNOU programmes of certificate, diploma, degree and research courses are available with total fee exemption and fee reimbursement for SC/ST candidates who seek admissions in the January 2018 session,” Visakhapatnam regional centre director S Raja Rao said.
“The candidates have to download the admission form from IGNOU website and the filled-in forms should be submitted along with the copies of requisite educational qualifications and latest community certificate issued by competent authority,” Rao added.
According to IGNOU, the SC/ST candidates, wishing to avail fee exemption, have to submit admission forms at IGNOU Regional Centre, Visakhapatnam or IGNOU Study Centres located in Visakhapatnam, Anakaplle, Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Tuni, Amalapuram, Rajam, Dr BR Ambedkar University, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.
The candidates, who wish to submit offline admission forms need not pay any programme fee. Student who are submitting online applications can avail fee exemption only after paying the online fee as per the current university norms. Their fees will later be reimbursed by IGNOU after completion of admissions.
The last date for admissions is January 31, 2018.
Meanwhile, IGNOU has signed an MoU with Common Service Centres to provide online admission services to its students. This agreement will enable all the prospective students to avail digital services from Common Service Centres/Mee Seva.