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IGNOU Convocation: Registration, Fees, Eligibility and Getting Your Original Degree
Your original IGNOU degree, diploma or certificate is awarded at a convocation. Registering for it is a separate online step that many students miss, and that is the most common reason a degree never reaches them. This guide covers who is eligible, how registration and fees work, what happens if you cannot attend, and how to claim a degree from an older convocation.
What IGNOU convocation is
Convocation is the ceremony at which IGNOU formally awards degrees, diplomas and certificates to students who have completed their programme. The university holds it once a year, at its headquarters in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, and at its regional centres around the same time.
Passing your last exam does not by itself put the original degree in your hands. You have to register for the convocation you are eligible for and pay the fee online. Until then, your grade card and provisional certificate are what you show as proof of completion.
The latest convocation
| Convocation | 39th |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 April 2026 |
| Exams covered | December 2024 and June 2025 term-end examinations |
| Main venue | Baba Saheb Ambedkar Convention Centre, IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi |
| Chief guest | Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan (as reported by Careers360) |
| Degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded | More than 3.24 lakh (as reported by Careers360) |
| Registration fee | ₹600 for degree and diploma programmes; ₹200 for certificate programmes |
Next convocationAs of 4 November 2026, the registration page on IGNOU’s convocation portal still refers to the 39th convocation. Students who completed their programme in the December 2025 or June 2026 exams are not covered by it, so keep an eye on the convocation portal for the next registration notice.
Convocation dates and the exams each one covered
IGNOU’s degree delivery portal lists every recent convocation. Find the term-end exam in which you completed your programme, and the row tells you which convocation your degree belongs to.
| Convocation | Held on | Term-end exams covered |
|---|---|---|
| 20th to 32nd | Before 2020 | December 2007 to June 2018 |
| 33rd | 17 February 2020 | December 2018, June 2019 |
| 34th (virtual) | 15 April 2021 | December 2019, June 2020 |
| 35th | 26 April 2022 | December 2020, June 2021 |
| 36th | 3 April 2023 | December 2021, June 2022 |
| 37th | 20 February 2024 | December 2022, June 2023 |
| 38th | 5 March 2025 | December 2023, June 2024 |
| 39th | 7 April 2026 | December 2024, June 2025 |
Each convocation since the 33rd has covered one December and the following June term-end exam.
Who is eligible
You are eligible for a convocation if you completed every requirement of your programme (all courses, assignments, practicals and projects where applicable) in one of the two term-end exams it covers. For the 39th convocation, that meant completing in December 2024 or June 2025.
- Degree, PG diploma and diploma students receive their certificate through their regional centre.
- PG certificate and certificate students (programmes such as PGCAP, PGCAE, CWHM and CRUL) register at the lower fee.
- Students of MBA (registered up to the July 2017 batch), MCA, MCom and similar modular programmes pay ₹600 for each certificate. If you qualified for more than one module, you have to take, and pay for, each certificate separately.
How to register for convocation, step by step
- Open the convocation portalGo to onlineservices.ignou.ac.in/convocation, or reach it from ignou.ac.in › Student Services › Convocation.
- Read the instructions and accept the declarationThe declaration confirms that you have completed the programme, passed all exams, and have not yet received the original certificate.
- Register with your detailsEnter your enrolment number and programme details as asked.
- Choose how you want the degreeThe form gives two options: attend the convocation in person, or receive the degree, diploma or certificate by post.
- Enter your current addressEvery student has to give the address where they want the certificate delivered, even if they plan to attend.
- Pay the fee onlinePayment is accepted only online, by debit or credit card (Mastercard, Visa or RuPay) or net banking.
- Print the acknowledgementIf the acknowledgement does not appear straight away, IGNOU asks students to wait 48 hours before raising a payment query.
Convocation fees
| Programme type | Fee (39th convocation) |
|---|---|
| PhD, MPhil, master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, PG diploma, diploma | ₹600 |
| PG certificate and certificate programmes | ₹200 |
| Modular programmes (MBA registered up to July 2017, MCA, MCom, etc.) | ₹600 per certificate |
The fee is the same whether you attend in person or choose delivery by post.
Attending in person vs receiving the degree by post
Attending in personYou attend at the regional centre where you are registered, not at any other centre. If your centre does not hold a ceremony, you may be asked to attend at a nearby regional centre, usually in the same or a neighbouring state.
Receiving it by postThe certificate is posted after the convocation to the address you entered while registering. This also applies to students who paid but were not invited or could not attend.
Address mattersIGNOU uses the address entered on the convocation portal, not the one from your admission form. If you have moved since admission, enter your current address carefully.
If the certificate does not arrive after the convocation, contact your regional centre first, since degree and diploma certificates are sent to regional centres for issue.
Degree not received from an earlier convocation? Use IDMS
For students who were eligible for any convocation from the 20th to the 39th but never received their certificate, or never registered, IGNOU runs a separate portal: the IGNOU Degree Management System (IDMS) at onlineservices.ignou.ac.in/idms.
- Register or log in on IDMSUse “Student Registration/Login” on the portal.
- Check where your certificate was sentThe portal shows the regional centre (or headquarters) holding your certificate, along with that centre’s address and email.
- Upload two documentsYour IGNOU identity card and your grade card or provisional certificate, in JPG or JPEG format, each up to 100 KB.
- Pay the fee if it applies₹200 for PG certificate and certificate programmes completed in the 34th to 39th convocations. No fee for certificate programmes completed in the 20th to 33rd convocations.
- Print the acknowledgementAgain, wait 48 hours if it does not appear immediately.
According to the portal, certificates for master’s, bachelor’s, PG diploma and diploma programmes have been forwarded to the regional centre each student opted for, while PG certificate and certificate programme certificates are kept at headquarters.
For a wider look at the original degree process, see our guide to getting an original IGNOU degree certificate.
Whom to contact
| Problem | Contact |
|---|---|
| Fee paid but payment not reflected, or other payment issues | 011-29572209, convocation_feequery@ignou.ac.in |
| General convocation queries | convocation@ignou.ac.in |
| PG certificate and certificate programmes | IGNOU Headquarters: 011-29572224, convocation@ignou.ac.in |
| Master’s, bachelor’s, PG diploma and diploma certificates | Your regional centre (contact details are listed on IGNOU’s website and shown on the IDMS portal) |
Before convocation: provisional certificate and grade card
Between finishing your programme and receiving the original degree there is usually a gap of several months. During that time, your grade card and provisional certificate are the documents employers and admission offices ask for. Keep downloaded copies of both, and check that your name, programme and marks are correct before you register for convocation, since the same records are used to print the certificate.
Our guide to checking your IGNOU grade card explains how to confirm every course shows as completed.
Frequently asked questions
Is registering for convocation compulsory to get my IGNOU degree?
Yes. The original certificate is issued against the convocation registration and fee. Without registering, the degree is not dispatched.
What is the IGNOU convocation fee?
For the 39th convocation it was ₹600 for degree and diploma programmes and ₹200 for PG certificate and certificate programmes, paid online only.
Which convocation am I eligible for?
Find the term-end exam in which you completed your programme in the table above. For example, completing in June 2025 made you eligible for the 39th convocation.
Can I attend at a different regional centre?
The instructions say you attend at the regional centre where you are registered. If that centre does not hold a ceremony, you may be directed to a nearby centre.
I cannot attend. Will I still get my degree?
Yes. Choose the postal option while registering, or if you registered to attend but could not, the certificate is posted to the address you gave on the portal.
I passed years ago and never received my degree. What now?
Use the IDMS portal (onlineservices.ignou.ac.in/idms), which covers convocations 20th to 39th. Upload your ID card and grade card or provisional certificate and follow the steps.
My acknowledgement did not generate after payment. What should I do?
IGNOU asks students to wait 48 hours. If it still does not appear, write to convocation_feequery@ignou.ac.in with your enrolment number and payment details.