About School of Social Sciences, IGNOU
IGNOU’s School of Social Sciences (1986) runs distance BA, B.Sc, MA and PhD programmes in eight social science subjects.
The School of Social Sciences (SOSS) was set up in 1986, soon after IGNOU itself, and is based at the Maidan Garhi campus in New Delhi. It has eight disciplines: anthropology, economics, history, library and information science, political science, public administration, psychology and sociology, along with a Centre for Gandhian Studies. Learners can take honours or four-year BA programmes in most of these subjects, a B.Sc in anthropology, a Bachelor and Master of Library and Information Science, and MA programmes, some in a one-year format. PhD programmes run in every discipline, and there are PG diplomas in areas such as disaster management and Gandhi and peace studies.
Courses and fees
| Course | Mode | Duration | Seats | Fee per year | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | Distance | — | — | — | — |
| Bachelor of Science | Distance | — | — | — | — |
| Master of Arts | Distance | — | — | — | — |
| Doctor of Philosophy | Distance | — | — | — | — |
Tuition fees as published by the college for the fee year shown. Hostel, mess and exam fees are extra unless stated.
Admission
Admission through: Direct
Admission to this school's programmes is handled centrally by IGNOU through open and distance learning. Candidates apply online on the IGNOU Samarth admission portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in) when the university opens an admission cycle, and most programmes admit students who meet the stated eligibility. PhD admissions run through a separate IGNOU PhD portal (ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in) with their own notification.
Typical eligibility
- Bachelor of Arts: Studying in: Class 12; any stream; universities set their own minimum marks
- Bachelor of Science: Studying in: Class 12; Science stream usually required; universities set subject and minimum mark rules
- Master of Arts: Studying in: UG; At least 50% marks in UG; three- or four-year bachelor's degree; subject requirements vary (e.g. DU M.A. Economics needs Mathematics in Class 12 or 4 credits of Mathematics in the degree)
- Doctor of Philosophy: Studying in: PG; At least 55% marks in PG
The college may set higher cut-offs. Check its prospectus.
Where these courses lead
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Professor
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Lawyer
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Chartered Accountant
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Research Scientist
Research scientists plan and run experiments to discover new knowledge or solve practical problems. In India most enter research through a master's…
Data Scientist
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Agricultural Scientist
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Frequently asked questions
Which subjects does IGNOU SOSS cover?
Anthropology, economics, history, library and information science, political science, public administration, psychology and sociology.
Does IGNOU offer a one-year MA?
Yes. SOSS lists one-year MA options in economics, history, sociology and anthropology.
How do I contact the School of Social Sciences?
The director's office is on 011-29537336 and directorsoss@ignou.ac.in.
Sources
Information verified on 19 Oct 2026
- Indira Gandhi National Open University · Official site, accessed 19 Oct 2026
- School of Social Sciences - IGNOU · Official site, accessed 19 Oct 2026
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