Updated: 11 Nov 2026 · By IGNOU Education editorial team
Independent guide, not affiliated with IGNOU. Official sources: ignou.ac.in and iop.ignouonline.ac.in.
Short answer: IGNOU’s MBA (Online), also called MBAOL, has 28 courses worth 116 credits, spread over four semesters of seven courses each. You study 20 compulsory core courses (MMPC-001 to MMPC-020), seven elective courses from one specialisation area and an 8-credit project (MMPP-001). Semesters 1 and 2 are entirely core. Your specialisation starts in Semester 3.
This page goes through the syllabus course by course, using IGNOU’s MBA (Online) Student Handbook and Prospectus and the Courses tab of the programme page on IGNOU’s online portal. If you’re still deciding between the online and distance (ODL) versions of the IGNOU MBA, start with our IGNOU online vs distance MBA comparison.
IGNOU Online MBA structure at a glance
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core courses (4 credits each) | 7 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 20 courses, 80 credits |
| Specialisation courses (4 credits each) | – | – | 4 | 3 | 7 courses, 28 credits |
| Project (MMPP-001) | – | – | 1 (counts as 2 courses, 8 credits) | – | 8 credits |
| Courses registered | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 courses, 116 credits |
A few rules from the handbook that shape the whole programme:
- You register seven courses each semester. You register in Semester 1 and re-register for each later semester.
- All seven specialisation courses must come from one area if you want the MBA in that area.
- The minimum duration is 2 years and the maximum is 4 years.
- The medium of instruction is English.
- In IGNOU’s credit system, one credit equals 30 hours of study, so each 4-credit course works out to about 120 hours.
Semester 1 and 2: the 14 compulsory core courses
Every MBA (Online) student takes the same 14 courses in the first year. There are no choices to make until Semester 3.
| Code | Course | Semester | Credits | What the course covers (from IGNOU’s block titles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMPC-001 | Management Functions and Organisational Processes | 1 | 4 | Roles of managers, planning, organising, staffing and directing, organisational processes |
| MMPC-002 | Human Resource Management | 1 | 4 | Sourcing people, performance and compensation management, employer–employee relations |
| MMPC-003 | Business Environment | 1 | 4 | The Indian economy, structural reforms, the international business environment |
| MMPC-004 | Accounting for Managers | 1 | 4 | Accounting basics, cost accounting and its uses, financial statement analysis |
| MMPC-005 | Quantitative Analysis for Managerial Applications | 1 | 4 | Data collection and analysis, probability, sampling, forecasting methods |
| MMPC-006 | Marketing Management | 1 | 4 | Markets, product and pricing decisions, distribution and promotion |
| MMPC-007 | Business Communication | 1 | 4 | Oral and written communication at work, communication inside organisations |
| MMPC-008 | Information Systems for Managers | 2 | 4 | IT for managers, information systems, decision-support systems |
| MMPC-009 | Management of Machines and Materials | 2 | 4 | Facility planning, operations planning and control, value engineering, materials management |
| MMPC-010 | Managerial Economics | 2 | 4 | Demand and revenue, production and cost, pricing decisions |
| MMPC-011 | Social Processes and Behavioural Issues | 2 | 4 | Organisational behaviour, intrapersonal, interpersonal and group processes |
| MMPC-012 | Strategic Management | 2 | 4 | Environmental analysis, strategy formulation, implementation and control |
| MMPC-013 | Business Laws | 2 | 4 | Business forms and regulation, contracts, financing rules, intellectual property and data |
| MMPC-014 | Financial Management | 2 | 4 | Cost of capital, investment, financing and dividend decisions |
If you finish Semester 1 and 2, you have 56 credits. That matters for the exit option explained below.
Semester 3 and 4: advanced core, project and electives
In the second year, the core load drops and your specialisation takes over.
Semester 3 (7 courses):
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMPC-015 | Research Methodology for Management Decisions | Core | 4 |
| MMPC-016 | International Business Management | Core | 4 |
| MMPP-001 | Project Course | Project (registered as 1 course, counts as 2) | 8 |
| – | Any 4 courses from your chosen specialisation area | Elective | 4 each |
Semester 4 (7 courses):
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMPC-017 | Advanced Strategic Management | Core | 4 |
| MMPC-018 | Entrepreneurship | Core | 4 |
| MMPC-019 | Total Quality Management | Core | 4 |
| MMPC-020 | Business Ethics and CSR | Core | 4 |
| – | Any 3 more courses from the same specialisation area | Elective | 4 each |
MMPC-015 (research methodology) sits in the same semester as the project for a reason. It covers data collection, measurement, analysis and report writing, which you’ll need for MMPP-001.
Specialisation electives by area
IGNOU’s MBA (Online) offers five specialisation areas. You pick seven courses from one area: four in Semester 3 and three in Semester 4. Some areas list more than seven courses, so you choose which ones to leave out. For how the online “area” relates to IGNOU’s separate specialised MBA programmes in distance mode, see our IGNOU MBA specialisations: online vs distance guide.
Financial Management (8 courses listed)
| Code | Course |
|---|---|
| MMPF-001 | Working Capital Management |
| MMPF-002 | Capital Investment and Financing Decisions |
| MMPF-003 | Management Control Systems |
| MMPF-004 | Security Analysis and Portfolio Management |
| MMPF-005 | International Financial Management |
| MMPF-006 | Management of Financial Services |
| MMPF-007 | Equity Markets |
| MMPF-011 | Management of Insurance Services |
More on this track: IGNOU Online MBA in Financial Management.
Marketing Management (9 courses listed)
| Code | Course |
|---|---|
| MMPM-001 | Consumer Behaviour |
| MMPM-002 | Sales Management |
| MMPM-003 | Product and Brand Management |
| MMPM-004 | International Marketing |
| MMPM-005 | Marketing of Services |
| MMPM-006 | Marketing Research |
| MMPM-007 | Integrated Marketing Communication |
| MMPM-008 | Rural Marketing |
| MMPM-009 | Retail Management |
More on this track: IGNOU Online MBA in Marketing Management.
Human Resource Management (8 courses listed)
| Code | Course |
|---|---|
| MMPH-001 | Organisational Theory and Design |
| MMPH-002 | Human Resource Development |
| MMPH-003 | Human Resource Planning |
| MMPH-004 | Industrial and Employment Relations |
| MMPH-005 | Organisational Development and Change |
| MMPH-006 | Organisational Dynamics |
| MMPH-007 | Compensation and Rewards Management |
| MMPH-009 | International Human Resource Management |
More on this track: IGNOU Online MBA in Human Resource Management.
Operations Management (8 courses listed)
| Code | Course |
|---|---|
| MMPO-001 | Operations Research |
| MMPO-002 | Project Management |
| MMPO-003 | Operations Management |
| MMPO-004 | Management Information Systems |
| MMPO-005 | Logistics and Supply Chain Management |
| MMPO-006 | Materials Management |
| MMPO-007 | Maintenance Management |
| MMPO-008 | International Logistics and Supply Chain Management |
More on this track: IGNOU Online MBA in Operations Management.
Services Management (7 courses listed)
Services Management doesn’t have its own course series. It’s built from courses that belong to the other areas, plus one course from the MMPB series:
| Code | Course | Course comes from |
|---|---|---|
| MMPH-002 | Human Resource Development | HR area |
| MMPM-005 | Marketing of Services | Marketing area |
| MMPM-009 | Retail Management | Marketing area |
| MMPO-005 | Logistics and Supply Chain Management | Operations area |
| MMPF-006 | Management of Financial Services | Finance area |
| MMPF-011 | Management of Insurance Services | Finance area |
| MMPB-005 | Marketing of Financial Services | MMPB series |
Because exactly seven courses are listed, a Services Management student takes all of them.
The MMPP-001 project
- Credits: 8. It counts as two courses for fees, but you register it as one course in Semester 3.
- Study material: none. IGNOU says no extra material is provided for the project.
- Topic: your choice, preferably from your specialisation. IGNOU lists three types: a comprehensive case study, an inter-organisational study, or a field (empirical) study.
- Synopsis first: your synopsis must be approved before you start the actual project work.
- Guide: must meet IGNOU’s criteria. Examples include management faculty with 5 years of PG teaching, or a professional with a master’s in management or an allied field and at least 5 years of experience in the relevant area.
- Submission: MBA (Online) students can submit the report through the LMS at any time of year. A report submitted between 1 December and 31 May is declared with the June TEE results. One submitted between 1 June and 30 November is declared with the December results.
- Evaluation fee: ₹500, paid with the Term-End Examination form for the session in which you submit the report. IGNOU says this fee may change.
- Evaluation: based only on the project report.
How you’re assessed
| Component | Weightage | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments (continuous evaluation) | 30% | One graded assignment per course, uploaded on the LMS |
| Term-End Examination (TEE) | 70% | Held twice a year, in June and December |
| Project (MMPP-001) | 100% of the project grade | Assessed on the project report |
Points worth knowing:
- You can’t sit the TEE for a course unless you’ve registered for it and submitted its assignment.
- You fill in a fresh exam form for every TEE session.
- To pass a course, you need an overall grade of C (50% to 59.9%) or above. IGNOU’s grades run A (80%+), B (60–79.9%), C (50–59.9%), D (40–49.9%) and E (below 40%).
- In India you can choose a pen-and-paper exam or a computer-based test (CBT) at a specified centre. Students taking the TEE outside India take it online. IGNOU notes that CBT centres are limited.
- Assignments are valid for two semesters.
Can you exit after one year?
Yes, but only if you ask. IGNOU’s handbook says that a student who completes the specified Semester 1 and 2 courses (56 credits) can request an exit and receive a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDIM). Without that request, you continue to the full MBA, which needs all 28 courses.
So the IGNOU Online MBA isn’t a one-year MBA. The one-year option leads to a diploma, not a degree.
Can you change your elective?
IGNOU’s handbook allows a change of elective or course “within 30 days from the receipt of first set of course material”. It costs ₹600 per course, and the request goes to your Regional Centre. Since specialisation courses only start in Semester 3, choose your area carefully before you re-register for that semester.
How you study
The handbook lists three kinds of learner support for MBA (Online) students:
- Self-study material in digital form. Online students don’t get printed material.
- Asynchronous counselling and mentoring through recorded videos on IGNOU’s COE Live YouTube channel.
- Synchronous mentoring and assessment by specified Regional Centres.
How the online syllabus compares with the ODL MBA
IGNOU also runs an MBA in distance (ODL) mode, with printed material and study-centre counselling. The core idea is similar: management fundamentals first, then a specialisation and a project. The two versions differ in admission portals, fees and how you study. Our online vs distance MBA guide compares them side by side. For what the online MBA costs, see IGNOU online MBA fees.
Checklist: courses to register each semester
- Semester 1: MMPC-001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007
- Semester 2: MMPC-008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014
- Semester 3: MMPC-015, MMPC-016, MMPP-001 + 4 courses from your chosen area
- Semester 4: MMPC-017, 018, 019, 020 + 3 more courses from the same area
Before you re-register for Semester 3, decide your area and list your seven elective codes. That way your Semester 3 and Semester 4 picks don’t overlap or fall short.
FAQs
How many subjects are there in IGNOU MBA Online? 28 courses in total: 20 core courses, seven specialisation courses from one area and the MMPP-001 project, which counts as two courses but is registered as one.
What is MMPC in IGNOU MBA? MMPC is the code series for the 20 compulsory core courses, MMPC-001 to MMPC-020. Elective codes start with MMPF (finance), MMPM (marketing), MMPH (HR), MMPO (operations) and, in Services Management, MMPB-005.
How many credits is IGNOU MBA Online? 116 credits: 80 from core courses, 28 from specialisation courses and 8 from the project.
Which specialisations are available in IGNOU online MBA? Five areas: Financial Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Operations Management and Services Management.
Is there a project in IGNOU online MBA? Yes. MMPP-001 is an 8-credit project registered in Semester 3. You need an approved synopsis and an eligible guide, and you pay a ₹500 evaluation fee with your TEE form.
Can I change my elective in IGNOU MBA Online? IGNOU allows it within 30 days of receiving the first set of course material, at ₹600 per course, through your Regional Centre.
Is IGNOU online MBA 1 year? No. The MBA takes at least 2 years (maximum 4). After the first year (56 credits), you can request an exit with a PGDIM diploma instead.
When can I join the IGNOU online MBA? IGNOU’s online admission portal says registration for the July 2026 session is over. IGNOU hadn’t announced the January 2027 cycle when we checked on 11 Nov 2026.
Independent guide, not affiliated with IGNOU. The course list, credits and rules come from IGNOU’s MBA (Online) Student Handbook and Prospectus and its online programme portal, and IGNOU can change them. Always confirm on ignou.ac.in and the IGNOU admission portal before you register or pay.