Under NEP reforms, new UGC rules will allow ‘accelerated, extended’ graduate degrees – AyraNews24x7

Last updated:December 05, 2024, 10:48 PM IST

The new draft rules also state that students can pursue any subject at UG or PG level, irrespective of the subject they have chosen in class XII, but they will have to pass the required entrance examination.

The new draft rules of the UGC are part of reforms in higher education in line with NEP 2020. (Image for representation: PTI)

The duration of a graduate degree can now be “accelerated” as well as “extended” depending on the student’s preference, especially in the case of accelerated if students are able to complete the degree in a shorter period, as the new Has been determined as per the rules. University Grants Commission.

According to the draft (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Awarding of UG and PG Degrees) Regulations, 2024, released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday, students will be able to pursue any subject in undergraduate (UG) or postgraduate. (PG) level, irrespective of the subject chosen by them in class XII. But, the draft states that they will have to pass the relevant entrance examination for higher studies in that particular field.

If higher education institutions are willing to introduce this system, the draft rules facilitate bi-annual admission, allowing students to enroll twice a year, in July–August and January–February.

In June, the UGC had approved bi-annual admission, meaning two academic sessions in a year, for those offering courses in the physical mode. The new rules are part of reforms in higher education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Some of the salient features of the new draft rules are:

• A student must earn a minimum of 50 percent of the total credits in a subject to pursue a UG degree with any major. For the remaining 50 per cent credits, the student can choose skill courses, apprenticeship and multidisciplinary subjects.
• The duration of a UG degree will be either three or four years, and a PG degree will generally be of one year or two years. However, the duration of a UG degree can now be more or less as students can choose between Accelerated Degree Program (ADP) and Extended Degree Program (EDP).
• Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can earmark up to 10 per cent of approved admissions for ADP while there is no limit for EDP. The draft rules state that a committee constituted by the HEI will evaluate the credit-completion capability of a student based on their performance in the first or second semester and give its recommendations.
• The draft rules state that students will have the option to choose ADP or EDP at the end of the first semester or second semester, but not beyond that. In both, they will follow the same course content and total credits prescribed for the program for a standard duration. The only change is in the duration of the programme. “The number of courses to be completed in each semester will be more or less as per the duration chosen by the students,” the draft said.
• Degree programs will have a self-contained note stating whether the academic requirements have been completed over a short or extended period of time in a standard period. For example, students completing a four-year UG degree (Hons/Hons with Research) in relevant subjects (Level 6, such as BSc Hons in Physics, Biology, or Mathematics) and a four-year UG degree (Level 6, Students who have completed (eg) BE, B.Tech, etc.) will be eligible for two-year/four-semester PG programs (Level 7, like ME, M.Tech., etc.).

UGC Chairman Professor M. Jagadish Kumar said the new draft guidelines aim to transform higher education in India by introducing greater flexibility for students, removing disciplinary rigidity, inclusivity and multidisciplinary learning opportunities.

“The rules include provisions for multiple entry and exit, recognition of prior learning and flexibility to pursue two UG/PG programs simultaneously. We have also separated the eligibility for UG and PG admissions from the rigorous discipline-specific requirements of schooling.”

Additionally, students will now have the option to earn 50 per cent of credits in their major discipline, while the remaining credits can be allocated towards skill development, apprenticeship or multidisciplinary subjects to promote overall development.

“With these reforms, we ensure that Indian higher education evolves to meet global standards while remaining rooted in inclusivity and adaptability to the needs of diverse learners,” he said.

The draft rules state that irrespective of the subjects taken by a student in class XII or UG, a student is eligible for admission to any UG or PG program if the student qualifies the national level or university level entrance examination. They also allow HEIs to decide on minimum attendance requirements for various programs with the approval of their statutory bodies.