UG students to get option for flexible degree durations: UGC chief

New Delhi: Undergraduate students in India may soon have the option to shorten or extend the duration of their degree programmes, according to University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. The decision comes after the UGC approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for introducing Accelerated Degree Programmes (ADP) and Extended Degree Programmes (EDP) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The draft norms will now be made available for public feedback. These programmes aim to provide flexibility based on students' learning abilities, Kumar stated. The degrees awarded under these frameworks will include a note clarifying the adjusted duration but will remain equivalent to standard-duration degrees for academic and recruitment purposes.

Kumar explained that the ADP allows students to complete a three-year or four-year degree in less time by earning additional credits per semester, while the EDP provides an extended timeline with fewer credits per semester. HEIs will set up committees to assess students' eligibility for these options.

As per the approved SOPs, institutions can allocate up to 10% of their sanctioned intake for the ADP. Students interested in either programme will need to apply by the end of their first or second semester, with committees reviewing applications to determine eligibility.

For the ADP, students will follow the same curriculum and credit requirements as in standard programmes but will compress the timeline. Students opting for the ADP at the end of their first semester will begin earning additional credits from the second semester onward. If they join after the second semester, the additional credit load will start in the third semester.

For the EDP, students in three-year or four-year undergraduate programmes can extend their duration by up to two semesters, taking fewer credits per term. The committee will determine the minimum credits required for each semester based on the curriculum structure.

The UGC has clarified that HEIs can issue degrees as soon as students complete their academic requirements, without waiting for the standard duration to lapse. The degrees will include a note indicating whether the academic requirements were met in a shortened or extended period.

For instance, in the case of a four-year ADP, the degree will specify that the academic requirements were completed in six or seven semesters. Kumar emphasized that these degrees will hold the same value as those completed in standard durations for all academic and professional purposes.

With PTI inputs