The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday said the Delhi University (DU) could continue with the four-year BTech programme for the existing batch.

In its letter to the DU registrar, the UGC asked the varsity to ensure that colleges obtain “appropriate approval” of the regulatory bodies like the UGC and AICTE so students admitted in these programmes are not put at any disadvantage. 

The students admitted in the BTech courses, which were part of the controversial Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), were anxious about their future after the DU rolled back the programme following UGC’s direction. Over the past couple of days, the students were protesting in the capital demanding clarification in this regard.

Around 2,500 students are enrolled in six BTech programmes—Computer Science, Electronics, Food Technology, Polymer Science, Instrumentation and Electronics and Psychological Science—that are part of the FYUP.

In its letter, the UGC said, “The four-year BTech Programmes in Computer Science, Electronics, Food Technology, Instrumentation Electronics and Polymer Science (where such students were admitted in the colleges under Delhi University) and which are covered under Section 22 of the UGC Act, with respect to BTech, may continue in these programmes only for the students already admitted for academic year 2013-14.”

However, there was no word on the Psychological Science course and Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS) programme. These courses are likely to be converted into three-year courses, PTI quoted officials as saying.

While recommending roll-back of the FYUP, the UGC said its Standing Committee on June 23 had directed that the BTech programme should continue in the four-year format for students already admitted, so that there is “no prejudice” caused to their interest.

The UGC letter to the Registrar and a press statement came as a number of BTech and BMS students of Delhi University staged a protest in the morning outside the residence of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, demanding that their four-year courses should not be scrapped. Students also threatened that if the varsity does not take care of their interest, they will move court.