Scrap four-year course, UGC tells IISc, others

City institute defends programme

After Delhi University, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, has been asked by the University Grants Commission (UGC)  to scrap its four-year undergraduate programme.

The higher education regulator has also issued a similar directive to Shiv Nadar University, Noida, and Symbiosis International University, Pune, which also offer four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP), Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, has been offering a four-year undergraduate programme in science (BS) since 2011. Shiv Nadar University and Symbiosis International University offer  four-year BA and BS programmes.

“These institutions have been asked to discontinue such programmes and follow the UGC notification on specification of degrees,” the minister said.

Soon after forcing the Delhi University (DU) to scrap the FYUP in July, the UGC came up with a gazette notification on July 5, specifying the nomenclatures and duration of degree programmes for universities and other higher educational institutions.

The higher education regulator notified that general undergraduate honours or general degree programmes, like BA, BSc and BCom should be of three years’ duration, MPhil one to one-and-a-half years duration and doctoral 2 years. 

After scrapping of the FYUP by DU, the commission sought information from O P Jindal University, Sonepat; IISc, Bangalore; Shiv Nadar University, Noida; Symbiosis International University, Pune; B R Ambedkar University, New Delhi; Ashoka University, Sonepat and Azim Premji University, Bangalore.

“The IISc, Shiv Nadar University and Symbiosis International University reported that they are conducting four-year BA and BS programmes,” the minister told the Lok Sabha.According to sources, the IISc, in its response to the UGC letter, stood by its four-year programme, saying it is a research degree.