UGC to allow students to pursue two full-time degree programmes simultaneously in physical mode

The University Grants Commission will soon issue detailed guidelines in this regard

University Grants Commission chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday said in a virtual address that students can now study for two full-time academic programmes simultaneously offline, provided that class timings do not clash. As per existing regulations of the UGC, students cannot pursue two full-time programmes simultaneously.

This also means that from this academic session, students can study for two courses in the undergraduate or postgraduate programmes together, either online or offline, or diploma or degree. The courses can be from varying streams and from different universities. For instance, a student can take two offline degrees simultaneously, or one online and one offline course, or two online courses.

In a virtual meeting, Kumar said that the formats will be governed by the higher education body, and UGC will release a set of guidelines on Wednesday. MPhil and Phd courses will not fall under this, Kumar said. He added that the reforms will not be mandatory for any UGC-affiliated university.

He added that the reforms will only apply to non-technical courses affiliated by the UGC, excluding engineering as well as medical courses.

Kumar also said that in the UGC’s meeting held on March 31, it was decided that students will be allowed to pursue two academic programmes together. “The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises on the need to facilitate multiple pathways to learning, involving both formal and non-formal education forms; a combination of physical as well as online forms,” Kumar said.

He said that usually 3 to 4 per cent of students applying for a college are admitted, and this move will also help universities who can start online courses. “We will also set up a digital university to help facilitate online education,” Kumar said. Universities across the country can offer online degree courses as well and fresh guidelines in this regard will be notified in two weeks, Kumar said.

He said that the universities will have freedom to form their own implementation mechanisms, through their own statutory bodies, to allow the move. Credit for one programme, however, cannot be transferred to the other, he clarified.

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