Now, entrance test must for Mysore varsity PG admissions

The academic council of the University of Mysore on Wednesday decided to conduct entrance exams for all the post-graduate courses offered at its main campus, PG centres, autonomous, affiliated and constituent colleges from the academic year 2013-14.

This follows recommendations from Prof P Nagabushan, chief nodal officer of the varsity and chairperson of Admission, Reformation and Regulations and Implementation Committee.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) in its 11th Plan has emphasised on bringing in reforms in higher education by effecting changes in enrolment rules.

OMR-based papers

The office of the Registrar (Evaluation) will conduct the entrance examination and evaluate the answer scripts. Most importantly, it will be OMR based, with one hour duration and for a total of 50 marks. 

The marks scored in the qualifying examination will be reduced to 50 per cent and the sum of the two exams will be counted while preparing the rank list.

According to the recommendations, entrance exams will be conducted soon after undergraduate exams, without waiting for the announcement of results. 

After the results of the UG exams, applications for admission to PG courses shall be submitted.

The fee for the entrance exam is fixed at Rs 100 per course for the academic year 2013-14.

Minor changes

Prof N Usharani, dean, department of Mass Communication and Journalism, however, argued that it would be inadequate to conduct objective type exams for students of her department. She contended that the department has been conducting entrance exams for the past 35 years.

By adopting the new system, it would restrain the department from testing the creative ability of the students, the main criterion to study journalism. Finally, it was decided to introduce the entrance test with minor changes if any.

PhD admission

Foreign students aspiring to enrol for PhD at the University of Mysore need not take up the entrance test at the varsity itself.

If a foreign student has successfully completed national level entrance tests such as TOEFL and others, they are eligible for admission.

However, in the case of foreign students successfully completing Post-Graduate  courses in the varsity, entrance exams and course work is a must.