‘UGC to offer UG Students flexibility in duration of degree courses’

New Delhi, November 28: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a new initiative allowing undergraduate students to shorten or extend the duration of their degree programmes. UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar revealed that higher education institutions (HEIs) will be able to offer two new options: the Accelerated Degree Programme (ADP) and the Extended Degree Programme (EDP). These initiatives, approved in a recent UGC meeting, aim to accommodate diverse learning paces and academic needs, offering students more control over their educational journey. The ADP allows students to complete a three- or four-year degree in a reduced timeframe by earning additional credits per semester, while the EDP allows students to extend their studies by taking fewer credits per semester. Both options ensure that students complete the same total number of credits required in standard-duration programmes.

The degrees awarded under both programmes will be treated at par with those earned through the standard duration, for both academic and recruitment purposes. Institutions will be allowed to offer the ADP option to up to 10% of their sanctioned intake, with committees in place to evaluate eligibility. Students can opt for the ADP after the first or second semester and will earn additional credits starting from the next semester.

The UGC has also clarified that students completing the programme in a shortened or extended duration will receive their degrees immediately, without having to wait for the full, standard duration.

This flexibility aims to cater to students’ diverse learning paces and offer them a more personalized approach to education.