Earlier, UGC had approved a proposal that allows students to simultaneously pursue two-degree programs, one in physical mode and one online. On Wednesday, UGC notified its new guideline a step further from there.
According to the new guideline, students can study two degree courses parallelly in physical mode or do one of the programs online and another in a regular college. It also allows them to pursue these degrees in the same university or at two different universities. Further, the notification adds that both degrees can also be online.
The renewed guideline will let students enroll in a diploma and a UG program simultaneously. Likewise, they can register for two UG and two PG courses. And those eligible for a PG degree can also join a UG in another subject of their choice.
UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said, “As announced in the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) and to allow students to acquire multiple skills, the UGC is coming up with new guidelines to allow a candidate to pursue two-degree programs simultaneously in physical mode. Moreover, students can pursue the degrees in the same university or different universities.”
He added, “Many universities are now offering ODL and online programs. Moreover, with the modified regulations for online education, which we will announce in a couple of weeks, many top-quality institutes in India will also start offering degrees online.”
This notification does not make it mandatory for the universities to offer the two-degree scheme. They would have the flexibility to decide on it. However, for students, the criteria would be class timings of both degrees must not overlap. And this scheme is not applicable for MPhil and Ph.D. programs.
The universities may have to develop attendance requirements suitable for students to take the exams in these courses. However, as per kumar, “UGC does not mandate any attendance requirements, and these are the universities’ policies.”