Undergraduate students in India may soon have the option to either accelerate or extend the duration of their degree programs, according to University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar.
The UGC has approved draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for implementing the Accelerated Degree Programme (ADP) and Extended Degree Programme (EDP) in higher education institutions (HEIs).
The guidelines will now be released for public feedback before being finalized.
The initiative will allow students to complete three-year or four-year degree programs in a shorter time by earning extra credits or extend the duration by taking fewer credits per semester.
UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar explained that students can adjust their study duration based on their learning abilities. Under the ADP, students can complete degrees faster by earning additional credits per semester, while the EDP offers an extended timeline with fewer credits per semester.
The programs aim to maintain academic parity. Students enrolled in ADP or EDP must meet the same total credit requirements as standard-duration degrees, ensuring equivalence in academic and recruitment contexts.
Degrees will include a note specifying whether the program was completed in a shortened or extended timeframe.
Key features of the SOPs include:
Students may opt into ADP or EDP at the end of the first or second semester, subject to eligibility approval by institutional committees.
– ADP participants begin earning extra credits from the second or third semester, depending on when they transition to the program.
– EDP allows students to extend their degree duration by up to two semesters, with a reduced credit load each semester.
The commission noted that HEIs could reserve up to 10 percent of the intake capacity for ADP. Degrees for both programs will be awarded as soon as students complete the required credits, without needing to wait for the standard program duration.
This reform is part of the UGC’s broader efforts to make higher education more flexible and student-centric, catering to diverse learning needs while maintaining academic rigor.