New Delhi: The University Grants Commission on April 12 has granted permission to the students to pursue two degree courses in physical mode simultaneously in same or different streams.
This decision was approved by the UGC in its latest meeting. Under this provision, Indian students will be able to pursue two degrees at the same time and it will also enable students to complete their courses either at the same university or from different universities at the same time. Detailed guidelines in this regard will soon be issued by the UGC.
"As announced in the new National Education Policy (NEP) and in order to allow students to acquire multiple skills, UGC is coming up with new guidelines to allow a candidate to pursue two degree programmes in physical mode simultaneously," UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said at a press conference.
The degrees can either be pursued from the same or different universities," the UGC Chairman added.
Jagadesh Kumar informed that the students will also be permitted to pursue two degree programmes in physical and online mode simultaneously.
"Typically 3-4% of students who apply at a college are admitted to it. We want to empower some of the best universities in the country to start online courses as well. Online courses ensure an unlimited number of seats. We are also planning to set up a national digital university which will also be declared as an Institute of national importance and offer online programmes," the UGC chairman further added.
Students who are in the second or third year of a degree can also enroll in the first year of another course as well. The UGC has said that the enrollment will be regardless of stream, college, or year the student is currently in.
However, it is to be noted that the flexibility is available for only lecture - based courses offered at the under-graduate and post-graduate level and diploma courses are also allowed to be clubbed under this programme. But, students cannot pursue two PhD simultaneously.
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