Thu Nov 28 15:44:54 UTC 2024: ## Indian Universities to Offer Flexible Degree Programs
**New Delhi, November 28, 2024** – Indian universities will soon offer students the flexibility to complete undergraduate degrees faster or slower than the standard timeframe, under new guidelines from the University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC has approved a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for Accelerated Degree Programs (ADPs) and Extended Degree Programs (EDPs), allowing students to adjust their study duration based on individual learning pace.
The new framework, enabled by the National Credit Framework (NCrF), lets students earn credits at a faster or slower pace than the standard three or four-year duration. ADPs allow students to complete their degrees in fewer semesters by earning extra credits, while EDPs offer a longer timeline with fewer credits per semester.
According to UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will form committees to evaluate student eligibility. Degrees earned under these programs will be equivalent to standard-duration degrees for all employment and academic purposes.
The UGC proposes that HEIs allocate 10% of their student intake for ADPs. Committees will review student performance after the first or second semester to determine eligibility for accelerated or extended programs, adjusting the number of courses and credits accordingly.
For three-year programs, students can shorten their studies by a maximum of one semester (five semesters total). Four-year programs can be shortened by one or two semesters (six or seven semesters total). Both three- and four-year programs can be extended by up to two semesters. Degrees will be awarded upon completion of the chosen duration, regardless of whether it matches the standard length. The UGC also mandates that all employers and recruiting agencies treat these shortened or extended degrees as equivalent to standard-duration degrees.
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