Mail News Service
Ranchi/Jamshedpur, Feb 5: Kolhan University, Ranchi University and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University have implemented the four-year undergraduate program in line with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020. If the academic sessions remain on schedule, the first batch of students under this system will graduate next year.
Students completing the four-year graduation will receive an Honours degree and will be eligible to complete their postgraduate (PG) studies in just one year. They will accumulate 44 credits during the PG course. However, students who complete only a three-year undergraduate program will have to undergo a two-year PG course, requiring them to earn 88 credits in total.
PG course framework under NEP
Under the new system, each semester of a PG course will carry 22 credits. Since one semester lasts six months, students completing a one-year PG (two semesters) will earn a 44-credit degree, while those in a two-year PG program will complete 88 credits.
The universities are expected to introduce one-year PG courses by 2026, but this will require prior approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Academic Council. “The syllabus will be designed as per UGC guidelines and will undergo a thorough approval process before implementation,” said an official from Ranchi University.
Focus on research and flexibility for students
NEP-2020 puts greater emphasis on research, integrating coursework with research projects. Additionally, students can now choose PG subjects beyond their undergraduate major, offering greater flexibility.
A significant reform under NEP is the multiple exit option. Students leaving their undergraduate course after one year will receive a certificate, after two years a diploma and those completing three years will get a degree. A four-year course will lead to an Honours degree, enhancing their academic qualifications.
