UGC approves one-year postgraduate courses in online, ODL mode under NEP 2020

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has permitted eligible higher education institutions to offer one-year postgraduate (PG) programs through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online mode for students who have completed a four-year bachelor's degree with Honours, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The revised guidelines, issued on July 28, replace an earlier notification released on July 24 and clarify the conditions under which universities can introduce the new programs.

According to the UGC, only institutions already recognized to offer the corresponding two-year postgraduate program through online or ODL mode will be allowed to launch the equivalent one-year course in the same discipline.

Before introducing the program, universities must obtain approval from their statutory academic bodies, including the Board of Studies, Academic Council, and Executive Council.

The one-year postgraduate program will be open only to candidates who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree with Honours, as envisaged under NEP 2020.

Admissions to professional programs such as MBA, MCA, and PGDM will continue to be governed by the norms of their respective regulatory authorities.

The commission has directed universities to maintain the same academic standards as regular postgraduate programs.

Institutions must ensure that the curriculum, credit structure, learning materials, teaching methodology, and assessment process comply with the UGC Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes and the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020.

The revised circular aims to provide greater clarity to universities planning to introduce one-year postgraduate courses through online and distance learning while ensuring compliance with existing academic and regulatory requirements.

The UGC said the move is intended to expand flexible higher education opportunities for eligible students without compromising academic quality and to maintain uniform standards across institutions offering the programs.