UGC approves biannual student admissions for universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) now allows higher education institutions to admit students twice a year, offering greater “flexibility” for institutions, though biannual admissions are not mandatory. Institutions can apply this new system to PhD, postgraduate, and undergraduate programs. Previously, institutions could only admit students during the July-August period. With the new decision, they can now admit students in both January/February and July/August for the upcoming academic session.

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UGC grants institutions choice for single or twice a year

The UGC has clarified that biannual admissions are optional, but this decision gives institutions the “flexibility” to potentially “increase their student intake and introduce new programs in emerging fields.”

UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar explained to The Indian Express, “All universities currently admit students in July/August. If they also want to offer programs in January, they are welcome to do so. Most universities worldwide admit students in July/August, so it is unlikely they will replace this with January admissions only.”

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Allows institutions to manage Biannual admissions independently

“The situation can be unique to each institution, with varying challenges from one to another. The UGC will not engage in micromanagement but will provide a broad regulatory framework, allowing institutions to work out the details and implement the system if they are capable,” he said.

Regarding whether universities can offer different sets of courses in the two admission cycles, he stated, It is up to the institutions, depending on their available infrastructure. For instance, if a science program uses lab facilities during the day for students admitted in July, they might use the labs in the evening for students admitted in January, optimizing resource utilization.

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