Undergraduate students in India could soon have the flexibility to complete their degrees faster or extend their study time, thanks to a new proposal by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC Chairman, Jagadesh Kumar, announced the approval of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Accelerated Degree Programme (ADP) and Extended Degree Programme (EDP), allowing students to tailor their study timelines to better suit their learning abilities.

What are ADP and EDP?

The ADP will enable students to complete a three-year or four-year undergraduate degree in less time by taking additional credits per semester, while the EDP offers an extended timeline with fewer credits per semester. This approach ensures students meet the same total credit requirements as standard-duration degrees.

“Students can use this option to shorten or extend their study durations based on their learning abilities,” said Kumar. “These degrees will be equivalent to standard duration degrees for academic and recruitment purposes.”

How will the programs work?

  • Accelerated Option: Students can opt for the ADP at the end of their first or second semester. Depending on when they transition, they will begin earning extra credits from the following semester.

  • Extended Option: In EDP, students can take up to two additional semesters to complete their program, earning fewer credits per semester.

The curriculum and total credit requirements for both ADP and EDP will remain identical to standard programs, with the only difference being the timeline.

How will students be selected?

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will form committees to evaluate applications and assess students’ eligibility for ADP and EDP. These committees will consider academic performance from the first or second semester to determine whether students can handle the additional or reduced course load.

For ADP, HEIs can allocate up to 10% of the total sanctioned intake of students.

What will the degrees look like?

Degrees completed under ADP or EDP will include a note stating the academic requirements were fulfilled in a shortened or extended timeframe. For instance, an ADP degree for a four-year course will specify that the requirements were completed in six or seven semesters.

Despite this difference, Kumar emphasized that such degrees would hold the same value as standard-duration ones for both academic and employment purposes.

The UGC plans to release the draft norms for public feedback before implementing the program. This initiative mirrors practices at top foreign universities, where students already have the option to accelerate or extend their degree timelines.

“The examination and evaluation systems will remain consistent with those of standard programs,” Kumar explained. “The transcripts will reflect only the courses students undertake each semester.”

By offering this flexibility, the UGC aims to empower students to pursue their education in ways that best align with their capabilities and aspirations.