Jamia Millia Islamia University is set to introduce four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP) with flexible entry and exit options starting from the academic session 2024-2025. The undergraduate degree will have a duration of either three or four years, allowing for various entry and exit points within this timeframe, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, according to an official statement.

Currently, the university’s undergraduate programmes are three years in duration. In line with the NEP. Najma Akhtar, vice chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, has approved recommendations from a committee formed to bring about changes in Ordinance 15-B (XV-B) (Academic). This alteration enables the implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines on multiple entry and exit academic programmes offered in higher education institutions, the statement mentioned.

Under the newly introduced multiple exit and entry options, students exiting after one year will receive a certificate, those leaving after two years will be eligible for a diploma and those completing three years will earn a bachelor’s degree. The full four-year duration is required for eligibility for a bachelor’s degree with honours or research. For students achieving a CGPA of 8.5 and above in the first six semesters who wish to pursue research at the undergraduate level, a research stream is available in the fourth year. This involves undertaking a research project or dissertation under the guidance of a faculty member of the university/college.

Depending on available academic and physical facilities, the university may reserve seats for lateral entrants into the two-year / third year / fourth year of a first-degree programme. The UGC emphasises that the introduction of multiple exits and entries will provide flexibility in curriculum, offer novel course options, allow discipline-specific specialisations, and enable students to choose various designs for Master’s programmes. Earlier this month, the UGC notified the curriculum and credit framework for undergraduate programmes, providing students with multiple entry and exit options, the choice between single major and double major, and interdisciplinary subject choices, it added.

With inputs from ANI.