Students currently receive an honours degree after completing three years of undergraduate studies

New draught standards created by the University Grants Commission will allow students to graduate with an undergraduate “honours” degree after completing four years rather than three (UGC).

The draught ‘curriculum and credit framework for four-year undergraduate programmes’ established in compliance with National Education Policy is expected to be notified on Monday.

The proposal stated, “Students will be able to obtain an undergraduate degree in three years after earning 120 credits (calculated as the number of academic hours), and an undergraduate degree with honours in four years after earning 160 credits.”

“They must complete a research project during their four-year course if they want to pursue a research specialisation. They will graduate with honours and a focus on research as a result,” the proposal stated.

“Students who have already enrolled in and are pursuing a three-year undergraduate degree under the current Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) are eligible to pursue a four-year undergraduate programme. The university may offer bridge courses (including online courses) to help them transfer to the extended programme “it added.

Students currently receive an honours degree after completing three years of undergraduate studies.

The FYUP also provides students with entry and exit points. If they leave before three years, they will be allowed to return within three years of their departure and must complete their degree within a seven-year term.

According to the document, the FYUP curriculum should include major stream courses, minor stream courses, courses from other disciplines, language courses, skill courses, and a set of courses on environmental education, understanding India, digital and technological solutions, health and wellness, yoga education, and sports and fitness.

Students can choose to remain with their current major or change their major at the end of the second semester.

Students will also have the option of pursuing a UG with a single or double major.

“For the 3-year/4-year UG degree to be granted a single major, a student must achieve a minimum of 50% credits from the major discipline,” stated the document.