UGC Dual Degree 2022 - UGC Guidelines allowing students to pursue 2 Degrees at same time

UGC Dual Degree Norms 2022 - UGC Guidelines allowing students to pursue 2 Degrees simultaneously. UGC Guidelines 2022 for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued guidelines stating that students can now pursue two academic degrees at the same time, through traditional classroom mode, distance learning, or online mode. UGC has framed the following Guidelines. To allow the students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously keeping in view the following objectives envisaged in NEP 2020

UGC Guidelines to Allows Students to Pursue 2 Degrees Simultaneously

The National Education Policy - NEP 2020 states that pedagogy must evolve to make education more experiential, holistic, integrated, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner centred, discussion-based, flexible, and, of course, enjoyable. The policy envisions imaginative and flexible curricular structures to enable creative combinations of disciplines for study, that would offer multiple entry and exit points, thus, removing currently prevalent rigid boundaries and creating new possibilities for life-long learning and centrally involve critical and interdisciplinary thinking. 

With the rapid increase in demand for higher education and limited availability of seats in regular stream, several Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have started a number of programmes in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode to meet the aspirations of students. It has also led to the emergence of online education programmes which a student can pursue within the comforts of her / his home. The issue of allowing the students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously has been examined by the Commission keeping in view the proposals envisaged in the National Education Policy - NEP 2020 which emphasizes the need to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes. In view of above, UGC has framed the following Guidelines

UGC at a Time Dual Degree 2022 Guidelines

The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued guidelines stating that students can now pursue two academic degrees at the same time, through traditional classroom mode, distance learning, or online mode.

The UGC also demanded the strict and immediate implementation of the same through a letter to the vice-chancellors of all universities and the principals of all colleges and institutes.

In the letter, the UGC states that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 instructs that pedagogy must change to make education more experiential, holistic, integrated, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible, and, of course, enjoyable. The guidelines have been formulated keeping in mind the NEP demands.

The UGC also stated, “The policy envisions imaginative and flexible curricular structures to enable creative combinations of disciplines for study, that would offer multiple entries and exit points, thus, removing the currently prevalent rigid boundaries and creating new possibilities for life-long learning and centrally involve critical and interdisciplinary thinking.”

The UGC Secretary, Rajnish Jain, also informed the vice-chancellors of the universities that, in response to the students’ growing demand for higher education and the limited number of seats in the regular stream, several Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have launched a number of programmes in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, acknowledging the changing trends, this guideline has come into existence.

It has been in the UGC’s long-term plans to make this transition. Consultations were held and a committee was formed by the commission in 2012 to look into the proposal. Nevertheless, the proposal was ultimately rejected. In 2020, it was given the go-ahead and finally, on September 27, 2022, the decision to let students pursue two full-time, same-level degree programmes in physical mode concurrently at the same university or from separate universities was announced by UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar.

UGC Guidelines 2022 allowing students to pursue 2 Degrees at same time Important Highlights

  • A student may enrol in up to two degree programs, one in full-time classroom mode and another in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), online mode, or up to two ODL and online programmes at the same time.
  • If the class times for one programme do not conflict with the class times of the other programme, a student may also enrol in two full-time academic programmes in the physical mode.
  • Only those HEIs (higher education institutions) that are approved by the UGC, Statutory Council, or the government of India to administer such programmes may offer degree or diploma programmes via ODL or online.
  • Only students pursuing academic programmes other than PhD programmes are subject to the rules. Through their statutory bodies, universities can develop systems based on the rules that will let their students simultaneously enrol in two academic programmes.
  • Elaborating on the guideline further, UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar said, “For example, a B.Sc. (Mathematics) student wants to do a B.A. in languages with a goal to study natural language processing later, that is a possibility. Or an M.A. in Physics may like to do a B.A. (Economics) with a goal to branch out into econophysics, that is a possibility. Econophysics is an emerging area where the physics models are used to study problems in economics.”

UGC Guidelines 2022 allowing students to pursue 2 Degrees at same time Objectives

  • This guideline’s main goal is to recognise, pinpoint, and support each student’s distinctive abilities by educating parents and teachers about the need to foster each student’s holistic development in both academic and extracurricular areas.
  • In order to prevent undesirable hierarchies within and barriers between many fields of learning, it aims to achieve no rigid separations between the arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, vocational and academic streams, etc.
  • In order to maintain the unity and integrity of all knowledge, it aims to promote multi-disciplinarily and a holistic educational trend across the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and sports.
  • In addition to assisting individuals to develop their character, ethical and constitutional principles, intellectual curiosity, scientific temper, creativity, and spirit of service, it aims to give them the opportunity to study one or more specific fields of interest in depth.
  • In order to develop thoughtful, well-rounded, and creative students, it seeks to provide them with a wide range of courses in the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and languages, as well as professional, technical, and vocational areas.
  • It aspires to promote economic independence while preparing students for more fulfilling and meaningful lives and careers.
  • UGC Guidelines 2022 – PhD Students Exempted from Pursuing Two Degrees at the Same Time
  • According to this new guideline from the University Grants Commission (UGC), PhD students will not be permitted to pursue two academic degrees at the same time. However, students in all other programmes, such as diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate ones, will be able to enrol in two academic programmes either in person or online.
  • Students pursuing PhDs are not eligible for these dual degree programmes since they must concentrate on their research in order to contribute new information to their field.
  • To read the official UGC guideline notification, please click here.
The above guidelines shall be applicable only to the students pursuing academic programmes other than Ph.D. programme.
Based on the above guidelines, the universities can devise mechanisms, through their statutory bodies, for allowing their students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously as mentioned above

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can PhD students pursue a second degree at the same time?
No. According to a new guideline from the University Grants Commission (UGC), PhD students will not be permitted to pursue two academic degrees at the same time. However, students in all other programmes, such as diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate ones, will be able to enrol in two academic programmes either in person or online.

Can a student enrolled in a master’s degree programme pursue a bachelor’s degree at the same time?
Yes. Students enrolled in any diploma, undergraduate, or postgraduate programme may enrol in up to two-degree programs, one in full-time classroom mode and the other in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), online mode, or up to two ODL and online programmes concurrently. If the class times for one programme do not conflict with the class times of the other programme, a student may also enrol in two full-time academic programmes in the physical mode.

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  1. కొత్త విధానం అమలుకు ఉన్నత విద్యాసంస్థలకు సూచనలు జాతీయ నూతన విద్యా విధానానికి అనుగుణంగా నూతన పంథా
  2.  జాతీయ నూతన విద్యావి ధానాన్ని అనుసరించి దేశవ్యాప్తంగా విద్యా ర్డులు ఏకకాలంలో రెండు కోర్సులు అభ్యసిం చేందుకు వీలుగా యూనివర్సిటీ గ్రాంట్స్ కమిషన్ మార్గదర్శకాలు జారీచేసింది.
  3. పీహెచ్డీ మినహా మిగిలిన కోర్సులకు నిబంధనలను అనుసరించి వీటిని విద్యార్థులకు అందుబాటులో ఉంచాలని సూచించింది. 
అన్ని వర్సిటీలు, ఇతర ఉన్నత విద్యాసంస్థలు ఈమేరకు చర్యలు చేపట్టాలని తాజాగా ఆదే శించింది. ఈమేరకు జాతీయ విద్యా విధానం 2020 విధానాల్లో పూర్తిగా మార్పులు చేయాలని సూచించింది. విద్యార్థుల ఆసక్తికి అనుగుణంగా ఓపెన్ అండ్ డిస్టెన్స్ లెర్నింగ్ (ఓడీఎల్) విధానంలో నచ్చిన కోర్సులను అభ్యసించేందుకు అవకాశం కల్పించాలని, ఆన్లైన్ విద్య కార్యక్రమాలను సిద్ధం చేయాలని ఆయా విద్యాసంస్థలను యూజీసీ ఆదేశించింది.
ఇవీ మార్గదర్శకాలు
  • ఒక విద్యార్థి ఫిజికల్ మోడ్ రెండు విద్యా కార్యక్రమాలను పూర్తి సమయం కొనసాగించవచ్చు. తరగతి సమయాలు భిన్నంగా ఉండేలా చూడాలి. 
  • విద్యార్థి రెండు విద్యా కార్యక్రమాలను ఒకేసారి కొనసాగించవచ్చు. ఒకటి పూర్తి సమయం భౌతికంగా మరొకటి ఓపెన్ అండ్ డిస్టెన్స్ లెర్నింగ్ (ఓడీఎ ల్) ఆన్లైన్ మోడ్ చేయవచ్చు. లేదా రెండూ ఓడీఎల్ ఆన్లైన్ ప్రోగ్రామ్ లలో ఏకకాలంలో అభ్యసించవచ్చు.
  • ఓడీఎల్ ఆన్లైన్ మోడ్ కింద డిగ్రీ లేదా డిప్లొమా ప్రోగ్రాము యూజీసీ/చట్టబద్ద సంస్థలు, ప్రభుత్వాలు గుర్తించిన కార్యక్రమాలకే పరిమితం కావాలి. ప్రభుత్వ అనుమతి ఉన్న సంస్థలే వీటిని చేపట్టాలి.
  • యూజీసీ నోటిఫికేషన్ జారీ చేసినప్పటి నుంచి ఈ కొత్త విధానం అమ ల్లోకి వస్తుంది. ఇప్పటికే రెండు డిగ్రీలు చదువుతున్న విద్యార్థులు ఎవ రైనా ఉంటే యూజీసీ నిబంధనలను అనుస రించి అనుమతి పొందాలి.