UGC announces framework for 3 Yr, 4 Yr UG courses; Offers course mobility

Students will be eligible for a UG certificate after completing 1 year in a discipline or field including vocational and professional areas, or a UG diploma after 2 years of study.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has come up with the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes. The new curriculum has been shared with universities for 3-year and 4-year undergraduate courses.

The UGC in its notification has stated that the revision of the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) is one of the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to instil innovation and flexibility in higher education. Keeping in view of NEP's recommendation, the UGC has revised the CBCS and developed a Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes.

The UGC has requested all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to take necessary measures to adopt the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate programmes.

The NEP 2020 states that “the undergraduate degree will be of either 3 or 4-year duration, with multiple exit options within this period, with appropriate certifications, e.g., a UG certificate after completing 1 year in a discipline or field including vocational and professional areas, or a UG diploma after 2 years of study, or a Bachelor’s degree after a 3-year programme.”
For four year UG programme it states that the 4-year multidisciplinary Bachelor's programme, however, shall be the preferred option since it allows the opportunity to experience the full range of holistic and multidisciplinary education in addition to a focus on the chosen major and minors as per the choices of the student.
In accordance with the NEP 2020, the UGC has formulated a new student-centric “Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes (CCFUP)” incorporating a flexible choice-based credit system, multidisciplinary approach, and multiple entry and exit options.

New Curriculum Framework

According to the UGC, the new curriculum framework will have the flexibility to move from one discipline of study to another; opportunity for learners to choose the courses of their interest in all disciplines; facilitate multiple entry and exit options with UG certificate/ UG diploma/ or degree depending upon the number of credits secured; flexibility for learners to move from one institution to another to enable them to have multi and/or interdisciplinary learning; the flexibility to switch to alternative modes of learning (offline, ODL, and Online learning, and hybrid modes of learning).

Regulations for Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) and guidelines for Multiple Entry and Exit are already in place to facilitate the implementation of the proposed “Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes.

Structure of 3-year UG Degree

Students who wish to undergo a 3-year UG programme will be awarded UG Degree in the Major discipline after successful completion of three years, securing 120 credits and satisfying the minimum credit requirement.

4-year UG Degree (Honours)

A four-year UG Honours degree in the major discipline will be awarded to those who complete a four-year degree programme with 160 credits and have satisfied the credit requirements.

For the 4-year UG Degree (Honours with Research), students who secure 75% marks and above in the first six semesters and wish to undertake research at the undergraduate level can choose a research stream in the fourth year. They should do a research project or dissertation under the guidance of a faculty member of the University/College. The research project/dissertation will be in the major discipline. The students who secure 160 credits, including 12 credits from a research project/dissertation, are awarded UG Degree (Honours with Research).

Research Project / Dissertation
Students choosing a 4-Year Bachelor’s degree (Honours with Research) are required to take up research projects under the guidance of a faculty member. The students are expected to complete the Research Project in the eighth semester. The research outcomes of their project work may be published in peer-reviewed journals or may be presented in conferences /seminars or may be patented.

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