MTech courses not mandatory to offer PhD: Anna University

The decision was taken after many engineering colleges closed down their postgraduate programmes due to poor student intake.

As per a report published in The Times of India, Anna University has announced that it is not mandatory for engineering colleges to have ME and MTech programmes in order to offer PhD courses.  

The decision was taken after many colleges closed down their postgraduate (PG) programmes due to poor student intake. It will enable a large number of faculty members to enrol in PhD programmes and get guideship.  

Earlier, only those colleges that had offered a PG programme in the department concerned for a period of five years were given recognition for their PhD programmes. However, as many colleges closed down their masters courses due to few takers, the departments concerned were not able to get recognition for doctoral programmes.  

Only 3,000 takers for 10,000 ME, MTech seats in Tamil Nadu 

Anna University Vice-Chancellor R Velraj said, “Even Anna University is unable to fill the PG engineering seats in many departments. For 10,000 ME and MTech seats available throughout the state, only around 3,000 applications are received. The demand for PG courses has declined as there are no teaching job opportunities. If we allow the departments with undergraduate degrees to offer doctoral degrees, it will create a good research atmosphere.” 

Around 1,000 students register for PhD programmes in engineering colleges annually in Tamil Nadu. In Anna University’s four campuses alone, 175 to 200 people register for PhD programmes. 

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