The higher education segment in India is constantly evolving, and major reforms are being made to add flexibility and personalization to it.
In a major policy decision deliberated on higher education, the University Grant Commission (UGC) chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar announced that students are allowed to pursue two full-time academic programmes at a time.
He says, ”As announced in the new National Education Policy (NEP) and in order to allow students to acquire multiple skills, UGC is coming up with new guidelines to allow a candidate to pursue two-degree programmes in physical mode simultaneously. The degrees can either be pursued from the same or different universities,”.
With this announcement comes a lot of confusion for students and for Higher education Institutes (HEIs). “In the last commission meeting held on March 31, it was decided to issue guidelines which will enable students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously because the NEP 2020 emphasizes the need to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education forms, in the sense that a combination of the physical model, as well as the online form, should be used to provide more freedom to the students to acquire multiple skills,” he further added.
Some guidelines are issued to Pursue 2 Degree Programs simultaneously that will be disclosed in this blog.
Modes in Which You Pursue Two-Degree Programs Simultaneously
Interested students can pursue two full-time degree programmes simultaneously, either at the same university or from different universities in physical mode, provided that class timings do not overlap. The Centre allows students to pursue two full-time, same-level degree programmes, i.e., at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, either in physical or online. Moreover, universities are flexible to decide whether or not they want to implement this scheme of programmes or not. The emergence of policy is more likely to bring change to the careers of many. The guidelines are only imposed on lecture-based courses undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes and not on MPhil and PhD programmes.
Flexibility to Pick
- Two UG programmes
- Two PG programmes
- A Combination of a Diploma Programme & UG Degree
- A Combo or Bachelor’s Degree in a different domain along with a PG degree.
More Flexibility…
Students can pursue multidisciplinary programmes from the same university or from different universities or in different modes- physical-physical mode, physical-online mode or online-online mode. In physical mode, the timing of two full-time programmes should not overlap (if one course is in the morning, the other one should be in the evening).
These guidelines are expected to be updated on the website in a day or two.
As there has been a constant straddle between the online and offline world for students, this news comes as a relief wherein students are allowed to pursue to courses of equal worth. Based on their potential and interest, students can pursue their career aspirations. This decision by UGC will pave new pathways of opportunities for students who want to pursue 2 Degree Programs.
Benefits of Studying 2 Degree Programs Together
Get Dual Degree Specialization
Add a feature in your cap with a twinfold degree. Dual specialization allows students to pursue programs from any of the two disciplines – sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, etc.
The eligibility criteria for each of the programmes will remain unchanged, and admissions will be conducted based on the existing UGC, university norms.
Study Two Different Fields Simultaneously
Your parents want you to pursue a specific field, but you want to go for something else. Such cases happen often; with this new policy, students can pursue both degrees to gain umpteen knowledge and exceptional worth. Students from the IT sector are often asked for management-related skills, utilizing this policy, they can have both.
Get Double Specialization in Lesser Time and Money
Doubling your skills in a limited time while saving on your lodging and other costs will help you manage finances. Upon completion, it will improve your instances of securing a dream job.
Double your Professional Network
A dual degree can potentially change the landscape of higher education in the country, especially on the job front. While pursuing two programs simultaneously, students will get more room to foster their professional network to learn new stuff. It helps you put across your viewpoints in an effective way and bounce off.
As the UGC guidelines are now rolled, institutes are advised to tune in with the pattern and make the advancement. The idea is to have a world-class education system in the country. Let’s see how it works for us.
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