Can you pursue a PG Course in one year? Here’s what UGC draft norms say

Students taking up a two-year PG programme have also been provided an exit option after the first year. Such students will be awarded a postgraduate diploma, PTI reported.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prepared a draft curriculum and credit framework for postgraduate or PG courses in which students with a four-year undergraduate degree may now embark on a one-year master's program, unlocking a swifter academic trajectory, as reported by PTI.

The UGC's emphasis on flexibility stands out prominently. In the proposed norms, postgraduate students are granted the unprecedented freedom to switch disciplines, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition.

Additionally, the inclusion of diverse learning modes—ranging from traditional offline classrooms to contemporary online platforms—acknowledges the changing dynamics of education by enabling students to seamlessly switch between offline, distance, online, and hybrid learning models.

"Seemingly it appears there are three designs of PG such as 1-year master, 2-year master, and an integrated 5-year programme. However, given that in 4-year UG there are bachelor's (Hons.) and bachelors (Hons. with Research), creditization of work experience, combinations of disciplines with emerging subjects such as AI, Machine Learning, etc. makes the number of curricular frameworks much higher. Accordingly, the higher education institutions prepare the curriculum as per the graduate attributes of the programme," the draft norms said as quoted by PTI.

Earlier, the UGC document titled ‘Curricular Framework and Credit System for the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme’ proposed granting flexibility in the designs and lengths/duration of master’s degree programmes. It suggested offering a one-year master’s degree programme for students who have completed a 4-year Bachelor’s degree programme with research.

Undertaking a doctoral programme of study is expected to require either a master’s degree or a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Research.

“However, irrespective of the major or minor disciplines chosen by a student in a UG programme, a student is eligible for admission in any discipline of Master’s programmes if the student qualifies the National level or University level entrance examination in the discipline of the Master’s programme,” the draft norms said.

As reported by HT, three kinds of postgraduate programmes will be offered – a two-year programme with the second year devoted entirely to research for those who have completed the three-year UG programme, a one-year programme for those who have completed a four-year UG course, and an integrated five-year Bachelor’s/Master’s programme.

Students taking up a two-year PG programme have also been provided an exit option after the first year. Such students will be awarded a postgraduate diploma, PTI reported.