Students with 4-year UG degrees can pursue a PhD in any subject, irrespective of the discipline: UGC Chairman

4-year UG Students can pursue PhD in any subjects – Students with 4-year UG degrees can pursue a PhD in any subject, irrespective of the discipline: UGC Chairman – The academic scene has undergone a dramatic change. It is now possible for students with four-year bachelor’s degrees to directly pursue their PhD goals by taking the National Eligibility Test (NET), according to University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. This changes things from the old rule that said you needed a master’s degree to be eligible for the NET.

Now Students with 4-year UG degrees can pursue a PhD in any subject, irrespective of the discipline

4-year UG Students can pursue PhD in any subjects – A minimum of 75% or its equivalent in undergraduate studies is now required of those seeking a PhD, regardless of whether they have a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Unlike previous years, the NET exam this year will not be administered on a computer. Instead, it will be administered in an offline mode. The goal of this change, which is set for June 16, is to make room for candidates with varying academic aspirations, regardless of their major when they were an undergraduate. It’s a huge change that will make getting a doctorate much easier for people who are really interested in it. Students with 4-year UG degrees can pursue a PhD in any subject, irrespective of the discipline: UGC Chairman. If the students having 4-year UG degree then he can pursue PhD in any subjects.

Can a student with a 4-year undergraduate degree in any field apply for a PhD program?

In charge of UGC: Absolutely! A PhD can be pursued by students with a 4-year UG degree in any field, not just the one their bachelor’s degree was in. This is possible if they follow the NET examination schedule and take the test in the topics they’ve chosen.

4-year UG Students can pursue PhD in any subjects – Multidisciplinary studies will be enhanced by this. Graduates earning doctorates in subjects unrelated to their undergraduate major will have an advantage in the employment market due to the breadth of their skill set. Students, irrespective of their undergraduate major, now have more leeway to pursue their academic interests thanks to this expanded eligibility.

Will an MA, MSc, or MCom be required for admission to PhD programs for these students?

According to the UGC chairman, a Master’s degree is not required to apply for a PhD if the applicant has a 4-year undergraduate degree (either finished or in the last semester/year). The catch is that in order to apply for a PhD, the student needs at least a 75% aggregate or its equivalent grade. For some groups, there is a 5% leniency. Completing a Master’s degree makes a student eligible to join a PhD program, even if they do not have the necessary % in a four-year undergraduate degree.

Were students enrolled in three-year undergraduate programs able to add a fourth year to their schedules to become PhD candidates?

PhD programs are open to students enrolled in the four-year undergraduate program, according to the UGC chairman. Applicants having the necessary aggregate percentage can apply for PhD admissions if their school permits them to transfer from a three-year undergraduate program to a four-year graduate program by offering them suitable courses aligned with the National Credit Framework.

Question: Will the UGC mandate that colleges and universities offer undergraduate programs lasting four years?

In charge of UGC: When it comes to the many advantages of the four-year undergraduate programs, UGC has been in continual communication with the colleges. Universities around the nation have been in touch with UGC through letter writing and conversation since the National Credit Framework debut. Fifteen hundred and fifty colleges and universities have already begun or will begin offering undergraduate degree programs lasting four years. Additionally, the UGC has requested that universities provide bridge courses to allow students enrolled in 3-year UG programs to transfer to 4-year UG programs. Students who want to spend their fourth year doing research would like this. In order to provide students more agency and freedom in their education, UGC is also pushing for colleges to adopt these policies.

A few students are also concerned that it would diminish the value of graduate-level coursework. Whose perspective is it?

In charge of UGC: Furthering one’s education at the graduate level has many advantages. No longer will specialised, advanced, or professional postgraduate degrees be necessary due to the introduction of the 4-year UG Programme, which aims to increase educational flexibility and provide new avenues for higher education. Getting a second degree from an accredited university is not the only reason to pursue graduate study. By exposing them to fields that span disciplines, it broadens students’ horizons and opens up new prospects for them. Additionally, a Master’s degree program can offer individuals the chance to enhance their skills and knowledge after completing a 4-year undergraduate degree.

The minimum GPA needed to be qualified for a PhD is 75% in a 4-year undergraduate program, however few students in the STEM fields, the arts, and business achieve this level of success. In your opinion, how should this be handled?

Chairman of the UGC: Students whose 4-year undergraduate degrees did not earn a 75% average can take the UGC-NET after completing a 1-year postgraduate degree. Many Indian colleges are already offering one-year postgraduate programs, and we’re collaborating closely with relevant stakeholders to get them to start sooner rather than later.

Would it be possible for you to provide information about the requirements for a PhD in four-year undergraduate programs? Is NET mandatory to be provided?

According to the UGC PhD Regulations, a candidate is qualified for PhD admission if they have completed a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree with 75% marks or comparable grades, as stated by the UGC Chairman. Now UG Students with 4-year Degree can also pursue PhD.

According to the rules, people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are eligible for a 5% grade reduction or equivalent.

The NET is open to all 4-year undergraduates who are interested in applying to PhD programs. More opportunities open up for students when they publish on the NET. Based on their score on the test, they may be eligible for admission to PhD programs at different universities or, as was previously the case, the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) award for PhD studies.

NTA UGC NET Notes

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