UGC Approves 4-Year Undergraduate Degree as Default for All Central Universities

The University Grants Commission has formally approved the four-year undergraduate degree programme as the default option across all central universities from the 2026-27 session, phasing out the traditional three-year structure. Students will have the flexibility to exit with a certificate (after 1 year), diploma (after 2 years), bachelor's degree (after 3 years), or bachelor's with honours/research (after 4 years) through the Academic Bank of Credits system.

Structural Changes

The four-year programme introduces major-minor combinations, allowing students to combine disciplines — for example, a major in Economics with a minor in Data Science, or a major in History with a minor in Public Policy. The fourth year will include a research project or professional internship, giving students practical experience before entering the job market or pursuing postgraduate studies.

Students completing the four-year programme with research will be eligible to directly enter PhD programmes, bypassing the master's degree — a significant change that aligns India's higher education structure with global norms. The Academic Bank of Credits will allow students to transfer between universities while retaining their earned credits.

"The three-year degree was a colonial relic that no longer serves India's needs. A four-year programme with multiple exit options gives students flexibility and depth that the global economy demands," said UGC Chairman Professor Jagadesh Kumar.

The transition will require significant investment in faculty recruitment, curriculum development, and infrastructure expansion. The government has sanctioned Rs 5,000 crore for the first three years of implementation. State universities have been given until 2028 to adopt the new structure, though several states including Delhi, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have already begun pilot programmes.