AISHE 2020-21: After NEP 2020, student enrolments in MPhil decrease by 61% in 5 years

Other research-based programmes, such as PhD and postgraduate degrees, have seen an increase of 50.21% and 17.69%, respectively, in enrolment in the past five years.

This decrease in enrolment in MPhil courses comes a little after the government’s decision of discontinuing the MPhil programme completely. Under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the government has advised that the MPhil programme should be discontinued. However, no reason was stated for this.

“HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) will have the flexibility to offer different designs of Master’s programmes: (a) there may be a 2-year programme with the second year devoted entirely to research for those who have completed the 3-year Bachelor’s programme; (b) for students completing a 4-year Bachelor’s programme with Research, there could be a 1-year Master’s programme; and (c) there may be an integrated 5-year Bachelor’s/Master’s programme. Undertaking a PhD shall require either a Master’s degree or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree with Research. The MPhil programme shall be discontinued,” the NEP states.

This year’s AISHE report is based on the responses of 1,084 universities, 40,176 colleges and 8,696 standalone institutions.