Why UGC has allowed admissions twice a year, what could happen now

Students are now admitted once a year, in a single academic session that begins in July/ August. The UGC’s decision will allow universities to admit students in two cycles, in July/ August and then in January/February, to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes.

The new system could allow universities to reflect the admission cycles in some countries that admit students twice a year, and where the courses that are available in these different admission cycles may also vary. Universities in the United States, for instance, have ‘intakes’ in the fall (session that begins in August/ September) and in the spring (session that begins in January).

Reason and beneficiaries

The UGC has already attempted the biannual admission process for open and distance learning, and online programmes, and found that “permitting a second academic session in a year has helped nearly half a million students join their degree programmes without waiting for one full academic year”.

This, according to UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, could benefit students who may have missed admissions in the July/ August session on account of health issues, delays in board exam results, or personal reasons. With admissions opening twice a year, they need not wait for an entire year before they can apply again.

Kumar has said that universities abroad follow a biannual admission system, and this system in Indian institutions “can enhance their international collaborations and student exchanges”.

He has also said that this system could also help increase the ‘gross enrollment ratio’ (GER). For higher education, GER is the ratio of students enrolled to the population of the age group eligible for higher education.

What next for institutions

The decision to open admissions twice a year lies with the universities — their academic and executive councils will have to take the call. It will be up to the universities to work out what programmes they might open up for biannual admissions. The availability of infrastructure and faculty will be crucial in deciding to admit students in two admission cycles.

While the UGC has allowed higher education institutions to admit students twice a year from the coming academic year, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh pointed out that admissions for the upcoming session have already begun.

Chairman Kumar said: “This a provision that we are providing… It is quite possible that it will not happen immediately. The universities may have to work on their infrastructural requirements, faculty requirements, and then plan it over a period of time.”

Singh said the university is open to the idea and may implement it initially for a few programmes before extending it to others.

There is also the question of admissions that are based on entrance exams. Kumar said that it could be “beneficial to students” if they are conducted twice a year.