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0 New Delhi – The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made a landmark announcement: students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree can now apply for a PhD without a master’s degree. This was announced by UGC Chairman, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar.
Under this new regulation, the candidates need to obtain at least 75% marks or equivalent grade in four years of bachelor’s degree program in order to seek admission in PhD programs or NET. Under previous regulations, it was required that a master’s degree with minimum marks of 55% must be obtained for the purpose of seeking admission for NET.
As Prof. Kumar puts it, “any student can now apply for a PhD in any discipline, subject to eligibility.” This means students can apply for a PhD irrespective of their undergraduate specialization, he said. “This step will provide greater flexibility and opportunities for young students to explore research avenues early in their academic journey,” he added.
The UGC has also made it clear that candidates belonging to the reserved categories, such as SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), economically weaker sections, and differently-abled persons, are eligible for a 5% relaxation in marks or equivalent grade. This relaxation falls in line with the commitment of the UGC towards inclusiveness and equal opportunities in higher education.
This should help in making the progression of study streamlined for students and encourage research orientation from the undergraduate level itself.
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