UGC Regulations 2025: Multiple Entry & Exit Options Introduced for UG and PG Programmes

 

UGC Regulations 2025: Multiple Entry & Exit Options Introduced for UG and PG Programmes

New Delhi, May 2025 — In a transformative step aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the UGC (Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes) Regulations, 2025, ushering in new possibilities for flexibility and mobility in higher education.

The key highlight of these regulations is the introduction of multiple entry and exit options in Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) degree programmes. These measures aim to enhance student autonomy and provide academic pathways that cater to individual goals and life situations.

Multiple Entry and Exit: Empowering Student Choice

According to the new regulations:

• Students can enter or exit a UG or PG programme at various stages, based on the number of credits earned.
• This policy allows flexibility to pause education due to personal, financial, or professional reasons and rejoin without academic loss.

For instance:

• UG Programme (4 Years):

  • Exit after 1 year: UG Certificate
  • Exit after 2 years: UG Diploma
  • Exit after 3 years: Bachelor’s Degree
  • Completion of 4 years: Honours Degree or Research-Based UG Degree

• PG Programme (2 Years):

  • Exit after 1 year: PG Diploma
  • Completion of 2 years: Master’s Degree

These qualifications will be based on credits earned as per the guidelines of the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF).

Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): A Central Repository of Learning

To support this flexible structure, the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) has been strengthened. It will:

• Store digitally verified academic credits of students.
• Allow students to transfer credits across institutions or re-enter education at any stage using previously earned credits.
• Promote inter-disciplinary and multi-institutional learning.

This digital repository is expected to bring transparency, efficiency, and portability to the higher education ecosystem.

Encouraging Lifelong Learning

The UGC has emphasized that these reforms are intended to:

• Make higher education more inclusive and learner-centric.
• Support lifelong learning and skill enhancement.
• Enable students to combine learning with employment and other pursuits.

Implementation from Academic Session 2025-26

Universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) are directed to implement these regulations from the academic session 2025-26. Institutions are also advised to update their curriculum and credit systems accordingly and ensure smooth coordination with the Academic Bank of Credits.

Conclusion

The UGC's 2025 reforms mark a paradigm shift in Indian higher education. With an emphasis on flexibility, credit portability, and learner autonomy, these new regulations aim to build a higher education ecosystem that is accessible, flexible, and globally relevant.