Ph.D. Admission: Students with 4-year graduate degree can directly pursue PhD; No need to do Masters

As per India’s New Educational Policy (NEP), graduate students won’t have to worry about pursuing a master’s degree to pursue a PhD. After four years of graduation, students who want to pursue a PhD can apply for admission. According to M Jagadesh Kumar, chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC), individuals with a four-year bachelor’s degree can pursue a PhD without first obtaining a master’s degree.

Kumar, the chairperson of the UGC, made a number of significant points when describing the advantages of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP). He stated: “The fact that students can enrol in the PhD programme without first completing a master’s degree is the first benefit. For this, they can choose a single major or a double major.”

According to UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, the three-year degree programme won’t be phased out until the four-year graduation programme is completely operational. Additionally, he highlighted that students can choose between three and four-year degrees (FYUP). He was asked on Wednesday if it was required for institutions to switch to the four-year plan for honours degrees and said that it was up to the universities.

UGC has released the four-year undergraduate program’s curriculum and credit structure (FYUP). The students will have access to a cutting-edge and adaptable higher education system thanks to the curriculum and credit structure developed under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This curriculum and the credit system for undergraduate programmes were designed by UGC. “The FYUP curriculum will increase options for students to take up employment or pursue higher studies because it contains various courses, ability-based courses, skill courses, value-added courses, and internships,” he continued.

A research honours degree option was also made available. Any student who wishes to specialise in research must begin a research project during their first four years of study, according to the curriculum. They will receive an honours degree with a focus on research as a result. At the moment, students who successfully complete a three-year UG study receive an honours degree. Students who are already enrolled in and pursuing a three-year undergraduate degree under the current Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) are entitled to pursue a four-year undergraduate programme, according to the UGC. There is no need to pursue a master’s degree to pursue a PhD degree if the student have a four-year graduate degree.