AP government increases duration of undergrad programmes from three years to four-years

This is in tune with the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 approved by the central government a few months back.

Four-year Honours Programmes will replace three year Honours Programmes from 2020-21.

Higher Education department has urged the Universities in the state to adopt the orders issued by the government with the approval of their respective Statutory Boards for its implementation in all the University Colleges and their affiliated colleges under their jurisdiction from the academic year 2020-21.

According to the new National Education Policy, the 4-year UG courses of the Bachelor's degree multidisciplinary will give a choice of whether they want a 1-year, 2-year-, 3-year, or a 4-year course. Depending on how long a course they study, they will be awarded a diploma or a degree.

However, the AP government has approved the exit option after the third year only.

The review meeting on Higher Education with all functionaries of Higher Education and Technical Education held on August 6, headed by the chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has unanimously decided to go for a 4-years Honours programme with an exit option after three 3-years from the academic year 2020- 21.

The meeting also decided that the students, who opt to exit after three years, will be awarded a UG Degree (BA/B.Sc/B.Com) and students who complete four years Degree Programme will be awarded an Honours Degree.

After careful examination of the matter, the Government hereby decided to accord permission to the State-funded Universities in the State of Andhra Pradesh for introduction of four year Honours Programmes with ten months of mandatory internship, with an exit option at the end of the 3rd year.

Students who complete a four years Degree Programme with a rigorous research project in the major areas of study will only be awarded an Honours Degree.

Highlights of NEP

The 4-year multi-disciplinary bachelor's degree in the undergraduate programme will have multiple exit options. These will include professional and vocational areas and will be implemented as follows:

A certificate after completing 1 year of study

A diploma after completing 2 years of study

A Bachelor's degree after completion of a 3-year programme

A 4-year multidisciplinary Bachelor's degree (the preferred option)

What's New?

However, AP will give an exit option after the three-year duration only.

Students who complete a four years Degree Programme with a rigorous research project in the major areas of study will only be awarded an Honours Degree.