Mumbai: Students pursuing the fourth year of undergraduate programmes will be awarded two degrees upon completion if they opt for lateral admission to another college or university department, or if they undertake their fourth year in an allied subject. The first will be a regular bachelor’s degree, awarded after exiting the three-year programme in their core subject, and the second an honours degree in the same or allied subject.
In a Mumbai University meeting this week, colleges were also informed students can choose to graduate with either an Honours or Honours with Research degree or a postgraduate diploma, depending on their preference after four years. While the meeting was to clarify guidelines for four-year programmes under National Education Policy (NEP), principals added the idea of awarding two degrees could sound ‘bizarre’ and needed more clarity. A circular to this effect is yet to be issued.
A principal said, “Technically, a BCom accounting and finance (BAF) student, for instance, should be allowed to exit after three years with a BAF degree and on completion of the fourth year with a BAF (honours). Now, as colleges do not have a postgraduate course after BAF, the university is suggesting giving the honours degree in an allied subject such as in finance, or even financial management,” he said, adding they need more clarity. The principal said the university could have allowed colleges to start the MAF programme instead this year.
University officials, though, said multidisciplinary learning is the essence of NEP.
“Admissions to the fourth year should be considered as admissions to the master’s programme. If an MCom in financial management was open to all undergraduates in finance, irrespective of their core subjects, the same should be applicable now. All colleges and university departments offering PG courses will be allowed to offer fourth-year honours and honours with research programmes, if they fulfil the eligibility criteria,” said the official.
Another official said with NEP, the concept of two degrees is not unusual. “If a student exited after two years, a diploma was awarded and if the same student returned to complete the honours programme, he will be awarded the honours degree too,” he said.
