UGC’s draft multiple entry-exit policy lets students leave with a certificate, return for a degree

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted guidelines for multiple entry and exit from undergraduate and postgraduate academic programmes. Under the ME-ME scheme, a student can exit a course to earn a certificate after a year, diploma after two years, or a bachelor’s degree after three years. The UGC policy also allows students to re-enter the programme to upgrade qualification and ensures there’s no academic loss.

As per the UGC draft guidelines for Multiple Entry and Multiple Exit (ME-ME) in academic programmes offered in higher education institutions, the four-year programme may also lead to an honours degree with research, if the student completes a research project in the major areas of study.

For the master’s programmes, the colleges and universities will have the flexibility to offer different designs:

• A two-year programme with the second year devoted entirely to research for those who have completed the three-year bachelor’s programme.
• A one-year master’s programme for students who have completed a four-year bachelor’s programme with research
• An integrated five-year bachelor’s or master’s programme

In order to be eligible for the UGC scheme, students should have a functional ABC ID or APAAR ID or any identification number, created or authorised to be created by the UGC or Ministry of Education. The commission has prescribed a minimum eligibility criteria for entry into any level.

In the case of educational institutions, those with a valid National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) score and included in the UGC list of universities can offer the scheme. Distance mode is not covered under ME-ME.

The credit requirements for each type of qualification under the UGC norms for multiple entry-exit regulations are given below.

There’s a provision of lifelong learning in the UGC draft guidelines, and accordingly a learner can exit and rejoin the programme to continue from where he or she left if the validity of the credit is intact. After the expiry of the credits, learners can use the “Recognition of Prior Learning” pathway as well as apply for re-assessment provision for the expired credits.

Also read UGC will grant equivalence to foreign degrees excluding franchise, professional courses

The multiple entry, exit points in higher education, under the UGC rules are as follows: