UGC to allow universities for biannual admissions from 2024-25 session; Know how it will benefit students

In a significant change in policy, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has opted to allow higher education institutions to accept students twice a year, commencing from the upcoming academic year. The admissions will now be accessible in both January/February and July/August, thereby offering increased opportunities for students who may have missed the initial cycle due to various reasons such as delays in board results, health concerns, or personal circumstances.

Higher education institutions can admit students twice a year: UGC Chairman, Prof. @mamidala90

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Biannual admissions benefits

Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, the UGC Chairman, elaborated that the introduction of biannual admissions is set to benefit students by reducing the waiting period for enrollment, thereby bolstering their motivation. Moreover, this adjustment facilitates industries in conducting campus recruitment twice annually, thereby amplifying employment prospects for graduates.

Exclusively for ODL and Online programs

Formerly, the UGC had granted permission for biannual admissions exclusively for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online programs, resulting in a notable increase in student enrollment. Encouraged by this achievement, the UGC has now extended this policy to regular mode programs as well.

This transformation brings Indian universities in line with global standards, which could potentially enhance international collaborations and student exchanges. However, the decision to offer biannual admissions remains non-mandatory, necessitating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to make adjustments to their regulations to accommodate this system.

How it will help students? 

• If Indian universities can offer admission twice a year, it will benefit many students. Such as those who missed admission to a university in the July or August session due to a delay in the annoucement of board results, health issues. 
• This initiative will not only facilitate industries in conducting their campus recruitment twice annually, thereby improving employment opportunities for graduates, but will also enable HEIs to more efficiently plan the allocation of resources such as faculty, labs, classrooms, and support services, resulting in a smoother operational flow within the university.
• With the implementation of biannual admissions, industries can conduct their campus recruitment twice a year, thereby augmenting employment opportunities for graduates. Additionally, HEIs can efficiently plan resource distribution, resulting in a more streamlined operational flow within the university.

Will enhance international colloborations 

According to Professor Kumar, by adopting the biannual admission cycle, Indian HEIs can enhance their international collaborations and student exchanges, thus elevating their global competitiveness and aligning with global educational standards. However, the effective implementation of biannual admissions hinges upon the sufficient preparation of faculty members, staff, and students for the transition.

Currently, universities and colleges admit students annually in July-August, with the academic session typically commencing in July-August and concluding in May-June. Last year, the UGC permitted students to enroll biannually in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online modes during an academic year.

When biannual decision was made? 

The decision to permit biannual admissions was made during the 571st commission held by the UGC on July 25, 2023. According to information provided by HEIs on the UGC DEB portal, a total of 19,73,056 students were enrolled in July 2022, with an additional 4,28,854 students joining in January 2023 in ODL and online programs (ANI).