📚 UGC Updates Guidelines on Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a significant update to its policy on students pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously. This decision, made in the 589th UGC meeting held on April 3, 2025, introduces an amendment that grants retrospective validity to degrees pursued concurrently, prior to the official notification of the guidelines.

This long-awaited revision, notified on June 5, 2025, is a huge relief to thousands of students and institutions who previously faced ambiguity regarding the legality of dual degrees earned before the UGC formally implemented its policy.

🔍 What Has Changed?

Previously, UGC guidelines stated that no student could claim benefit for completing two degrees simultaneously before the rules were officially notified. But this restriction has now been lifted.

✅ Modified Clause Now States:

If a student completed two academic programmes simultaneously before the issuance of these guidelines, such qualifications will now be considered valid, provided the following conditions were met:

The degrees were obtained as per UGC’s First Degree and Master’s Degree Regulations.
The institutions followed their own approved statutes or ordinances.
The norms of statutory bodies (such as AICTE, NCTE, BCI, etc.) were followed.
Distance learning, if applicable, was governed by the Distance Education Council or the UGC-DEB.

This modification now opens the door for retrospective recognition of valid dual degrees.

🎓 Why This Update Matters

This is not just a technical change—it has a direct impact on the lives and careers of students who took the initiative to diversify their education.

Key Advantages:

✔️ Students get formal recognition for degrees pursued in parallel.
✔️ Removes previous legal uncertainty around job applications and government recruitments.
✔️ Reinforces the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages multidisciplinary education.

📈 Benefits of Pursuing Two Degrees Simultaneously

With flexibility in higher education becoming the new norm, here’s why this dual-degree policy is gaining attention:

Better Career Opportunities: Students acquire diverse skill sets, increasing their chances of employment in multi-functional roles.
Academic Flexibility: Enables students to explore interdisciplinary interests, e.g., combining Data Science with Economics or Law with Management.
Time & Cost Efficiency: Students save both time and money by pursuing two qualifications in parallel instead of one after the other.
Skill Enhancement: Combines academic theory with practical, domain-specific knowledge, making graduates more industry-ready.

🌍 India Aligning with Global Trends

Many leading international education systems already allow students to pursue dual degrees. This move aligns India with those standards and supports the UGC’s vision of making Indian higher education more student-centric, accessible, and globally competitive

📣 Final Words

The updated UGC policy is a progressive step forward, ensuring that students are not penalized for their proactive approach to learning. It recognizes the evolving nature of higher education and responds to the needs of a modern learner.

If you or someone you know has completed two degrees simultaneously, this update may just validate your efforts officially!

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UGC Updates

Partial Modification of UGC Guidelines for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously

Read the UGC Guidelines: https://t.co/ESLcOzhpnm pic.twitter.com/RYUOD3n5XW
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) June 5, 2025

UGC Updates Guidelines on Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously