UGC Proposes New Degree Names to Align with Global Norms and NEP 2020

"UGC Proposes New Degree Names to Align with Global Norms and NEP 2020"

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made plans to introduce new degree names for colleges in order to align with global norms and the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. These new degree names will include a Bachelor of Science (BS) in fields such as arts, humanities, management, and commerce.

The UGC is a statutory body established under the UGC Act of 1956. It is responsible for coordinating and maintaining standards of higher education in India. It provides recognition to universities and colleges, as well as grants funds to recognized institutions. The UGC operates under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

Currently, the UGC allows universities to offer Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in arts, humanities, and social sciences, while Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees are typically associated with science subjects. However, with the introduction of the NEP 2020, which calls for a restructuring of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, the UGC formed a committee to review degree nomenclatures.

The committee has proposed that the new four-year undergraduate honours degree program, regardless of the discipline, can also be offered as a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Similarly, the Master of Science (MS) nomenclature can be adopted for both one and two-year postgraduate programs, even in fields such as arts, humanities, management, and commerce.

This move aligns with international practices, where universities often offer both BA and BS degrees in subjects like psychology or economics, with the curriculum distinguishing the two degrees. A BS degree typically provides a more specialized education in the subject, while a BA degree offers more flexibility. For example, Harvard University offers both BA and BS degrees in engineering sciences.

In addition to the introduction of new degree names, the committee has recommended including "Hons" in brackets for the four-year undergraduate honours degree programs, such as BA (Hons), BCom (Hons), or BS (Hons). The committee also suggests discontinuing the nomenclature of the MPhil degree, as recommended by the NEP 2020. Furthermore, if a student has completed all the required credits for a program, they can be considered for the award of a qualification (certificate, diploma, or degree) even before the completion of the program's duration.

The UGC plans to share the committee's recommendations with the public for feedback and will subsequently notify the new set of degree nomenclatures.

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