UGC Committee Proposes New Degree Names for Various Subjects

In a move to align with global norms and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is planning to introduce new college degree names. These degrees will encompass fields such as arts, humanities, management, and commerce, providing students with a wider range of options.

The UGC, a statutory body operating under the UGC Act, 1956, holds the responsibility of coordinating, determining, and maintaining standards of higher education in India. To adhere to the recommendations of the NEP 2020, the UGC has established a committee to review degree nomenclatures.

Currently, the UGC allows universities to offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in arts, humanities, and social sciences, while the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree is typically reserved for science subjects. However, with the aim of restructuring undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, the committee has recommended a significant change. It suggests that the new four-year undergraduate honours degree program, regardless of the discipline, can be offered as a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.

This proposal aims to align Indian degree nomenclature with international practice, where universities often offer both BA and BS degrees in subjects such as Psychology or Economics. The curriculum of the program will differentiate between the two degrees, with a BS providing specialized education and a BA offering more flexibility.

Moreover, the committee suggests adopting the Master of Science (MS) nomenclature for both one and two-year postgraduate programs, even in disciplines like arts, humanities, management, and commerce. This expansion of degree names is intended to provide clarity and conformity across disciplines, aligning with global standards.

The committee has also recommended using ‘Hons’ in brackets to denote the four-year undergraduate honors degree program. For example, BA (Hons), BCom (Hons), or BS (Hons) would be the new nomenclature.

In addition, the committee proposes discontinuing the ‘MPhil’ degree in line with the NEP 2020’s suggestion to eliminate the MPhil program. This decision reflects the evolving educational landscape and the need to streamline degree structures. This move towards international alignment and NEP 2020 compliance aims to enhance the quality and relevance of Indian degrees, catering to the changing needs of students and the job market.

With these new degree names, students will have a wider choice of degrees that better reflect their areas of study and provide international recognition. The UGC’s efforts in this direction are aimed at improving the overall education system in India and ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the future.

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