DU's new PhD admission policy divides faculty; supporters cite NEP, critics raise concerns

The University of Delhi's decision to allow students completing four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP) to pursue a PhD directly has sparked a debate among faculty members. Supporters are describing it as a progressive reform aligned with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, while critics warn that bypassing a master's degree could weaken students' academic foundations. The amended PhD regulations approved by the university's Academic Council (AC) last week permits eligible students graduating from a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) to enroll directly in doctoral programmes, subject to prescribed academic criteria. The move is backed by recommendations of the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council (RIEC).

According to the approved proposal, undergraduate students who have completed a four-year programme at Delhi University or its affiliated colleges with a minimum CGPA of 6.0 for UR, OBC and EWS categories, and 5.5 for SC, ST and PwBD candidates, will be eligible to seek direct admission to PhD programmes. However, they must also have at least one research publication in a Scopus-indexed journal as the first, second or corresponding author.

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UG research supervisors can continue as PhD guides

The regulations further mention that the faculty member who supervised the student's undergraduate research project may continue as the PhD guide provided that the faculty member must hold a PhD degree and has the required research laboratory or facilities.

While the move has been positioned as an effort to promote undergraduate research, it has raised questions about its academic rationale and practical implementation.

Miranda House faculty member Abha Dev Habib argued that postgraduate education remains essential for building a strong conceptual understanding before undertaking specialised research. "A PhD narrows down the domains. It is not broad and does not strengthen your foundation. Postgraduate studies give you the foundation for a subject, which later gives you the freedom to move from one domain of research to another. That kind of grounded understanding is very important," she told PTI.

Habib also expressed doubts over the long-term career prospects of students entering PhD programmes directly after their undergraduate studies. "The university is making too many changes without thinking them through. A person who has completed a master's degree and PhD from a good institution is likely to be preferred for the position of assistant professor over someone who directly enters a PhD after a four-year undergraduate programme," she said.

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Deshbandhu College professor Biswajit Mohanty echoed similar concerns, describing the proposal as a hurried policy decision despite its objective of encouraging research under the NEP framework.

"There will be intense competition between those entering through the National Eligibility Test (NET) route and those who get a direct opportunity after their undergraduate degree. It feels like a knee-jerk reaction by the university. The education structure is not stable enough to handle this kind of overburdening," he said.

Reservation norms

Many have questioned the proposal to create supernumerary seats for direct-entry undergraduate students with Scopus-indexed publications, saying it raises concerns over how reservation norms would be implemented.

However, several senior university administrators and college principals welcomed the decision, saying it is fully aligned with the NEP's vision of creating multiple academic pathways and encouraging research at the undergraduate level.

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Ramjas College Principal Ajay Kumar Arora said the one-year postgraduate programme would continue alongside the new provision and that the publication requirement would motivate students to engage in quality research during their undergraduate studies.

"This follows the provisions of the NEP, where there are various ways of advancing in one's academic career. Since students will have to publish research in Scopus-indexed journals, it will motivate them to engage in research early during their undergraduate studies," he said.

Kirori Mal College Principal Dinesh Khattar said the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme had already demonstrated encouraging outcomes.

Clarifying the admission process, Delhi University Dean of Admissions Haneet Gandhi said eligible candidates would be considered under a separate supernumerary category for direct PhD admissions. "There will be supernumerary seats through which students with Scopus publications can directly secure admission to PhD programmes," Gandhi said. He also said a university committee has been constituted to examine the possibility of increasing seats in the one-year postgraduate programme.