UGC shares precautions for students taking admission in online, ODL programmes

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has listed down precautions to be taken by the students while enrolling for online or Open and Distance learning (ODL) programmes offered by the colleges and universities including checking of recognition status, prohibited programmes, and more.

The commission said that it notified the regulations for these programmes in 2020 which lay down the minimum standard requirements for grant of degree at undergraduate and postgraduate level in online and ODL mode.

“Students must confirm the recognition status of HEI for ODL and online education, for the session opted for admission on UGC DEB website, check the details on the HEIs website, take note of the prohibited programmes and prohibition of franchising arrangement and ensure that all the activities are within Territorial Jurisdiction for ODL programmes,” UGC said in an official notice.

While explaining the details, UGC said that it decided in a meeting held on July 25 this year that the last date for admission to online and ODL programmes for the July-August academic session is September 30, 2023.

The commission also informed that the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) including Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Maharashtra; Sri Venkateswara University , Andhra Pradesh; and Periyar University, Tamil Nadu are debarred from offering these courses.

“Please ensure that the minimum duration, nomenclature and entry level qualification for ODL programmes and online programmes for which enrolment is being sought are strictly as per UGC notification on specification of degrees and its amendments,” UGC advised students.

The commission further informed that the following programmes are prohibited to be offered under the ODL and online mode:

• Engineering
• Medical
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Pharmacy
• Nursing
• Dental
• Architecture
• Law
• Agriculture
• Horticulture
• Hotel management
• Catering technology
• Culinary sciences
• Aircraft maintenance
• Visual arts and sports
• Aviation

Yoga and tourism and hospitality management programmes at UG and PG level are not allowed in online mode while MPhil and PhD programmes are not permitted in both the modes, UGC further said.