UGC to Universities: Finish admissions by September 30, begin classes by October 1

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission has issued a new academic calendar for 2021-22 and the guidelines for admission to higher educational institutions on Friday. As per the academic calendar, admission to universities and colleges for undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses will be completed by September 30.

The universities, as instructed by the UGC, will start the admission process only after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) all state boards release the Class 12 results 2021. Most Class 12 board exams were cancelled due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and results, including CBSE 2021 and ISC 2021, are being declared on the basis of alternative evaluation criteria. Several state boards, including Bihar, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh have already announced the Class 12 results.

The classes for the first batch of both undergraduate and postgraduate courses will commence latest by October 1. However, if there is any delay in the declaration of Class 12 board results, the universities can extend the date of commencement till October 18. The teaching-learning process may continue in offline, online, blended mode as per the respective university’s decision.

Educational institutions can plan the classes, breaks, conduct of examinations, semester break between October 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, following COVID-19 protocols, the UGC guidelines said.

UGC Guidelines: Semester exam, fee refund

The universities are required to conduct exams for intermediate and final semesters for the academic year 2020-21 no later than August 31. All universities are free to decide whether to conduct the exams in online, offline, or blended mode. The exams must be conducted following prescribed COVID-19 guidelines.

Considering the financial constraints caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, the UGC has further asked the universities to provide full refund in case students cancel admission up to October 31.

“It is made clear that the entire fee, including all charges, should be refunded (i.e. there should be zero cancellation charges) on account of cancellations/ migrations up to October 31, 2021. Thereafter, on cancellation/ withdrawal of admissions up to December 31, 2021, the entire fee collected from a student should be refunded in full after deducting not more than Rs.1000/- as processing fee,” the guidelines stated.

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