Mumbai University limits four-year degrees to colleges with postgraduate departments
Undergraduate students across Mumbai University, including those at Mithibai College and Jai Hind College, are facing academic uncertainty after the university issued restrictive guidelines in April for its new four-year undergraduate programme. The guidelines block colleges without postgraduate departments in specific majors from offering the fourth-year honours curriculum, leaving eligible students who enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year unable to complete their degrees.
The National Education Policy (NEP) was implemented by Mumbai University in its autonomous colleges during the 2023-24 academic year. The course was initially promoted as a flexible four-year degree with an option to exit after three years. However, a university directive issued in April mandated that colleges must have existing postgraduate departments in those majors to run the fourth-year programme.
This prerequisite forced several prominent city institutions to alter their plans. Vijay Dabholkar, principal of Jai Hind College, stated that the institution had planned to offer the fourth year for self-financed programmes, including tie-ups with foreign universities. Following the university's mandate, the college decided not to offer the fourth-year programme this year to avoid disrupting its master's programmes.
At Mithibai College, principal Krutika Desai noted that the administration had to divide its postgraduate intake proportionately between master's students and those wishing to complete the fourth year. Desai reported high demand in subjects like psychology, microbiology, and computer science, but the college had to limit admissions. She also questioned why fourth-year admissions are being treated as fresh admissions on the portal instead of a natural progression.
Similarly, Anushree Lokur, principal of Ramnarain Ruia College, said the institution reserved a few seats across postgraduate programmes but could not accommodate everyone due to high demand and limited remaining seats after master's admissions.
The sudden policy shift has left students with few choices. Bindu Goswami (name changed), a BA student who enrolled in 2023-24 aiming for a career in clinical psychology, is now considering taking a gap year after her college informed students in April that it could not admit all eligible aspirants.
Mumbai University has more than 950 affiliated colleges, including around 130 autonomous ones. The NEP was initially rolled out in approximately 65 to 70 autonomous colleges. A university official stated that there was low overall demand for the fourth year, and affected students could look at other options, such as university departments. The official added that detailed guidelines for colleges without postgraduate departments will be issued next year.
