UGC Extends Deadline for ODL and Online Programme Admissions; Bans Healthcare Courses via Distance Mode from 2025–26
UGC Extends Deadline for ODL and Online Programme Admissions; Bans Healthcare Courses via Distance Mode from 2025–26
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has extended the admission deadline for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online courses for the July–August 2025 academic session. Students now have until October 15, 2025, to enrol, offering them an extra month beyond the previous cut-off of September 15. The extension was granted following appeals from several higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country, as confirmed in an official statement issued by the Commission.
UGC has clearly directed all HEIs offering online and ODL programmes to strictly follow the revised timeline. It also reminded institutions to ensure complete compliance with all UGC regulations during the admission process. Furthermore, students and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to check the recognition status of both programmes and institutions on the official UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau) portal before enrolling in any course.
At the same time, the Commission has introduced a major regulatory shift impacting healthcare and allied fields. Starting from the academic session 2025–26, universities and colleges will no longer be allowed to offer programmes in healthcare and allied disciplines through ODL or online modes. This change is in line with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, and is aimed at maintaining academic integrity and ensuring that such sensitive courses are delivered only through appropriate, hands-on, in-person education.
The ban specifically affects specialisations such as Psychology, Microbiology, Food and Nutrition Science, Biotechnology, Clinical Nutrition, and Dietetics. Institutions that previously received approval to offer these courses in ODL or online format will now have their recognition officially withdrawn. The move ensures these crucial healthcare-related fields are taught under close supervision and through practical learning, something that online or distance formats cannot fully offer.
In the case of multidisciplinary programmes like Bachelor of Arts degrees that include a mix of subjects—such as History, Political Science, Geography, Philosophy, Economics, Public Administration, Sociology, Women’s Studies, and even Psychology—the UGC clarified that only the healthcare-related specialisations will be discontinued, while the rest may continue as usual.
The regulatory updates stem from decisions made during UGC’s 592nd meeting held on July 23, 2025. These were based on prior recommendations submitted during the 24th Distance Education Bureau (DEB) Working Group meeting conducted on April 22, 2025.
In a related development, the UGC has also sounded a strong warning to students and institutions about enrolling in or promoting unrecognised collaborations with foreign education providers. According to the advisory, any degree or diploma obtained through such partnerships will not be valid in India and will be officially unrecognised by the UGC. This applies to all HEIs and learners seeking international online qualifications without proper UGC approval.
