UGC Announces Major Reforms in Higher Education Pathway, Opens PhD Doors for Undergraduates
UGC Announces Major Reforms in Higher Education Pathway, Opens PhD Doors for Undergraduates
M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairperson of UGC, announces significant changes to higher education eligibility on social platform ‘X’.
In a recent update shared on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter), M. Jagadesh Kumar, the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC), unveiled two significant changes in the UGC NET examination process that will facilitate easier access to higher education for millions of young Indians. Starting this academic session, students who have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree will be eligible to directly pursue a PhD, a move that simplifies the pathway to doctoral studies which previously required a master’s degree.
Kumar emphasized the flexibility of the new system stating, “Students who are in their final year or semester of a 4-year undergraduate or 8-semester UG course can now apply for the UGC NET 2024 exam in June. However, they must have achieved an aggregate of 75% marks or equivalent grade in their graduation.” Additionally, he highlighted that students would not be restricted to pursuing a PhD in their undergraduate field of study, thus broadening their academic and career prospects.
The application process for the UGC NET exam commenced on April 20, with eligible candidates being able to submit their forms online through the official website of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates have until May 10, 2024, to apply, with a window from May 13 to May 15 available for any necessary corrections to their submitted applications. The UGC NET examination is scheduled for June 16.
For those preparing to apply, here’s a simple guide:
- Visit the official UGC NET website.
- Click on the application link for UGC NET June 2024.
- Complete the registration process.
- Fill in the required details in the application form.
- Upload all necessary documents and submit the form.
- Keep a copy of the submitted form for future reference.
The UGC NET examination fee varies according to the category of the candidate. General category candidates need to pay INR 1150, while OBC candidates need to pay INR 600. On the other hand, SC/ST candidates need to pay INR 325. For more details, refer to the official notification available on the UGC NET website.
The UGC aims to make higher education more accessible and flexible, enabling students to choose diverse paths for their educational and professional development. These changes are a part of UGC’s ongoing efforts to achieve this goal.
