• UGC announces M.Phil degree void, urged students not to take admission

    National
    UGC announces M.Phil degree void, urged students not to take admission
    In line with its new guidelines for awarding Ph.D. degrees, the University Grants Commission has declared to remove the M.Phil degree...

    Digital Desk: In a significant move by the University Grants Commission (UGC), it has stated that revised standards for awarding Ph.D degrees, the M.Phil degree will soon be phased out. 

    UGC Secretary Manish Joshi sent a letter to all universities today asking them to halt admissions to M.Phil programmes for the academic year 2023-24. 

    He further advised students to refrain from enrolling in any M.Phil programmes provided by any university since the UGC would not accept them.

    According to the letter, the decision to remove the M.Phil degree was made by clause 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, which were notified on December 16, 2022.

    Moreover, UGC stated that Ph.D degree is the only terminal degree in the field of research, and the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D Degree) Regulations 2022 were drafted to maintain quality and uniformity in the award of Ph.D degrees.

    Meanwhile, the UGC has directed universities throughout the country to take urgent action to halt M.Phil admissions for the 2023-24 academic year and to comply with UGC criteria for the Ph.D programme. 

    Additionally, UGC has also stated that any breach of the regulations will result in action.