UGC to allow part-time PhD courses for working professionals

UGC to allow part-time PhD courses for working professionals

Last Updated Jul - 05 - 2022, 12:37 AM | Source : | Visitors : 16

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is opening up the possibility of granting part-time PhD programs for working professionals in line with the process followed by the IIT system. Indian universities will now be able to offer part-time doctoral programs to working professionals, provided they attend at least six months of the course full time, according to officials at the high education regulator.

The University Grants Commission vice-chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said Monday that part-time PhD programs are also offered by prestigious universities across the world.

“In part-time PhD programs, a university faculty member supervises a PhD student, who works on his or her subject in consultation with the supervisor, but largely independently. Such part-time PhD programs are available in some of the best universities across the globe. Why not in our Indian universities?” Prof Kumar said.

READ | UGC urges universities to conduct 40 percent courses online

The officials of the University Grants Commission stated that the provision will be a part of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, which will soon be notified by the education ministry.

The regulations will allow part-time PhD programs if the applicants satisfy eligibility conditions for full-time PhD programs. The changes will come into effect in the upcoming academic session.

UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said, “Their PhD work will be assessed in the same way as done for full-time PhD students. The applicants for the part-time PhD will be working professionals and, hence, they won’t be eligible for PhD fellowship.”

Moreover, the applicants will have to submit a no-objection certificate (NOC) from employers. The NOC needs to specify that, “Facilities in the employee’s field of research are available at the place of work and the employee will be relieved from duty, if required, to complete course work.”

READ | UGC holds meeting with VCs, discuss National Higher Education Qualification Framework

“The applicants for part-time PhD will have to provide a NOC from their organizations stating that the employee is permitted to pursue studies on a part-time basis, the employee is permitted to devote sufficient time for research and facilities in the employee’s field of research are available at the place of work, and the employee will be relieved from duty, if required, to complete coursework,” Kumar said.

Prof Kumar also mentioned that the part-time PhD is very common in the IIT system.

“Such students have to complete the course work requirements during their first or second semester by starting on campus or if they are living in the same city where the University is located, they can attend the lectures and go back to their work without being a resident on the campus. Such part-time PhD programs are very useful to professionals who cannot take long leave for doing PhD.,” he said.

The eligibility conditions are likely to be the same for both full-time and part-time candidates, he said. 

Share :