Gujarat University clears 54 colleges to offer 4th-year NEP Honours courses

Ahmedabad: Gujarat University has cleared 54 affiliated colleges and institutes to offer fourth-year Honours programmes under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The decision, finalised during an executive council meeting held on May 3, allows nearly 5,500 interested final-year students to extend their three-year undergraduate degrees into Semesters 7 and 8.

The university had earlier invited applications from affiliated colleges seeking to run fourth-year Honours courses.

Under NEP 2020, students pursuing a three-year undergraduate programme were given the option to continue for a fourth year to earn an Honours degree. As per the new structure, Semesters 7 and 8 constituted the fourth year. Following the approval process, 54 colleges were granted permission to conduct these Honours programmes.

According to university estimates, out of around 35,000 students currently studying in the final year (Semester 6), nearly 5,500 showed interest in enrolling in the Honours programmes. Students who wished to pursue the fourth year had to seek admission in one of the approved colleges. However, if their current college was among those granted permission, they could continue their studies

The university also issued detailed guidelines for the courses. Colleges were allowed to charge fees similar to those collected in Semesters 5 and 6. If institutions appointed additional faculty to run these courses, their salaries had to be paid from the fees collected from students until the govt approved regular staff positions.

The guidelines further specified salary norms for academic staff. Research associates holding qualifications such as NET, SLET or PhD would be paid Rs 40,000 per month, while research assistants with postgraduate qualifications would receive Rs 22,500 per month.

The university also clarified that the fourth-year undergraduate Honours curriculum would not be equivalent to the first year of postgraduate studies, to maintain a clear distinction between UG and PG programmes under the NEP framework.