PG students to take mandatory coursework every semester under new reforms

The Higher Education Department has established compulsory coursework in each semester for postgraduate (PG) students beginning from the 2025-26 academic session. This transition has taken place under the new Ordinance 14(2) and is part of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) credit model.

Currently PG students have an almost exclusively theory-heavy framework, where practical learning is infrequent. Coursework was generally limited to a few subjects, with no systematic requirement for semester-wise academic activities beyond the lectures and the final exam.

By the new session, PG students will be required to undertake semester coursework in respect of core subjects, value-added courses, skill, employability modules, practicals, seminars, and performing arts. The objective is to provide a well-rounded outcome-based academic experience similar to that of a PhD program.

Minimum passing marks will also be increased from 36 to 40. Furthermore, students now have a choice between a one-year PG diploma and a two-year master's degree depending on their career path; or two separate one-year diplomas to complete a master's degree.

The dual-specialisation option - a major and a minor - was introduced to facilitate interdisciplinary learning. Another innovation is recognition of prior learning, whereby informal education and workplace experience can be counted toward credits, saving some time and effort.

All courses will now be assessed via a credit system, which will allow students to track their physical progress better than before. The new curriculum is based on the Learning Outcome-Based Curriculum Framework (LOCF), which incorporates knowledge, skills, values, and employability.

Officials believe that this will make PG education more relevant, flexible, and responsive to industry demands. The same ordinance 14(1) has also been implemented for undergraduate programs, which has led to a complete overhaul of the edifice upon which our entire higher education system is built.