Delhi University tightens guidelines for multiple entry-exit option in UG courses

India Today

3 days ago

The University of Delhi (DU) has issued new, detailed modalities for implementing the Multiple Entry and Multiple Exit (ME-ME) scheme in undergraduate programmes, following the vision set by India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Here's how the latest 2025 guidelines compare with the early years after NEP 2020, highlighting key differences and what they mean for students.advertisementWHAT WAS PROPOSED UNDER NEP 2020?NEP 2020's vision: Four-year undergraduate degrees, replacing the traditional three-year structure, allowing students to enter and exit courses at multiple points, with an academic credit bank to store and transfer credits.Initial multiple exit options: Students could exit after:1 year: Certificate2 years: Diploma3 years: Bachelor's degree4 years: Bachelor's degree with honours or specialisationAcademic flexibility: The policy promoted a flexible, multidisciplinary approach and sought to curb dropouts and boost gross enrolment by making it easier for students to pause and resume studies due to personal or career needs.Re-entry/transfer: NEP 2020 also envisioned credit portability, so students could change institutions or return to finish a degree later without restarting from scratch.KEY POINTS OF CONTRASTFeatureNEP 2020 (Initial Vision)DU 2025 GuidelinesCertification at Each ExitYesYesStructured Credit SystemGeneral guidelinesStrict credit benchmarks per exitRe-entry ValidityFlexible, with 'credit bank'Maximum 7 years, with further limitsCross-institutional Re-entryEnvisioned (nationwide)Only within same college/programmeLateral Entry from OthersSupported by credit bankUnder review/separate guidelinesEntry/Exit PointsFlexible (based on accum. credits)Restricted to end of even semestersApplication ProtocolNot specifiedAdvance notice mandatory, portal-basedWHAT'S NEW AND DIFFERENT IN DU'S 2025 IMPLEMENTATION1. Detailed, structured credit requirementsDU's 2025 notification outlines rigid credit requirements and corresponding qualifications at each exit point:44 Credits (Year 1): Earn an Undergraduate Certificate.88 Credits (Year 2): Earn an Undergraduate Diploma.132 Credits (Year 3): Eligible for a regular Bachelor's Degree or Honours Degree.176 Credits (Year 4): Eligible for an Honours Degree (with specialisation in research or entrepreneurship, as applicable).2. Semester-based exits and re-entriesStudents can formally exit only after even semesters.Re-entry is allowed into the same course and college if within a strict seven-year window, with specific rules about the validity of previously earned credits.Detailed tables articulate how gap years affect the redemption period for previously earned credits,previous versions were not as explicit.3. Greater focus on credit validity and redemptionCredits remain valid for re-entry for up to seven years, though for each exit year, the period of validity is further specified. For example, if a student exits after the first year, the credit is valid for up to seven years for re-entry into subsequent years; this is an explicit operational detail missing in the broader NEP 2020 language.4. Institutional specificityDU's guidelines clarify that re-entry is only allowed in the same college and same programme, making the process more restrictive than the original, more flexible concept of moving across institutions via the academic credit bank.advertisementLateral entry from other universities is still under discussion, with a separate guideline to be issued, again, tightening the general transferability proposed in NEP 2020.5. Administrative measuresDU explicitly requires students to apply ahead of the next academic session if planning to exit, and awards the most recent qualification for anyone discontinuing mid-session.Direct link to check and download the DU new guidelines frameworkIMPLICATIONS FOR STUDENTSIncreased clarity: Students now have a clear map of credit requirements for each qualification, making career planning more transparent.Stricter control: Re-entry is locally managed and time-bound, reducing the broad portability imagined under NEP 2020.No lost years: Even if students take a break, earned credits and qualifications are recognised, though time limits apply.Pending flexibility: Ultimate credit transfer between institutions (lateral entry) is yet to be operationalised.In summary, while the NEP 2020 rollout offered broad, hopeful reforms to make higher education more flexible, DU's 2025 notification drills down into operational specifics, offering students a more predictable, if slightly stricter, pathway for pausing and resuming degree courses.- EndsMust Watch