M Phil degrees are no longer recognised; UGC warns students not to opt for it

M Phil degrees to be scrapped, as it was already announced in earlier notice in 2022. Click here to get the detailed information regarding the issue.

Debanjan ChamlagainDecember 28, 2023

In a significant development, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared the discontinuation of the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) degree. This decision comes in the wake of certain universities inviting applications for the M Phil degree program, despite its lack of recognition.

Through an official communication, the UGC has highlighted that the M.Phil. degree is no longer considered a recognized qualification. The UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar has also posted on X saying “Don’t enrol in M Phil programmes as degree no longer recognised, UGC warns students”

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M Phil degrees not required as per UGC Regulations, 2022

The “University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.” was already published last year on 7th November 2022. The move taken by the UGC to discontinue the M Phil degree is not a new decision but rather the implementation of the UGC Regulation 2022. Clause 14 of the regulation mentions the scrapping of the M Phil degree.

Earlier the UGC had also laid new guidelines regarding the selection of Assistant Professors. The UGC has announced the removal of the mandatory PhD requirement for direct recruitment at the Assistant Professor level. However, the detailed eligibility criteria outlined in the UGC’s minimum qualification regulations of 2018 will remain unchanged.

Why UGC has decided to scrap down M Phil degree?

The decision to cease admissions to the M.Phil. program for the upcoming academic year is a strategic move aimed at streamlining the higher education system and ensuring that academic pursuits are following the latest regulatory framework. The decision to discontinue the M Phil program was made to streamline the process of pursuing a PhD and reduce the time and cost associated with obtaining a PhD. The NEP aims to make PhD programs more accessible to students and reduce the drop-out rates among PhD scholars.

In light of this development, all university authorities have been urgently requested to take immediate measures to cease admissions to the M.Phil. program for the upcoming academic year 2024-25. The UGC emphasizes the need for compliance with the new regulations and urges universities to inform prospective students about the discontinuation of the M.Phil. degree.

The UGC emphasizes the importance of aligning academic pursuits with the recognized standards outlined in the recent regulations. The move aims to streamline the academic landscape, ensuring that students pursue degrees that adhere to the UGC’s established guidelines.

As universities will start a new admission process for the 2024-25 academic year, it is expected that they will promptly implement the UGC’s directive, aligning their programs with the revised regulations.