1-Year PG Course for Distance Learning Graduates

Mumbai: Students who complete a four-year undergraduate degree through distance or online education will now be eligible to complete their postgraduate studies in just one year, bringing them on par with students pursuing degrees through regular colleges.

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The decision comes after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai raised the issue with the University Grants Commission (UGC), demanding equal academic opportunities for students studying through distance learning.

Earlier, students completing four-year degree programmes through distance education were required to pursue a two-year postgraduate course, while students graduating from regular colleges could opt for a one-year postgraduate programme. Desai had argued that the difference was creating academic and financial difficulties for thousands of students across Maharashtra and other states.

The issue came to light particularly in connection with students enrolled through the University of Delhi’s School of Open Learning. Despite completing four-year undergraduate programmes, distance-learning students were reportedly being denied admission to one-year M.A. programmes and were instead required to enrol in the older two-year postgraduate structure.

Desai subsequently wrote to the UGC Chairman and Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education, seeking an urgent amendment to the existing regulations.

The UGC has now accepted the demand.

UGC Approves One-Year PG Programme

UGC Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath issued a circular on July 24, 2026, allowing universities and higher education institutions to offer one-year postgraduate programmes through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Learning modes.

The move is expected to save students an additional year of education and reduce the financial burden associated with pursuing a two-year postgraduate course.

The decision is particularly significant for students pursuing LL.B. and other professional courses in Pune, Mumbai and other cities, while simultaneously completing postgraduate education through distance or online learning.

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