With the new academic session at Delhi University set to begin on August 1, a quiet but significant trend is emerging across its undergraduate campuses. Despite earlier doubts and infrastructural challenges, more than 50,000 students have chosen to continue with the fourth year of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh told PTI.This translates to nearly 72 percent of eligible students opting in, a development that signals growing student confidence in the Honours with Research format introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.Implemented under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, FYUP allows students to exit with a certificate, diploma, or degree at various stages, or continue into a fourth research-intensive year. The final year awards students an Honours with Research degree, integrating academic learning with research and skill development.
Why students are staying for the fourth year
The fourth year of FYUP is designed to offer more than just an academic extension. It brings in structured opportunities for research, entrepreneurship, and practical skill-building. For many students, these aspects offer a compelling reason to stay.Under the revised structure, students can exit after each year with a corresponding qualification — a certificate after one year, a diploma after two, a general degree after three, and a research-intensive honours degree after four. The idea is to allow flexibility without compromising academic depth for those who choose to stay.
Some concerns still remain
Despite growing uptake, not everyone is convinced. Teachers’ associations and several educationists have raised concerns about underprepared faculty, unclear assessment rubrics, and inadequate infrastructure to support research-led instruction across colleges.Vice Chancellor Singh, however, has maintained that the university is committed to resolving infrastructure gaps. “If facilities are not available, they will be created. It is in the interest of our students,” he told PTI.
The opt-out window is still open
Interestingly, students still have the option to exit before August 1, though only 20,221 of over 72,000 eligible students have done so till now. For many, the next few days are crucial as they weigh immediate job opportunities or entrance preparations against the long-term value of the fourth year.The response this year is being seen by many as a tentative but positive vote of confidence. In 2024, there was considerable scepticism about whether students would be willing to invest an additional year, especially given financial and logistical constraints. The current numbers suggest that the narrative is beginning to shift.The final test, however, will come not from enrolment data alone but from how effectively Delhi University can translate policy promises into academic outcomes. If the university succeeds in strengthening its research support, ensuring mentoring, and delivering skill-based value in the final year, the Honours with Research degree may well begin to redefine what undergraduate education looks like in India.(With inputs from PTI)TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
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