Delhi University’s bold transition to a four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) reveals a clear trend: humanities students and those in top-ranked colleges are embracing the change most enthusiastically. In centrally located colleges such as Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram (LSR), and Hindu College, nearly 40% of students have opted to continue for the fourth year, compared to an overall university average of about 30%, according to DU officials.
The highest continuation rates have been recorded in the humanities and social sciences, especially subjects like political science, English, psychology, history, and Hindi. In contrast, students in science courses show less interest in extending their studies. A DU official explained, “Many science students prefer to move on to postgraduate programmes at premier institutions such as IITs and IISERs, where they can specialise immediately.”
This makes the FYUP’s early success a story led by liberal arts and social sciences, traditionally popular disciplines at DU’s prestigious colleges. “At Miranda House, about 30% of students are continuing; Hindu College has retained 38%, and LSR has reported close to 40% retention,” the official said. However, colleges located on the city’s outskirts have seen significantly lower participation, with continuation rates ranging between 15% and 27%.
The divide, principals say, stems from differences in infrastructure, visibility, and student profiles. Centrally located colleges tend to attract higher-performing students and provide stronger academic and research facilities, while off-campus colleges face resource constraints. Still, some administrators see a positive side. “Smaller fourth-year batches give us time to fine-tune the system before scaling up,” said the principal of a South Campus college.
The new four-year programme, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to encourage multidisciplinary learning, flexibility, and research orientation. Launched in 2022–23, the programme offers three exit points — a certificate after one year, a diploma after two, and a degree after three, with the fourth year leading to an honours with research qualification.
Last week, DU officials held a review meeting with affiliated colleges to assess implementation. Some institutions reported very low enrolments, with fewer than 10 students in some fourth-year classes, posing academic and administrative challenges. Colleges have been advised to form clusters so students from different institutions can attend joint classes for similar courses. A DU Spokesperson says,
We expect participation to rise once students see the long-term academic and career benefits.
For many students, the decision to stay reflects career planning and academic ambition. Another final-year student from Hindu College said,
The fourth year lets me specialise and focus on research. The ‘honours with research’ tag will strengthen my postgraduate applications and give me an edge professionally.”
As Delhi University becomes one of the first central universities to fully adopt the FYUP model, the transition marks a significant shift in India’s higher education landscape—one that places research, flexibility, and academic depth at the core of undergraduate learning.
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Featured Image Source: The Indian Express
Richa Choudhary
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