60% DU Students May Opt for 4th Year Under NEP: VC

Delhi University (DU) expects nearly 60% of its undergraduate students to continue into the newly introduced fourth year of study, as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 rollout.

The update came during the university's Executive Council meeting held on Saturday, where Vice Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh said DU is prepared to fully implement the four-year undergraduate structure.

The fourth year will focus on research, advanced coursework, and specialisation.

Students choosing to exit after three years will still receive a standard UG degree, while those opting for the fourth year can earn an honours with research degree, in line with NEP guidelines.

To manage the increased academic load, DU plans to deploy a mix of guest and permanent faculty. However, Singh clarified that only regular faculty will teach the fourth-year classes to maintain academic consistency.

Singh also confirmed that the university is ready for the shift, both in terms of infrastructure and academics.

To support the extended curriculum, DU has invested Rs 65.71 crore in infrastructure upgrades.

These include improved Wi-Fi across campuses and a digital library offering access to over two lakh e-books and journals at any time. Colleges facing staff shortages will offer compensation to faculty working extra hours.