The recent release of guidelines regarding a four-year undergraduate program has left many autonomous colleges unable to provide adequate information to students about its advantages and disadvantages. These guidelines were anticipated to clarify various aspects for both institutions and students; however, several critical inquiries, particularly those about financial aid, scholarships, and class capacities, remain unresolved. The Indian Express reached out to leaders of autonomous colleges associated with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) to gather insights on their apprehensions.
Professor Sanjay Kharat, principal of Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, expressed to The Indian Express that two primary issues are still unclear. He noted, “The first concern is whether the four-year program will qualify for grant-in-aid status. The second is whether students enrolling in the fourth year will qualify for scholarships from the social welfare department or other funding available through the MahaDBT portal.”
He further stated, “Students who have completed a three-year undergraduate program can pursue a two-year master’s degree. If the fourth year is designated as non-grant, the fees could surge to two or three times higher than what is charged for a grant-assisted program. Consequently, many students might opt for a conventional master’s course to avoid the steep costs associated with the fourth year.” According to internal assessments at his college, approximately 20-25 percent of students show interest in the four-year program.
Professor Avinash Moharail, principal of Sir Parashurambhau College, shared his views, noting that the guidelines suggest the fourth year will not be recognized as an extension of natural progression, implying it will not receive grant-in-aid status. “Our first challenge is determining the fee structure for this course. If it remains a grant-in-aid course, students pay around Rs 6,000-10,000 in fees. However, if it shifts to the non-grant category, fees could escalate to Rs 40,000,” he explained.
He also mentioned, “To facilitate scholarship benefits for that course, the fee must be set by the university’s fee fixation committee. Subsequently, we will need to align that fee with the social welfare department to ensure students can apply for scholarships as they do in their first three years.”
As per the guidelines, the UG Honours with Research degree will only be available at institutions that possess a dedicated PhD research center, allowing a maximum of five students per PhD supervisor. In response, Professor Kharat commented, “Over the last 10-15 years, there has been little recruitment in this area. Many research supervisors have either retired or left, leaving only one or two active. It’s not feasible to run the program with just ten students, as the associated fees and salaries cannot be adequately funded. This would lead to a fee increase of three to four times.”
Soham Shah, a correspondent for The Indian Express based in Pune, specializes in educational reporting and civic issues. With a journalism degree and a strong focus on data-driven narratives, he highlights significant topics affecting schools, colleges, and public welfare.
