Key facts
- Delhi University's Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), part of NEP 2020, offers multiple exit and re-entry options.
- Data indicates very few students formally exit after the first or second year.
- A significant number of students are not proceeding to the optional fourth year, with retention rates as low as 30-40% in some colleges.
- Low awareness of the program's flexibility provisions is cited as a contributing factor.
- The fourth year is primarily intended to encourage undergraduate research and prepare students for postgraduate studies.
Delhi University's Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), launched under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is facing a surprising trend where a majority of students are not opting for the optional fourth year. Data obtained by TOI indicates that while formal exits after the first or second year are rare, the retention rate for the final year in prominent colleges hovers between 30% and 40%. For instance, Lady Shri Ram College retained about 380 out of 1,100 students, Miranda House retained approximately 600 out of 1,600, Hindu College retained around 300 out of 1,000, and Sri Venkateswara College retained 405 out of 1,289.
College principals suggest that low awareness of the multiple entry-exit provisions and the re-entry mechanism might be contributing to the limited use of the system's flexibility. Many students continue until the third year, viewing a bachelor's degree as sufficient for employment or further studies. The fourth year is primarily intended to foster undergraduate research and prepare students for postgraduate academic careers. However, concerns have been raised that some students may be continuing into the fourth year for reasons other than research, such as preparing for competitive examinations or lacking admission elsewhere.
This trend has sparked discussions about whether Delhi University should implement eligibility criteria for the fourth year to ensure it remains focused on students genuinely interested in academic research, thereby strengthening the program's original intent.