In a significant move aimed at aiding students, Delhi University (DU) has announced a relaxation of credit limits for final-year undergraduate students. This decision will allow them to earn additional credits to formally qualify for a major in their degree, a crucial requirement for many postgraduate courses.
Addressing the Credit Shortfall
The change, introduced under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022, is specifically applicable to students enrolled in the 2025-26 academic session. It addresses a persistent problem where many fourth-year students were unable to secure a major despite being near the end of their four-year programme.
Previously, the UGCF provisions capped the maximum credits a student could take in the eighth and final semester at 22 credits. This restriction proved problematic. Numerous students found themselves at the end of their seventh semester lacking the prescribed number of core discipline credits needed to declare a major. With the rigid credit cap in the last semester, they had no room to take the necessary extra core papers, leading to the completion of a four-year degree without a formal major.
The New Flexibility: Up to 30 Credits
According to the revised university notification, this hurdle has now been removed. Fourth-year students will be permitted to take up to eight credits above the earlier prescribed limit. This raises the maximum possible credit load in the final semester to 30 credits.
Students can utilise these additional credits specifically to complete pending core discipline requirements. This directly enables them to fulfil the eligibility criteria needed to have a major officially recognised on their degree. A major refers to a student's primary field of study, determined by completing the highest number of core courses and credits. It is distinct from a minor, which is a secondary subject requiring fewer credits.
Implications for Postgraduate Aspirants
This policy relaxation is expected to be a major benefit for students planning to pursue higher studies. For many postgraduate programmes, both in India and abroad, the presence of a formally declared major on the undergraduate degree is a fundamental eligibility criterion. The previous system inadvertently barred some deserving students from meeting this requirement.
By allowing this credit flexibility in the final semester, Delhi University is providing a crucial safety net. It ensures that students who have dedicated years to a discipline can graduate with a corresponding major, thereby keeping their academic and career pathways open. The move is seen as a student-centric reform within the framework of the four-year undergraduate programme.
