A recent internal survey at the prestigious St Xavier's College (Autonomous) in Kolkata has revealed a significant trend among its undergraduate commerce students. Approximately 50% of them intend to exercise the exit option after completing their sixth semester in 2026, opting to leave the four-year degree programme early.
Survey Reveals Stream-Wise Divergence
The institution, which introduced the four-year undergraduate programme in 2023 in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, conducted the survey to gauge student sentiment. The findings show a stark contrast between streams. While commerce sees a high departure rate, the numbers for humanities and science streams are notably lower, staying below 10%. This indicates a stronger inclination among arts and science students to complete the full four-year honours programme.
Principal Father Domin Savio provided specific figures, stating, "We saw that out of 1,200 commerce students, including morning and evening shifts, around 600 want to leave." He explained the reasoning behind this trend, noting that commerce students are often more oriented towards professional qualifications. Many plan to pursue management courses, chartered accountancy, or other career-focused paths immediately after their three-year stint.
The NEP 2020 Framework and University Adoption
The multiple entry and exit system is a cornerstone of the NEP 2020, designed to offer flexibility. However, its implementation has seen varied patterns. While the University of Calcutta (CU), to which the college is affiliated, permitted exits after the first or second year, registrar Debasis Das confirmed there is no record of students opting for such early exits.
Most college principals within the CU system acknowledge that while the option exists, leaving a course after just one or two years is generally not considered advantageous for students' academic profiles. The anticipated major exit point, therefore, is after the sixth semester, which concludes three years of study. The exams for this semester are scheduled for April 2026.
Implications for the Future of Undergraduate Education
This data from St Xavier's offers an early glimpse into how the NEP's flexible structure is playing out on the ground, particularly in metropolitan institutions. The high exit rate in commerce suggests a discipline where a three-year degree is still highly valued as a stepping stone to professional courses. In contrast, the stronger retention in humanities and science may reflect a greater perceived value in the research-oriented fourth year of the new programme.
The trend underscores the need for institutions to tailor their academic advising and course structures to accommodate these divergent student pathways. As more batches enter the four-year system, monitoring these exit patterns will be crucial for curriculum planning and student support services.
