UGC & NEP 2025 Updates: What Students Must Know Before Applying

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 continues to redefine India’s education system, with 2025 bringing key implementations that students must understand before applying for undergraduate or postgraduate courses.

1. Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes (FYUP)

Most central, state, and private universities have adopted Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes (FYUP) with multiple exit options:

1 year: Certificate

2 years: Diploma

3 years: Bachelor’s degree

4 years: Bachelor’s degree with honours or research

2. Academic Bank of Credits (ABC)

The Academic Bank of Credits allows students to:

Store their course credits digitally

Switch universities without losing progress

Customise their degrees with multidisciplinary credits

This enhances flexibility and promotes student mobility across institutions.

3. Multidisciplinary & Skill-Based Learning

Universities are now offering multidisciplinary electives including coding, AI, environmental studies, and vocational skills. This aims to make graduates:

Industry-ready with practical knowledge

Adaptable across multiple career paths

4. Changes in Assessment Methods

Traditional rote-based exams are being replaced by:

Continuous assessment

Application-based and analytical evaluations

Open book and case study based tests

This change is designed to build critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

5. Inclusion of Regional Languages

Under NEP 2025, many colleges are introducing courses in regional languages to improve inclusivity for students from diverse backgrounds, especially in undergraduate programs.

6. Internationalisation of Education

UGC is facilitating foreign universities to set up campuses in India under GIFT City, Gujarat. Students can now access global degrees without moving abroad.

7. Credit Transfer for Online Courses

Students can now earn credits through SWAYAM and other approved online platforms, which will be accepted in their degree program under the Academic Bank of Credits framework.

8. Holistic & Value-Based Education

NEP 2025 focuses on inculcating:

Ethics

Constitutional values

Life skills and well-being sessions

This ensures overall personality development and career readiness.

Conclusion

The UGC and NEP 2025 updates bring transformative changes, offering flexibility, skill-based learning, and global exposure to Indian students. Before applying, ensure you:

Understand your chosen college’s FYUP structure
Check if they are implementing Academic Bank of Credits
Explore multidisciplinary electives that align with your goals