The University Grants Commission (UGC) has warned universities against offering research degrees like PhD and MPhil through the distance mode.
The commission had earlier issued a circular stating that research degrees offered in the distance mode would not be recognised. “The UGC regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities has recently been updated and according to these changes, only regular mode PhD will be recognised,” the circular issued on 17 March said.
In the latest circular, the commission has advised students against applying for research programmes being offered through the distance learning mode.
Further, UGC has allowed the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), and some other State Open Universities to offer PhD and MPhil degrees in the Regular mode, i.e as full-time or part-time programmes .
UGC has also asked the universities to publish the list of PhD receivers along with the mode in which they pursued their PhDs.