The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced the discontinuation of the MPhil degree in accordance with its latest guidelines governing the conferral of Ph.D. degrees. In a directive sent to all universities, UGC Secretary Manish Joshi instructed the suspension of admissions to MPhil programs for the academic session 2023-24. Moreover, Joshi cautioned students against enrolling in any MPhil programs, emphasizing that these would not be accredited by the UGC.
This decision to eliminate the MPhil degree aligns with clause 14 of the UGC’s (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, officially notified on December 16, 2022. The UGC’s move signifies a strategic shift in academic standards, emphasizing Ph.D. programs while discontinuing the MPhil pathway across universities, marking a significant change in higher education norms.
