UGC warns students against online courses before taking admissions

UGC informed that the last date of admission for all institutes offering ODL and online courses for academic sessions beginning February 2024 will be March 31

UGC warns students against online courses before taking admissions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has warned students who wish to enrol in open and distance learning (ODL) and online learning mode. The statutory body has asked the students to do the fact-check and confirm the recognition status of higher educational institutions (HEI) and also note the list of programs prohibited from being offered online.  

The commission urges students not to enrol in online courses across various higher educational institutions, such as engineering, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, nursing, dental, agriculture, law, architecture, horticulture, and hotel management. UGC emphasizes that no authorization has been granted for the initiation of any course in these subjects via online platforms. And thus, students should verify before opting for any online courses.

The notification issued by the UGC came in the backdrop of increasing fraudulent activities; students are often duped with enticing online course offers. To help students, the commission has published a comprehensive list of accredited higher educational institutions offering online courses on its website. This list provides detailed information about valid online courses offered by these institutes. The UGC advises against enrolling in online courses related to approximately 16 subjects, including engineering, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, agriculture, and more.