The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released an important public notice advising students and public not to be misled by advertisements for online PhD programmes offered by EduTech Companies in collaboration with Foreign Educational Institutes.
"In order to maintain the standards for the award of PhD degrees, the UGC has notified UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil/Ph.D. Degrees) Regulations. 2016. It is mandatory for all Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to follow UGC Regulations and its amendments for awarding PhD degrees," the public notice read.
"Students and public at large, are hereby advised not to be misled by advertisements for online PhD programmes offered by EduTech Companies in collaboration with Foreign Educational Institutes," it added.
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The higher education regulator said such online PhD programmes are not recognised by UGC.
"Aspiring students and public at large, are requested to verify the authenticity of PhD programmes as per UGC Regulations, 2016 before taking admission," the commission added.
Earlier, the UGC had released a list of programmes which are prohibited to be offered under open and distance learning (ODL) and online mode.
The commission had also stated that M.Phil and PhD programmes in all disciplines through Open and Distance Learning and Online mode are also prohibited.