This IGNOU degree may not be valid under new UGC guidelines; What students need to know

The academic future of thousands of postgraduate aspirants hangs in the balance as Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) continues to process admissions for several healthcare-related disciplines that have been officially restricted in distance learning mode by national regulators. According to a report by The Times of India (TOI), the university has invited approximately 17,000 fresh applications for its MA Psychology programme this year, despite explicit University Grants Commission (UGC) directions to halt enrolments in courses requiring mandatory clinical and practical training. While the university cites a disclaimer in its admission prospectus as a safeguard, the regulatory conflict threatens to disqualify students from professional registration and higher research opportunities, leaving those already enrolled in a state of administrative uncertainty.

IGNOU's MA Psychology Course Invalid?

Renuka, a 42-year-old school teacher and mother of two from Ujjain, told TOI that she paid approximately ₹9,000 in first-year fees for an MA in Psychology to upgrade her qualifications, unaware that the distance mode for the course had been barred. Despite the ban, Renuka stated she has been attending online classes since September and has received an exam schedule for June. "I found out through a news report that such courses have been barred in online mode," she told TOI, adding that regional centre officials claimed they had no information regarding the restriction and that her emails to the university remain unanswered.

UGC Directives and the NCAHP Act 2021

The conflict stems from the NCAHP Act, 2021, which stipulates that allied and healthcare qualifications are only recognized if obtained through regular, in-person mode due to the necessity of clinical training. Following this, the UGC directed institutions to stop fresh enrolments in healthcare-related subjects—including psychology, nutrition, microbiology, and biotechnology—from the July-August 2025 academic cycle. The regulator warned that any degree obtained in violation of these specific norms would be rendered invalid.

IGNOU’s Defense and the Academic Council Decision

V P Rupam, Registrar of the Student Registration Division at IGNOU, told TOI that the decision to continue the programme was ratified by the university's Academic Council. Rupam argued that a majority of students pursue these courses for "academic interest" rather than "clinical practice," and therefore the NCAHP regulations, which apply to professional registration, may not fully apply in this context. He further noted that the university has placed a disclaimer in its brochure advising applicants to make an "informed decision" based on the provided provisions.

Impact on Further Qualifications and Career Mobility

The ongoing admission cycle at IGNOU also includes restricted areas such as medicine, agriculture, and horticulture. Rupam acknowledged to TOI that the current directive has created "undesirable" constraints, stating that students dependent on distance learning are now unable to opt for NET (National Eligibility Test), JRF (Junior Research Fellowship), or pursue further academic qualifications because of the validity concerns. However, he assured that the university would continue to offer degrees to those enrolled last year and that no existing admissions would be cancelled. UGC Secretary Manish R Joshi did not provide an immediate response to TOI's queries regarding the matter.

(With TOI Input)