Page 500 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

Regulations pertaining to Credits, Academic Programmes and Award of Degrees:

University Grants Commission
(Online Courses or Programmes) Regulations, 2018.

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 4th July, 2018

F. No. 1-19/2016 (CPP-II/DEB-I).—In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (j) of
section 12 read with clauses (f) and (g) of sub-section (1) of section 26 of the University Grants
Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), the University Grants Commission makes the following
regulations, namely:—

1. Short title and commencement.—
(1) These Regulations may be called the University Grants Commission (Online Courses
or Programmes) Regulations, 2018.
(2) These Regulations shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official
Gazette.
2. Application.— (1) These Regulations lay down the minimum standards of instruction
for the grant of Certificate or Diploma or Degree, through online mode, delivered through
interactive technology using internet.
(2) These Regulations shall apply to a University referred to under clause (f) of section
2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), an Institution deemed
to be University under section 3 of the said Act or a University established under
any State Act, which are imparting higher education or research therein by means of
conducting regular classes or through Open and Distance Learning systems or through
online education system that result in grant of Degree or Diploma or Certificate, in
various Courses or Programmes other than Courses or Programmes in engineering,
law, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy, applied arts and
such other Courses or Programmes not permitted to be offered through online or Open
and Distance Learning mode by any other statutory or regulatory body or council.
3. Definitions.—In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) ‘Act’ means the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956);
(b) ‘Academic Council or Senate’ means the body empowered to take decisions regarding all
academic matters in a Higher Educational Institution including the decision permitting
Online Courses or Programmes of studies in compliance to these regulations;

(c) ‘Certificate’ means an award, not being a Degree or Diploma, granted by a Higher
Educational Institution, certifying that the recipient has successfully completed an
Online Course or Programme of study of minimum six months duration;
(d) ‘Commission’ means the University Grants Commission established under the Act;

(e) ‘Credit’ means the Unit award, gained as learning outcome, by a learner by study efforts
required to acquire the prescribed level of learning in respect of that Unit;
Explanation.- It is hereby clarified that a study effort for one credit means time required
by a learner to understand the contents equivalent to 15 hours classroom teaching.
(f) ‘Degree’ means an award, not being a Certificate or Diploma, granted by an Higher
Educational Institution, certifying that the recipient has successfully completed an
Online Course or Programme of study of minimum three years duration in case of
graduate degree and includes a post-graduate degree, where such award is granted after
an Online Course or Programme of study of minimum two years duration;
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University Grants Commission