Kerala set to roll out 4-year degree courses

Kerala’s higher education institutions are set to usher in four-year undergraduate programmes on July 1. Providing students with a greater degree of freedom in customising their courses by opting for subject combinations of their choice, the four-year programmes will di§er from the existing courses with an overhauled curricula that prioritise skill enhancement and overseas compatibility.

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu said here on Friday that the reform would enable students to pursue three broad pathways: three-year degree, four-year honours degree, and four-year honours with research degree.

Students who choose to exit after three years will be awarded with a degree in their respective major discipline after completing the required minimum of courses of 133 credits. A four-year honours degree will be awarded to those who complete the programme with a speci c number of courses of 177 credits. Students who aspire to pursue research as a career can opt for the honours with research stream in the fourth year. The new system will also facilitate inter-university transfers midway the course period. Credits obtained through skill enhancement courses, internships can be accumulated for one’s course requirement.