Duration to Complete MPhil and PhD for Women Increased by UGC

Giving a sigh of relief to the thousands of women scholars pursuing their M.Phil and PhD degrees from various universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently announced that such candidates will be given additional two years to complete their degrees. Earlier, candidates were given a total of six years to complete their project work.

Under the new order passed by UCG, additional two years would be given to the women candidates to complete their research work in M.Phil and PhD Degrees. It was noted by the UGC that many women candidates had to drop their research work in between, because of marriage and familial issues related to marriage. Childbirth and pregnancy is another aspect that caused quite a many women candidates pulling out from their research. In order to curb the issue UGC has not only come up with the extension in time, but has allowed the women candidates to change their university for pursuing their M.Phil and PhD Degrees.

The order further stated that women candidates and persons with disabilities would be allowed a relaxation of one year for M.Phil course and two years for Ph.D research work. The maternity leave/child care leave would also be given additionally to the women once in the entire duration of the M.Phil and PhD degree for upto 240 days. This would be an additional leave granted to the women candidates along with the extension given to them to complete the degree.

Those candidates, who want to relocate their Ph.D and M.Phil studies at another university due to marriage or other reasons, would be able to get transfer in the same provided they fulfill all the condition and regulations needed to be followed during the research work. For the part of research that the women candidates have already done in their previous university, they would have to give credit to their previous guide.