UGC Issues Fresh Guidelines for Academic Collaborations Between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

The article will inform you about the recent notification from the University Grants Commission (UGC) about the collaboration between the Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions. Additionally, it will also list the UGC Recognised central universities in India.

Jul 28, 2025, 22:49 IST

UGC Issues Fresh Guidelines for Academic Collaborations Between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently issued a notification regarding the University Grants Commission and the academic collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions to offer twinning programs, dual degree programs and joint degrees.

The University Grants Commission noticed that many Higher Education Institutions or colleges across India are partnering with foreign-based educational institutions that are not recognised by the University Grants Commission, allowing them to issue degrees to students. Some EdTech organisations advertise online degree and diploma programs in collaboration with overseas institutions or colleges, or universities, through various channels, including newspapers, social media, and television.

The University Grants Commission, through this notification, has emphasised that it does not accept collaborations or arrangements; hence, degrees issued as a result are likewise not recognised. The University Grants Commission (UGC) also notifies all those institutes that are in collaboration with foreign higher education institutions or universities that if they fail to comply with applicable laws, norms, and regulations will have to face consequences.

The notification from the University Grant Commission also warns the student and the general public to act cautiously while enrolling in courses, programs or degrees without UGC recognition, as they do enrol in these programs, courses and degrees at their own risk.

List of UGC-Recognised Central Universities in India

Central Universities in India play an important role in delivering quality higher education across various disciplines. These institutions are established by an act of Parliament and are funded and governed by the Central Government. To ensure academic credibility and standardisation, all central universities must be recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the apex regulatory body for higher education in India.

Below is the list of some of the UGC recognised central universities across India which offer a wide range of courses:-

Aligarh Muslim University	Banaras Hindu University
Central Agricultural University	Assam University
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University	Central Sanskrit University
Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh	Central University of Haryana
Central University of Jammu	Central University of Gujarat
Central University of Jharkhand	Central University of Himachal Pradesh
Central University of Karnataka	Central University of Kashmir
Central University of Punjab	Central University of Kerala
Central University of South Bihar	Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University	Central University of Tamil Nadu
Indian Maritime University	Indira Gandhi National Open University
Jamia Millia Islamia	Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
Jawaharlal Nehru University	Mizoram University
Manipur University	Mahatma Gandhi Central University
Maulana Azad National Urdu University	National Sanskrit University
North Eastern Hill University	Nalanda University
Nagaland University	National Sports University
Pondicherry University	Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University
Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University	Rajiv Gandhi University