Online Ph.D. programmes are offered by EdTech companies in collaboration with unrecognized foreign educational institutions.
The UGC warns students and the general public not to be misled by advertisements for online Ph.D. programmes offered by EduTech Companies in collaboration with Foreign Educational Institutes.
“Students and public at large, are hereby advised not to be misled by advertisements for online PhD programmes offered by EduTech companies in collaboration with Foreign Educational Institutes,” read the notice.
Before enrolling in such courses, students should ensure that the PhD programmes are authentic and have been verified in accordance with the UGC Regulations 2016.
For awarding PhD degrees, UGC has stated that all Indian Higher Education Institutions must follow the standards set by UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil, PhD degrees) Regulation 2016.
According to the UGC and AICTE, online Ph.D. programmes offered by EdTech companies in collaboration with foreign educational institutions are not recognised.
In March 2022, the commission proposed amendments to the UGC regulations 2016 and suggested that 60 percent of PhD admissions will be filled by students who have cleared the UGC NET Exam or the UGC NET JRF exam, with the remaining 40 percent filled through the respective universities’ entrance exams.