Indian and foreign higher education institutions may soon be able to offer joint or dual degrees and twinning programmes with the University Grants Commission (UGC) finalising a draft for the regulations of these programmes. The proposal is part of the internationalisation plan under the National Education Policy of India for the next decade.

According to the UGC’s draft regulation on academic collaboration between Indian and foreign higher education institutions to offer joint degree, dual degree and twinning programmes, such degrees will be “equivalent to any corresponding degree or diploma awarded by the Indian higher education institution”.

Any Indian institution accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a minimum score of 3.01 or in the top 100 in University category of National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or an Institution of Eminence can get automatic approval to collaborate with any foreign institution in the top 500 of Times Higher Education or QS World University ranking.

The India-foreign tie-ups would allow credit recognition and transfer between the twinned institutions, joint degrees awarded simultaneously by the Indian and foreign institution, dual degrees from one institution with an add-on qualification from the partner institution, and twinning arrangements where a student enrolled in an Indian institution undertakes the study programme partly in the foreign institution, but the degree or diploma is awarded solely by the Indian institution.

However, according to the current draft, programmes offered online or through distance learning modes will not be permitted with overseas partners. Franchise arrangements where foreign institutions sell their courses and their own-brand degrees to Indian institutions will also not be permitted.