The University of Calcutta has introduced a new policy allocating a significant portion of its postgraduate seats to students who complete three years of undergraduate study under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework.

Approximately 80% of the university’s 6,000 postgraduate seats will be reserved for these students. Within this allocation, 60% will be specifically designated for candidates from colleges affiliated with the university.

Under the four-year undergraduate structure, students can choose to exit after the third year with a major subject and pursue a two-year master’s programme. Students completing the full four-year course will be eligible for a one-year postgraduate programme, with 20% of seats reserved for them.

Officials indicate that this arrangement reflects expectations that many students will opt to graduate after three years. Any unfilled seats in the two-year master’s programmes may later be offered to students completing the four-year honours programme in 2027.

Admission to two-year postgraduate courses will now require entrance examinations. For students from affiliated colleges, selection will be based on a combination of entrance test scores and undergraduate performance. Applicants from other institutions will be evaluated solely on entrance test results.

Previously, admissions for affiliated college students were based only on graduation marks. Before NEP 2020 was implemented in 2023, undergraduate programmes lasted three years, followed by two-year postgraduate studies.

Students completing a four-year degree with honours or honours with research will be admitted to one-year postgraduate programmes based entirely on academic performance. Those achieving a CGPA equivalent to 75% after six semesters can opt for a research track in the final year.

The vice-chancellor emphasized that academic marks alone are not sufficient to evaluate a student’s readiness for postgraduate studies, prompting the introduction of entrance tests.

Several departments, especially in the humanities, support stricter screening methods, noting that marks may not accurately reflect a student’s aptitude for advanced study.

Some institutions, including St. Xavier’s College and colleges run by the Ramakrishna Mission, already use entrance tests for postgraduate admissions.