UGC directs universities, colleges to stop offering healthcare, allied courses in ODL, online mode
UGC Bans Healthcare & Allied Courses in ODL and Online Mode from 2025
Key Decision
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to stop offering programmes in healthcare and allied disciplines covered by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021 through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) or online mode. This will apply from the academic session beginning July–August 2025.
Background
The decision was approved at the UGC’s 592nd meeting on July 23, 2025. It follows recommendations from the 24th Distance Education Bureau Working Group meeting held on April 22, 2025.
Programmes Affected
The ban covers healthcare and allied specialisations such as:
- Psychology
- Microbiology
- Food and Nutrition Science
- Biotechnology
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
If a degree offers multiple majors (for example a BA with many subject majors), only the healthcare-related specialisation(s) will be withdrawn; other non-healthcare majors will remain unchanged.
Implementation
- From the 2025–26 session, no college or university may offer these programmes in ODL or online mode.
- Institutions that already have recognition for such programmes will have that recognition withdrawn by the UGC.
- HEIs are instructed not to admit students into these programmes for the July–August 2025 session onwards.
- All stakeholders have been asked to strictly comply with the directive.
Advisory on Foreign Collaborations
The UGC also issued a fresh advisory warning students and HEIs against entering into unrecognised collaborations with foreign institutions. Any degree or diploma awarded through such unapproved arrangements will be considered invalid in India and treated as unrecognised by the Commission.
All foreign collaborations must have explicit approval under the UGC frameworks issued in 2022 and 2023 for joint degrees, dual degrees, or foreign campuses.
This advisory reinforces an earlier UGC notice issued on December 12, 2023 about unapproved tie-ups. The UGC noted that despite warnings, some colleges and EdTech platforms continued to offer joint or online programmes with foreign partners lacking UGC recognition.
Conclusion
By restricting healthcare and allied programmes to in-person modes and tightening rules for foreign collaborations, the UGC aims to protect education quality and safeguard students’ future careers in practical, skill-based fields.
