Dual Degrees at Delhi University are now a reality, as recently, Delhi University announced a new policy allowing students to enrol in two-degree programs simultaneously. The official announcement states that students can now pursue one degree in the traditional form at any college or department within the university, and complete the second degree at the School of Open Learning via the Open and Distance Learning mode.
The policy, however, prohibits concurrently pursuing two degrees of a similar kind. For instance, even if one is through ODL, students are not permitted to pursue a B.Com (Hons.) and a B.Com (Pass) degree. This guarantees that students take advantage of the flexibility provided by the new dual-degree structure while diversifying their academic backgrounds.
Students at Delhi University who choose to pursue two degrees at the same time must independently fulfil all academic obligations for each program. This means they must attend the necessary classes, complete internal assessments, submit assignments on time, and deliver presentations for both degrees. Additionally, they must meet the promotion criteria set for each program individually to progress in both courses.
Requirements to Pursue Dual Degrees at Delhi University
To minimise repetition in mandatory courses, students are obliged to first finish the necessary courses of the programme they initially enrolled in, whether it is through the traditional or Open and Distance Learning (ODL) method.
The required courses from the first program will be replaced with suitable alternative courses in the second program. For instance, the required courses for a student’s program will take priority if they start their studies in a conventional program. Similarly, the mandatory courses from an ODL program will take precedence over other courses if a student enrols in one first.
In the case of undergraduate programs, students must fulfil requirements such as Environmental Science (EVS) or Ability Enhancement Courses (AEC) in the program they join first. If these courses are also mandatory in the second-degree program, suitable alternatives will be provided to avoid repetition.
Which Courses to Avoid While Pursuing Dual Degrees at DU?
A student pursuing two undergraduate degrees is required to take courses like the AEC language and EVS as part of their main program. For their second degree under the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, they have the option to either select a different AEC language or choose a Skill Enhancement Course (SEC) or a Value Addition Course (VAC). Similarly, if a student is enrolled in two BA programs, they are not required to repeat the Generic Elective (Language) course. Instead, they can choose from the open Generic Elective (GE) pool to prevent overlapping coursework.
In the fourth year of undergraduate study, students working on research projects or themes for both degrees must ensure that the topics are distinct for each program. Additionally, credits earned from the two separate degrees cannot be combined to achieve a major or minor in any discipline.
