UGC warns students about fake universities and unauthorized courses

University Grants Commission (UGC) warned students against diploma/degree courses offered through franchisee programs conducted by private or deemed universities.

UGC has urged to students to not to take admissions in any unapproved study centres, off-campus centres, or franchisee institutions that claims to be affiliated with private universities or deemed universities.

A Central or State government university may conduct courses only through its own departments, its constituent colleges and/or through its affiliate colleges, asserted UGC. According to constitutional regulation, a university established or incorporated by or under the State Act should be active only within the territorial jurisdiction allotted to it, and in no case beyond the territory of the State.

Similarly, private universities and deemed universities cannot approve affiliations to any college or institution for offering courses leading to the award of its diploma, degree or other qualifications, cleared UGC.

UGC cleared that whether Central, State, private or deemed, universities cannot offer its courses through any sort of franchising agreement with private coaching institutions, not even for the purpose of conducting courses through long distance education system. All the approved universities have been authorized to award only such degrees that are specified by the UGC only.

Besides the M.Phil/Ph.D course cannot be conducted under distance mode. Post post-graduation courses  must be run through only regular mode by UGC approved universities, including private or deemed both, as specified under the Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil/Ph.D Degree, Regulations 2009.