No More Online Degrees in These Disciplines: UGC’s 2025 Guidelines

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken a decisive step regarding online and distance learning. The accreditation body, in its key notification released in August 2025, addressed the compliance of healthcare and allied disciplines under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021. This decision ensures online degree courses meet regulations and provides credibility to students.

This Story also Contains

1. Why Are Some Programmes Restricted By UGC In Online/ODL Modes?
2. List of Prohibited Programmes in Online Mode
3. What Alternatives Can Students Pursue After The UGC Restriction?

The UGC, after careful review, clarified that institutions cannot offer online or ODL degrees in healthcare and allied fields, along with programmes in the specialisation of psychology, microbiology, food and nutrition science, biotechnology, and clinical nutrition and dietetics. This decision will apply to all higher education institutions in India from the academic session July - August 2025 onwards.

The commission concluded that these healthcare and allied disciplines require practical exposure, hands-on training, and lab-based skills that online education cannot adequately deliver. Students must make sure to visit the official UGC website for updated guidelines, approved course lists, and detailed notifications before enrolling.

Why Are Some Programmes Restricted By UGC In Online/ODL Modes?

The University Grants Commission, in its latest notification, has advised higher education institutions that all healthcare and allied disciplines, along with psychology, microbiology, food and nutrition science, biotechnology, and clinical nutrition and dietetics cannot be offered in an online/ODL modes, due to these subjects demanding practical training, lab work, and in-person supervision, which online learning cannot fully provide.

The points mentioned below highlight the key reasons behind this restriction:

Practical & Clinical Training Required

• Subjects such as healthcare, psychology, microbiology, and nutrition involve lab experiments, clinical exposure, and counselling practice.
• Online/ODL modes lack real-world settings for students to gain these hands-on experiences.
• Restricting such courses ensures that graduates are professionally equipped and industry-ready.

Quality Concerns In Online/ODL Modes

• Certain disciplines, such as healthcare and allied fields, require consistent practical exposure and hands-on industry training.
• Online/ODL modes do not provide consistent quality in the delivery of in-person training within these disciplines across diverse institutions.
• By limiting online delivery for these courses, UGC seeks to safeguard the quality concerns and academic standards nationwide.

Risk of Lower Professional Value

• Healthcare-related and allied fields directly impact public safety, health, and well-being.
• Inadequate training undermines the credibility of professionals graduating from such courses.
• UGC, thus, restricts universities from offering these courses to avoid creating a workforce that lacks critical hands-on expertise.

Assessment & Supervision Challenges

• Online assignments and examinations do not replicate practical demonstrations, lab testing, or clinical internships.
• Supervision by in-person faculty and delivery of in-person training are vital to building discipline-specific skills.
• Therefore, restricting online delivery ensures assessments remain skill-based and robust.

Also Read: Is Online PhD Legally Valid in India?

List of Prohibited Programmes in Online Mode

The programmes mentioned below are prohibited by UGC from being offered under ODL and online modes:

Also Read: Can You Pursue an MCA from NITs After BCA (Online) Degree?

What Alternatives Can Students Pursue After The UGC Restriction?

UGC’s decision to restrict certain online and ODL programmes does not limit students from pursuing overall opportunities. While healthcare-related disciplines, psychology, biotechnology and allied sciences can no longer be pursued online, learners still have diverse academic and career-oriented alternatives. By choosing wisely, students can continue to benefit from flexible education without compromising on quality.

The points mentioned below outline the possible alternatives for students to pursue these courses:

Pursue Regular On-Campus Programmes

• Students passionate about psychology, microbiology, or allied sciences can enrol in UGC-recognised, full-time classroom programmes.
• These programmes offer lab facilities, clinical exposure, and guided training essential for professional readiness.
• On-campus degrees ensure compliance with the NCAHP Act 2021, making them credible and industry-accepted.

Opt for Non-Clinical Online Degrees

• Online/ODL modes are widely available for management, commerce, computer science, data analytics, economics, and humanities.
• Such programmes focus on theoretical knowledge, digital tools, and project-based learning.
• Students also gain flexibility while building career-relevant skills in high-demand fields.

Combine Online Degrees with Practical Internships

• Students can enrol in non-clinical online degree programmes while pursuing internships in labs, hospitals, or NGOs.
• This approach blends hands-on experience alongside theoretical learning.
• It is especially beneficial for students aiming at careers in healthcare management or data-driven roles.

Explore Short-Term Professional Certifications

• Instead of full degrees, students can take industry-driven certification courses in healthcare analytics, counselling, or nutrition basics.
• These certifications offer specialised skills without violating regulatory norms.
• Several platforms, such as SWAYAM, NPTEL, and Coursera, provide these certifications to ensure credibility and quality.

UGC’s prohibition on offering programmes in healthcare and allied sciences in online/ODL modes ensures academic credibility, quality, and professional readiness. Students must make sure to align their choices with accredited pathways while exploring to pursue flexible online/ODL programmes in healthcare and clinical domains.