Overview
- On Friday, August 21, 2026, Delhi University amended its ordinances to allow FYUP fourth‑year graduates who finish with a CGPA of 7.5 or higher, and 7.0 for SC/ST students, to apply directly for PhD admissions for the 2026‑27 cycle.
- The change was approved by DU’s Academic Council and Executive Council and applies as a special, one‑time measure for the inaugural FYUP batch, with final admissions still subject to the university’s rules and candidate‑level evaluation.
- DU enrolled 75,948 students in the FYUP in 2022‑23; 40,005 left after three years in 2025 while 35,943 continued to the optional fourth year, which included research, internships and entrepreneurship tracks.
- Demand for postgraduate places is already high: 12,111 fourth‑year students applied for one‑year PG programmes that offer 5,857 seats, and the university has kept two‑year PG seats open for students who exited after three years.
- The policy reflects DU’s NEP‑aligned aim to boost undergraduate research and skills through the fourth year, and it could shorten the path to doctoral research for top students while creating short‑term pressure on PG capacity.