Are‍‌‍‍‌ you planning to get an online degree in the academic year 2025-26? If you are about to press the “Apply Now” button, it is important first to know what the University Grants Commission (UGC), the higher education regulator in India, says about online learning.  

Over the last year, the UGC has been setting new guidelines to make the credit for online degrees more reliable, transparent, and attractive for the future. The changes from the revised approval norms for universities to those in credit transfers, examinations, and foreign collaborations mean that updates affect every online learner directly.  

Here is a summary of the UGC regulations that an online degree student must be aware of in 2025, clarified simply and clearly. 

1. Institutions & Recognized Programs 

Clarifying the very first thing: It is essential to confirm that the institution and the program are recognized. The UGC, along with its bureau for online/distance modes, keeps records of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that are authorized or approved to offer fully-fledged online programs.  

If you take an online course from a provider that is not recognized, your qualification could be considered invalid for further studies or jobs in the government sector – a risk that most students disregard. 

2. Credit‍‌‍‍‌ Mobility & Multiple Entry/Exit Options 

Flexibility is one of the major aspects that have changed in 2025. As per the UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of Undergraduate & Postgraduate Degrees) Regulations, 2025, students have now: 

• Multiple entry/exit options Eg: you may exit after first or second year with a certificate and diploma respectively, and re-enter later  

• Credit accumulation and transfer through the “Academic Bank of Credits” (ABC) system: Credits that have been earned in one mode (online/ODL/regular) may be utilized or transferred. This is to say, if you begin an online UG and then change the university or mode, you will not necessarily be at a loss — provided that you adhere to the approved ‍‌‍‍‌framework. 

3. Dual Degrees and Cross-Mode Enrolment 

An additional significant regulation is that the UGC has permitted students to register for two full-time programs at the same time since April 2025, but only under certain conditions. It also comprises the following: two online degrees; one regular (physical) + one online/ODL program, if the timings do not overlap. 

Many learners thus have access to valuable opportunities: you could complete a regular degree and start an online one, or both concurrently if you can manage your ‍‌‍‍‌time. 

4. Online ‍Program Specifics & Quality Assurance 

The UGC has imposed more rigorous norms for online courses when it comes to their quality. 

• Ideally, the online program should be equivalent to the regular one in terms of curriculum, assessment, and results.   

• Moreover, a practical or lab-intensive area of study cannot be entirely online or be in the ODL mode unless some components of the mode are physical/face-to-face.   

• Colleges have to provide the necessary e-learning platforms, ensure student engagement, conduct proctored exams, and maintain transparency in student support. All these steps together serve as a way to uphold the credibility of online degrees and to safeguard students from poor-quality ‍ ‌‍ ‍‌offers. 

5. Online‍‌‍‍‌ & ODL Admission Process & Institutional Entitlement 

UGC has set new enrolment norms for admission to online or ODL (Open & Distance Learning) programs. For example, students enrolling from the year 2025-26 might require a unique DEB-ID (Distance Education Bureau) which will be linked to their ABC-ID – thereby facilitating the tracking of their academic progress in various modes of study. 

Additionally, universities need to get permission to offer online programs, it is not that any institution can simply start them.  

This basically implies that prior to registering, you need to verify: Is the institution listed among the currently recognized HEIs offering online programs? (Usually on the UGC/DEB ‍‌‍‍‌website.) 

6. Subject Restrictions & Online Mode Limitations 

A critical update in 2025: The UGC has set limitations or has forbidden certain areas of study to be conducted entirely online or by ODL. For instance, the medical field and its allied subjects (like microbiology, pharmaceutical, etc.) have been marked as not appropriate for fully online/ODL modes because they require a practical training component. Therefore, if you intend to get a degree fully online in a subject that is heavily reliant on practical, you need to find out if the mode is ‍‌‍‍‌allowed. 

7. Recognition‍‌‍‍‌ of Foreign Degrees & Equivalence 

In case you are thinking about holding an international degree or engaging in foreign collaborations, the rules set by the UGC are very much relevant: The UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025 makes it easier for a foreign qualification to be recognized in India. 

This means, the university or college where you study is not the only thing that matters. The way the course is delivered, whether it meets the rules and regulations, and how it will be recognized, are equally important, if you are doing a program from abroad or ‍‌‍‍‌online. 

8. Transparency‍‌‍‍‌ & Institutional Compliance 

The UGC is very strict with institutions that lack transparency or fail to disclose necessary information according to regulations. As an instance, several universities were pointed out as being reluctant to publish essential data on their websites, thereby causing students’ distrust and questioning the legitimacy of degrees.   

So, as a student, you have to: look through the college website, make sure it is accredited, find out if the course you want to take is allowed to be conducted ‍‌‍‍‌online. 

Why‍‌‍‍‌ These Rules Matter to You 

You might be thinking: “Why do I need to care about these rules?” Well, here are some effects that these regulations have directly on you as a learner: 

• Future eligibility: For instance, if your degree is from an unrecognized institution or the mode is not valid, you may find it hard to be eligible for a government job, higher studies (e.g. a master’s or PhD), or get recognition abroad. 

• Cost & time risk: The case may be that you will spend money and time and later, it turns out that your qualification is neither valued nor valid as you thought. 

• Mobility & flexibility: Thanks to the ABC system, various entry/exit and dual degree options, abiding by the regulations provides you with genuine freedom to change direction, take a break, or skill up later. 

• Quality assurance: Being aware of these regulations implies that you choose to study in a program that offers real learning rather than just a ‍‌‍‍‌certificate. 

A‍‌‍‍‌ Checklist for Your Online Degree Decision 

Before signing up, here is a concise checklist that you should definitely consider: 

• Is the institution certified by UGC/DEB to provide education in the online mode? 

• Is the program you’re enrolling in an online course or does it require a face-to-face session/lab work? 

• Does the program adhere to Online/ODL norms with the proper evaluation, moderation, and student support? 

• Does the syllabus align with the regular one (in terms of content, credits, and value)? 

• Do you know about multiple entry/exits, ABC system, and how credits will be transferred if that is the case? 

• Is the discipline being offered in online/ODL mode (for instance, not banned for subjects that are heavily reliant on practicals)? 

• Have you understood the fees, duration, and future career recognition/transparency? 

• Is the institution able to furnish a certificate (or web listing) indicating that it has been approved and is eligible to offer the ‍‌‍‍‌course? 

Read more: A student’s guide to identifying fake universities in India 

Online Manipal: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Quality Online Education 

As‍‌‍‍‌ UGC changes its norms, India will be witnessing a new wave of digital learning. Online‍‍ Manipal turns out to be the light to show how quality and credibility can go together in the online learning sector. It has set new standards for accessible higher education with the perfect blend of tradition and technology with a strong academic heritage through Manipal universities. 

Through Online Manipal, this legacy is extended to the virtual classroom, offering UGC-entitled degrees and industry-recognized programs that blend academic rigor with real-world relevance. Learners benefit from a powerful mix of interactive digital content, live sessions with experienced faculty, peer learning opportunities, and strong career support services. 

Furthermore, students get not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills through a curriculum that’s future-ready and in line with industry requirements along with degrees recognized by UGC. The platform’s provision of emphasis on flexibility, career support, and lifelong learning is like a safety net for students, be they freshers or working professionals, to be able to accomplish their academic and career goals without facing any ‍‌‍‍‌obstacles. 

Reference 
Distance Education Bureau | UGC