Delhi University News

DU Academic Council adopts 4th Year UG research guidelines amid faculty concerns over workload, funding.

• 05, Jul 2025

The Delhi University Academic Council on Friday approved new guidelines for final-year undergraduate research and projects, even as faculty concerns over workload, funding, and unrealistic expectations.

The Academic Council, DU's top academic decision-making body, cleared the framework to regulate the dissertation, academic project, and entrepreneurship tracks being introduced in the final year of UG courses.

These guidelines were necessary as the first batch under the UGCF has now entered its fourth year. The proposal will now be presented before the Executive Council for final approval.

According to the approved guidelines, every student opting for one of the three tracks will work under a faculty supervisor.

Dissertations must be done individually, while academic projects may be pursued solo or in small groups. Entrepreneurship projects will require students to have studied two specific elective courses. Faculty members -- including those without PhDs -- will be eligible to supervise, with a maximum of 10 students per teacher, unless otherwise approved by the college's Research Committee.

A monthly progress report must be submitted to the Subject Research Committee, and every student must present their progress before an Advisory Committee for Research.

Each college is expected to form a three-tier research supervision structure: a College Research Committee (RCC), Subject Research Committee (SRC), and an Advisory Committee for Research (ACR).

Funding for student research may be sourced from internal college funds, alumni, CSR grants, or industry collaborations. Colleges must also maintain a research repository and ensure anti-plagiarism checks. Faculty are to undergo training in research supervision, and students will receive orientation on ethics and citation practices.