Nagpur: Master of Philosophy (MPhil) aspirants are headed for a loss of an academic year unless the Nagpur University (NU) offers any immediate respite.
The new norms introduced for research programmes in December 2017 by NU offers no scope for this year’s batch of postgraduate students to qualify for MPhil in any of 29 subjects.
In a series of reports since December last year, TOI has been highlighting flaws in new guidelines and notification.
As per the norms, an entrance test has been made mandatory for admission to MPhil course from this year just the way it is for doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree. While aspirants are baffled to learn that the new norm renders them ineligible for registration without an entrance score, colleges feel the test was ill-timed.
The NU has not fixed any date for PhD entrance test (PET), which has been conducted at different times in a calendar year since its introduction in 2012. This time PET-I was held on January 17 and 18 followed by PET-II on February 2. Between 2012 and 2017, the entrance was held only for PhD aspirants.
Though the titles for both the entrance and the new direction notifications carry the word ‘MPhil’, the scant details about the one-year programme in fine print could be the reason for the ignorance of aspirants.
In fact, the PET notification dated December 15, 2017, is silent on MPhil admissions. “Applications are invited for PhD entrance test (P.E.T) from eligible candidates who want to pursue PhD programme from Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University….”. This is followed by a detailed schedule which too has no mention of MPhil but only talks about PhD registration process.
Besides this, the nomenclature too has left students confused. “If it is an entrance for MPhil too, then why do they call it PhD entrance test. Why was it held in January, when the final results in announced in June and July. If PET is qualifier for MPhil, then it must be held after PG final exams,” some aspirants said.
The MPhil is opted by postgraduate students aiming to make a career in teaching. Also, the one-year programmes helps them save at least four years as compared to PhD, which could be taken up while in-service.
Some teachers told TOI that many students also decide their future course only after their postgraduate final exam.
“Holding PET in mid of academic year was totally wrong decision if the university had decided to make it compulsory for MPhil admissions too. In January, PG students are more worried about their dissertation, projects, assignments and final exams. How can the decision maker assume that they would have taken note of the entrance being made a must,” a college teacher said.
Pro-VC Pramod Yeole, who is credited with bringing in the reforms, didn’t answer to TOI’s calls and SMS.
NU officials blamed the students. “The title is very clear and students are expected to go through the details carefully,” they said.
