Punishment For Pursuing Two Regular Degree

It is a dream of almost every Indian student to pursue higher education with degree programs that help them acquire necessary skills and knowledge for a bright future. But some students strive to pursue more than one degree at the same time, regardless of the restrictions imposed by the University Grants Commission and most universities. 

Why Do People Want To Pursue Two Regular Degrees Simultaneously?

Before we understand the punishments for the act of pursuing two regular degrees, let’s understand the motivation of the students behind this action:

Career Advancement And Skill Diversification

Since the job market has become highly competitive, a lot of times, students feel the need to acquire several skills and qualifications that help them bag a well-paying job. By getting two degrees, they aim to enhance their employability, especially in arenas where diverse expertise over specialization is given priority.

Personal Passion And Academic Curiosity

Few students have the innate drive to pursue their academic interests in more than one discipline, as is the norm. They may prefer to enrol for two regular degrees from diverse fields to satisfy their intellectual curiosity.

Such students may feel that they have no options other than pursuing two regular degrees to achieve a well-rounded education that enables them to pursue their academic interests without wasting additional years for the second degree.

Parental And Societal Pressure

In a lot of cases, expectations of a family or society also play a major role. Parents may allow their children to pursue more than one regular degree in two different disciplines to amplify their future job prospects. They could push children for this so they can secure government positions that mandate specific qualifications.

Societal norms in our country are such that they give exceptional priority to degrees and formal qualifications. Owing to this, students feel pressured to pursue more than one degree for the sake of getting societal acceptance. 

Expanding Opportunities For Higher Studies Abroad

Studying abroad becomes easier when students have a combination of degrees. A few students could choose to pursue two degrees if they plan to apply for a postgraduate program abroad. 

By gaining dual degrees, students aim to establish their keenness towards multiple disciplines, their versatility and diligence, enhancing their profiles when applying for admissions.

Why Is Pursuing Two Regular Degrees Simultaneously Restricted?

Pursuing two degrees is restricted for the following reasons:

Academic Integrity And Quality Control

The protection of academic integrity and the maintenance of educational quality are two of the main justifications for the ban on pursuing two full-time degrees at the same time. Education systems are designed to give students a comprehensive, immersive experience that demands their undivided attention and participation. This is why it's so important:

• Focused Learning: It takes a lot of time and effort to complete a single full-time degree, which frequently includes lectures, homework, projects, labs, internships, and tests. It gets harder to keep up the same degree of dedication and focus when a student is enrolled in two of these programs at once. Instead of dividing students' attention between two challenging curricula, academic institutions want them to become thoroughly involved with the material and build a solid foundation in their chosen profession.

• Depth Over Breadth: Academic programs aim to develop students' practical application and skills in addition to their theoretical understanding. The depth and intensity of learning might be diminished when time is divided between two programs. The targeted learning outcomes of each program may be compromised if students merely gain a cursory understanding of both disciplines rather than mastering the material and gaining the necessary abilities.

• Risk of Academic Dishonesty: Students may find it difficult to meet deadlines and expectations when juggling the burden of two demanding programs at once, which heightens the temptation for academic dishonesty such as exam cheating or assignment plagiarism. By making sure students concentrate on a single, comprehensive program at a time, educational organizations and institutions hope to reduce these practices.

Universities and regulatory bodies work to maintain the quality and integrity of education by restricting students to a single full-time degree program, guaranteeing that graduates are qualified, updated and well-prepared for their academic or professional endeavours.

Logistical And Practical Constraints

Regular degree programs are structured to be thorough and engaging, and they can require a large time commitment. It can be difficult enough to manage the requirements of one program, but trying to manage two at once creates a number of logistical problems:

• Time and Workload Management: Attending lectures, taking part in labs or workshops, finishing assignments, and getting ready for tests are all part of a full-time degree. Managing these obligations for a single degree can be too much for a lot of students. There would be twice as many assignments, tests, and other academic obligations if a second program were added, which might be too much to handle. Burnout, tension, and eventually subpar academic achievement in both programs might result from this overload

• Class Scheduling Conflicts: Exams and classes are scheduled by universities with the premise that students are totally dedicated to a single program. It would be practically impossible for students to attend lectures, laboratories, or exams for both programs without compromising on one if they were pursuing two regular degrees at the same time due to scheduling problems. Both the student and the institution would find it logistically impossible to handle such issues, which would cause disruptions and diminish the quality of the learning process.

• University Resources and Faculty Management: Regular degree programs are likewise created with the presumption that every student will adhere to the workload and timetable as specified. Because academics and administrative personnel would have to make accommodations for students with conflicting needs, allowing simultaneous enrollment would put a strain on university resources. Universities make sure that resources are used as efficiently as possible and that the entire academic environment is kept organized and controllable by limiting students to one program at a time.

To put it briefly, these practical and logistical limitations show why the majority of colleges forbid dual full-time enrollment, guaranteeing that students have a focused, high-quality education free from the hassles and trade-offs associated with balancing two rigorous programs.

Accreditation And Regulation

Standards and rules are established by regulating organizations and accrediting bodies, such as the Higher Learning Commission in the US or the UGC in India, to preserve the integrity and quality of education across all schools. These organizations are essential in making sure institutions fulfil certain standards that support the general credibility and uniformity of higher education. Here's why these rules are in place:

• Maintaining Educational Standards: Universities are assessed by accrediting organizations according to their capacity to deliver demanding, high-quality instruction. Since it is improbable that a student could fulfil the requirements of both programs concurrently without sacrificing the scope and quality of their education, allowing them to enrol in two full-time programs would violate these standards.

• Student Workload Management: Additionally, these rules guarantee that students don't take on more than they can handle. Universities have a responsibility to their students, and the accrediting standards assist them in enforcing reasonable workloads, keeping an eye on attendance, and efficiently evaluating student progress. The quality of education could be jeopardized if students were permitted to pursue two degrees at the same time since it would be challenging for institutions to properly and effectively monitor and assess their progress.

• Consistency and Fairness in Evaluation: The premise of assessment procedures is that pupils concentrate on a single program at a time. Evaluation procedures are made fair and uniform by accrediting organizations. If students were permitted to pursue more than one full-time degree, the evaluation procedure would become erratic, making it difficult for institutions to fairly evaluate students' performance. This might result in disparities in credentials, grades, and the general integrity of the degree certification procedure.

• Accreditation bodies thus contribute to the preservation of educational quality, fairness, and consistency by limiting students to a single full-time program, guaranteeing that educational institutions can handle student progress and performance in a consistent and trustworthy way.

Ensuring Fairness And Opportunities For All Students

To maintain equal opportunities in educational access, concurrent participation in two ordinary degree programs is also prohibited. Permitting students to simultaneously pursue two degrees may lead to a number of problems:

• Limited Seats and Resources: Each program at the majority of colleges has a limited number of seats. Students might take up slots that could have been occupied by other students if they were permitted to enrol in more than one program at once. People who would only be interested in one program would have fewer opportunities as a result, leading to unequal access to educational opportunities and resources.

• Equal Opportunity for Learning and Growth: The goal of educational governing bodies and universities is to give every student equal chances. It might keep others from receiving instruction that could help them if one student takes up two places. This is especially important in nations like India, where there is fierce rivalry for a few seats and each one is valued. Institutions contribute to the upkeep of a just and equitable system where more students have the chance to follow their preferred fields of study by enforcing regulations that restrict students to a single program.

• Preserving the Integrity of Admission Processes: Students are admitted according to their qualifications and interest in a given program due to fair and merit-based admissions procedures. Permitting multiple enrollments could skew the system since some students might use their credentials to get into more than one school, thus denying entrance to others who might have been equally as or even more worthy.

In order to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity at higher education without the monopolization of scarce resources, educational institutions and governing bodies strive to establish a fair and equitable environment for all students by upholding these regulations.

Punishments For Pursuing Two Regular Degrees Simultaneously In India

The majority of universities and the UGC, which oversees higher education in India, have explicit rules prohibiting simultaneous enrollment in two regular degree programs. The following are potential consequences for breaching these rules:

Cancellation Of One Or Both Degrees

Universities may revoke one or both degrees if they are discovered, thus undoing the student's progress. This can be disastrous because all academic accomplishments could be invalidated, particularly if a violation is found close to graduation.

Institutions have the authority to cancel a student's enrollment and make the appropriate note in their record, which will affect their academic record.

Disqualification From Examinations

Even if they have finished all of their coursework and other prerequisites, students who are found in violation may not be allowed to take tests. Exam disqualification essentially keeps the student from receiving credit or from completing either program.

Withholding Of Marksheets And Certificates

If Indian colleges find that a student is enrolled in two programs, they may decide to withhold academic records, including marksheets and certificates. The student's ability to obtain employment or continue their education may be impacted if they are unable to demonstrate their qualifications without these documents.

In the event that marksheets are eventually distributed, they might include annotations pointing out the irregularity, which could harm the student's reputation in the long run.

Suspension Or Expulsion

The student may be suspended or expelled in accordance with the rules of the school. Expulsion results in the student's permanent removal from the institution, whereas suspension temporarily prevents them from completing their education.

Expulsion has serious repercussions because it may also make it difficult for the student to apply to other programs or colleges, which could limit their options for further study.

Fines And Additional Disciplinary Measures

Academic rule violations may result in fines from universities; the severity of the penalties varies according to the policies of the institution. Financial penalties or administrative costs related to handling the student's case may be imposed as fines.

Workshops on academic behaviour or community service requirements are examples of additional disciplinary actions that could be used to emphasize the significance of following academic rules.

Blacklisting And Restrictions On Future Admissions

Blacklisting students who are found to be in violation of these guidelines may make it impossible for them to enrol in subsequent courses at the same university or other associated institutions. In severe circumstances, this information might be disseminated around, making it challenging for the student to get accepted anywhere else.

UGC Guidelines On Dual Degrees

As of 2022, the UGC has permitted students to pursue two degrees concurrently, subject to certain requirements: one degree must be earned normally, and the other must be earned online or through distance learning. Both degrees cannot be full-time normal degrees and must come from accredited universities.

It is still technically forbidden to pursue two full-time normal degrees and those who do so risk the repercussions mentioned above.

Conclusion

Students in India need to be aware of the academic and legal restrictions imposed by the UGC and universities, even though the urge to pursue two conventional degrees at the same time is sometimes motivated by pressure, passion, or ambition. Violations of these rules might result in harsh penalties, including suspension, fines, degree revocation, and even legal action. For those who wish to pursue more than one degree, there are acceptable options, such as structured dual degree programs that adhere to UGC regulations or distance learning.

To maximize their educational prospects without jeopardizing their academic future, students must carefully consider their options, speak with academic counsellors, and make sure they are making compliant, well-informed choices.