DU FYUP: 72% Students Opt for 4th Year, Highest Uptake in Humanities, Lowest in Commerce

At Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), only around 170 of nearly 900 BCom (Hons) students opted for the fourth year. While institutions such as Ramjas and Kirori Mal College (KMC) reported mixed figures—with roughly 45–60% of students opting in—several peripheral colleges saw higher continuation rates.

Nearly 72% of undergraduate students at Delhi University have opted to continue into the optional fourth year under the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As per the latest official data, out of over 72,000 eligible students, more than 50,000 have chosen to stay enrolled for the fourth year, while around 20,221 have exercised their option to exit with a three-year degree. The university has kept the opt-out window open until August 1, the day the new academic session officially begins.

The response to the fourth year varies significantly across disciplines. Humanities and language departments have seen the highest participation, with several courses witnessing over 70–80% student retention. At Lady Shri Ram College, for instance, Psychology and English programmes have recorded particularly high interest. In contrast, science and commerce departments have reported far lower numbers. At Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), only around 170 of nearly 900 BCom (Hons) students opted for the fourth year. Economics has seen similar trends, with just 74 of 210 students continuing. In the science stream, subjects like Physics and Chemistry reported moderate uptake, while Mathematics and Physical Science saw opt-out rates of up to 70%.

Across colleges, the trend remains uneven. While institutions such as Ramjas and Kirori Mal College (KMC) reported mixed figures—with roughly 45–60% of students opting in—several peripheral colleges saw higher continuation rates. Some colleges attributed the lower uptake in professional and science courses to students already preparing for postgraduate entrance exams or placements, making them reluctant to invest an extra year in a programme that still lacks complete clarity.

Faculty members and academic experts have expressed concerns about the preparedness for the fourth year. Many point out that the research-based component of the curriculum is still under development, and that institutions are grappling with faculty shortages and infrastructure gaps. While Delhi University’s Executive Council has approved infrastructure investments of over ₹1,900 crore—including funds for laboratories, classrooms, and hostels—on-ground execution remains uneven. Additionally, several colleges have limited provision for Year 4 teaching, with guest faculty not assigned to this batch and full-time faculty already burdened with first-to-third-year responsibilities.

Despite the challenges, university officials say the high opt-in rate reflects growing acceptance of the NEP model. The fourth year is intended to offer a more research-oriented, interdisciplinary curriculum and will confer students with a Honours with Research degree—potentially enhancing employability and readiness for advanced academic work. However, the real test of the model, experts say, will lie in whether the fourth year offers tangible academic and professional value in the long run.