DU's St Stephen's College defers FYUP admissions

Following a directive from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to Delhi University regarding its four-year undergraduate programme, St. Stephen's College Sunday said it will defer final admissions to the course till a decision is taken by the competent authority.

The commission, in a notification, ordered the varsity that admissions for the 2014-15 academic year at the undergraduate level in general degree programmes, including honours programmes, shall be only for the three-year undergraduate programme.

The three-year course was the practice prior to the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).

The notification stated that under no circumstances shall Delhi University or any of its colleges admit students for the four-year programme.

"In view of the reported UGC directive to the Delhi University regarding its undergraduate programmes, St. Stephen's College, while continuing with the ongoing selection process, including the publication of provisional lists of selected and wait-listed candidates for various courses, shall defer final admissions till a decision is taken on the matter by the competent authority," said the college in a press statement.

The UGC has further said that any deviation from this directive either by DU or any of the colleges under it shall be deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act 1956, with its consequences.

The statement from St. Stephen's added: "The college will admit students only to duly approved courses. Students seeking admission to a particular course need to have definitive information about the structure and duration of the courses they join.

"The 'admission list' being put up now is, hence, provisional. The final admission to all courses, including payment of fees, is deferred till a decision on the matter is taken by the University/the UGC."

However, the admission interviews as well as sports trials and interviews will continue as per the schedule already announced, said the college.

"Candidates, if affected by any delay in the University/UGC taking a final decision in respect on the FYUP, shall be granted three working days for depositing their fees from the time a notice making the final admission offer is put up on the college notice board and web site," added the statement.

Being a minority institution, St. Stephens conducts its admission process separately from other colleges in DU.