India’s First FYUP Graduates Face Shortage of One-Year Master’s Seats

India’s first batch of students graduating from the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) is facing an unexpected hurdle: there are not enough one-year master’s seats for those who want to continue their studies under the new system.

The FYUP was introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with one of its intended pathways allowing students who complete a four-year undergraduate degree to pursue a one-year master’s programme. However, the expansion of these postgraduate programmes has not kept pace with the number of FYUP graduates entering the system.

The issue is particularly visible at Delhi University (DU). Around 30,000 students graduated from DU this year under the four-year programme, while the university currently has only 2,565 seats across 46 one-year master’s programmes. Of these, around 988 seats are available in the general category, according to an Economic Times report citing Times of India.

This creates a difficult choice for students. Those who do not secure one of the limited one-year master’s seats may have to enter a conventional two-year postgraduate programme, potentially adding an extra year to their academic journey. Others could decide not to pursue a master’s degree at all.

The problem extends beyond Delhi University. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has introduced one-year master’s programmes in four disciplines, but together they have only 71 seats. Ambedkar University Delhi has also introduced such programmes, with around 30 seats in each of seven programmes, according to the report.

The shortage highlights a gap between undergraduate reform and postgraduate capacity. The four-year degree structure was designed to offer students greater flexibility and provide a potential pathway towards advanced research. But for that pathway to work smoothly, universities need enough compatible postgraduate programmes and seats.

There have been efforts to address the issue. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed eligible higher education institutions to offer one-year postgraduate programmes through Open and Distance Learning and online modes in line with NEP 2020. The UGC issued the relevant circular on July 29, 2026.

IGNOU has also introduced nine one-year master’s programmes for eligible FYUP graduates. These include courses in Economics, Sociology, History, Commerce, Journalism and Mass Communication, English, Hindi, Sanskrit and Urdu.

The transition is likely to become more important as more universities produce their first FYUP batches. Around 105 universities, including 19 central universities, have adopted the four-year structure since the 2023 academic session, according to the Economic Times report.

The current situation raises a larger question for Indian higher education: Can postgraduate capacity expand quickly enough to support the four-year degree system it was designed to follow?

For students, the answer could determine whether FYUP delivers the flexibility promised under NEP 2020 or creates another bottleneck at the next stage of their education.