Students pursuing the four-year undergraduate programme ( FYUP ) face important choices both at the end of the third year and on completing the fourth year. Should they leave after three years with a recognised degree or continue into the fourth year? After completing four years, should they pursue a one-year master’s degree, seek employment or apply for a PhD programme? The central question, therefore, is how these pathways can be made meaningful and beneficial to students.

One concern is that multidisciplinary course requirements in FYUP may dilute students’ grounding in their major discipline. Under the UGC undergraduate curriculum framework, to earn a major in the FYUP, one must complete a minimum of 80 credits in the chosen discipline; in the three-year structure, the requirement is a minimum of 60 credits.…