Convocation delayed, DU grads have to apply for a degree certificate

With no information about when Delhi University’s convocation ceremony will be held, students will now be asked to apply for a “degree certificate.” This is the first time there has been undue delay in the convocation. Till 2014, the ceremony used to be held in March but last year it was delayed till May.

With no information about when Delhi University’s convocation ceremony will be held, students will now be asked to apply for a “degree certificate.”

Earlier, students used to be given an ‘advanced degree’ and later the final degree with the convocation date mentioned. (Raj K Raj/HT FIle)

This is the first time there has been undue delay in the convocation. Till 2014, the ceremony used to be held in March but last year it was delayed till May.

This year, there no word about the ceremony where degrees are handed over in person to PhD students and toppers of different streams and colleges.

According to a university source, the degree certificate will be equivalent to the final degree, and once the student avails of this certificate, he/she will not be given the degree during convocation.

This is a new system for which the application process will soon start, so students do not face problems. Earlier, students used to be given an ‘advanced degree’ and later the final degree with the convocation date mentioned.

This decision was taken after the university denied advanced degrees to medical students who wanted to go to the US and UK for higher studies and jobs. These students protested after which the university took the decision.

“The degree has the date of the convocation mentioned in it. So what will the degree certificate have in it? How can the university decide on whether students can attend convocation? Instead of changing old rules they should just hold the convocation,” said a senior college teacher who did not wish to be named.

Vinay Gupta, Dean of Examination, confirmed that online applications will be invited on the DU portal .

“This time we are asking students to apply, submit documents and make a payment for the degree online. This degree is nothing different but similar to the earlier degree that was given,” said Gupta.

Some teachers said a degree will not be considered valid as long as the convocation is not held.

“If they are just changing the name of advanced degree to degree certificate, then it is fine. But if this will be equivalent to the final degree then doesn’t make sense,” said a senior department head on condition of anonymity.

As per sources, the delay in the convocation is because the varsity has not been able to decide on the guests who will be invited for the ceremony.

Earlier this year, the university had also announced that marksheets, degrees and migration certificates can be applied for and delivered online.