Patna: The Bihar School Examination Board will carry out the admission process of first-year undergraduate courses at 11 universities, including Patliputra University.

Students who are at present pursuing undergraduate courses and are in second- and third-year undergraduate courses will remain with the old university - Magadh University.

However, the chancellor's office is yet to decide on the fate of students who are in first-year undergraduate courses as their examinations are yet to be held.

The board has asked all 11 universities, including the newly carved Patliputra University, to furnish details about the list of colleges under Patliputra University, the courses being run at these colleges, student intake and the fee structure of the courses. The board will carry out admission on the basis of marks.

Patliputra University pro-vice-chancellor Girish Kumar Choudhary said: "Based on the chancellor's office directive and after having a series of meetings with officials of Magadh University it was decided that students who are studying undergraduate courses at colleges of the newly carved Patliputra University and are in second- and third-years will remain students of the old university (Magadh University)."

Choudhary added: "The decision has been taken, as these students' registrations were done by MU and they had appeared in examinations for the first and second years being conducted by MU."

The students have welcomed the decision as they were confused regarding their fate after Patliputra University was carved out of Magadh University in March this year.

Diwakar Prasad, a third-year economics student at AN College, said: "We were confused about our fate after the bifurcation of Magadh University was made in March as we didn't know whether we would go with Magadh University or with the new Patliputra University. The decision to retain old students with the parent university is a welcome step. If we were made to go with Patliputra University, the degree which we were to get after completion of our undergraduate courses would have names of both Magadh University and Patliputra University."

Echoing the views of Diwakar, another student, Sandeep Kamal of AN College, said: "Degree certificates having name of two universities would have created problems for us especially at the time of interviews for jobs or for higher studies."

The Patliputra University was carved out of Magadh University in March this year with the appointment of the vice-chancellor and the pro-vice-chancellor. The new university will have colleges under Patna and Nalanda districts which were earlier with MU. Some of the colleges which will be under Patliputra University are AN College, College of Commerce, Arts and Science, JD Women's College, Arvind Mahila College and others.