New Delhi, Oct. 16: The UGC today issued guidelines saying students of degree programmes would have to clear all papers within a maximum grace period of two years beyond the scheduled date of completion.

This means a student doing a three-year graduate programme would have to clear it within a maximum period of five years; one pursuing a two-year master's course would have to complete it in four years; and a scholar doing a two-year PhD programme would have to finish it in four years.

Sources said the guidelines were not binding on universities but were likely to be adopted without question by most institutions dependent on the UGC for funds. Distance education is outside the purview of these guidelines.

The reason the higher education regulator has issued the guidelines is that various universities allow courses to be completed in varying time spans. Before the new norms are implemented, the varsities will have to send in their approval or otherwise.

In exceptional cases, a university may allow a student an extra year beyond the two-year grace period. The university will define what such "exceptional circumstances" are, the guidelines said.

Those completing their courses during the grace period will be considered "private" students and will not be eligible for ranking.

R.C. Sobti, the vice-chancellor of Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar University, said: "We cannot differ with the UGC. This decision is aimed at ensuring a uniform pattern so that students do not face problems."

State government-run varsities getting funds from the UGC are also likely to unquestioningly adopt the guidelines.

The vice chancellor of a central university, however, termed the UGC guideline as a step towards "unnecessary uniformity".

"The socio-economic and cultural background of students varies among universities. Academic policies should not be evenly implemented. It should be left to the university to decide," he said.

A UGC official said the guidelines were framed on the basis of recommendations of a committee that thoroughly examined the issue and held wide consultations.

He said since some universities allowed students prolonged grace periods to complete their courses, they tended to take things very easy. He cited the instance of Allahabad University that gives students a five-year grace period.

Many universities also allowed such students to stay on in their hostels along with their friends in violation of norms, the official added.

A Delhi University executive council member, Abha Dev Habib, said the UGC directive was "unjustified". Students from poor families, particularly first-generation learners, should not be asked to mandatorily complete their graduation in five years, he said.

At present, DU allows students a three-year grace period. Habib said the existing practice should continue.