The Academic Council of University of Madras (UoM) has deferred its decision to start a four-year dual degree programme on basic sciences proposed to be offered in partnership with University of Melbourne after members raised several objections.The proposed dual-degree programme were to be offered through the Department of Theoretical Physics in collaboration with the University of Melbourne as an extension of the B.Sc (blended) Science programme started in 2022. The students would have had the option of choosing to continue with the blended programme and complete three years in UoM or pursue the third and fourth years in University of Melbourne and earn two degrees – Bachelor of Basic Science from UoM and Bachelor of Advanced (Honour) from University of Melbourne.Several members raised concerns over the programme’s structure and features. The National Education Policy 2020 encouraged starting of four-year undergraduate programmes but Tamil Nadu was recalcitrant towards adopting the policy for its educational institutions. “There was lack of clarity on where Tamil Nadu stood on this issue and we brought that to the notice of the Council,” said P.K. Abdul Rahiman, Head (in-charge), JBAS Centre for Islamic Studies.While Tamil or any other language was made compulsory for all undergraduate courses in the State, the blended course had one paper in English and had no provision for any other language courses, which was in violation of government norms, a section of the members said.“There are several other issues, like equivalence to any of the core subjects like Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics. It also does not specify the title of four-year degree and leaves it ambiguous as B.Sc Advanced (Honours),” said K. Kathiravan, professor and head, department of Biotechnology.Besides, the blended course had 11 students in its first year (2022-23), followed by three students in 2023-24, and seven in 2024-25, Prof. Kathiravan added.Published - September 28, 2025 01:26 am IST