The University of Mumbai has approved a new ‘Honours with Research’ undergraduate programme in engineering, in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The programme will be introduced from the 2026-27 academic year.
Approved by the university’s Academic Council under the Faculty of Science and Technology, the programme aims to provide engineering students with research-oriented training alongside their regular technical education. Students will get exposure to research methodology, paper writing, research presentations and publication in reputed academic journals.
Under the programme, students pursuing a BE degree will also have the opportunity to undertake an individual research project, helping prepare them for higher education, research institutions and careers in industry.
Eligibility and Academic Requirements
Students admitted through the regular route must have no backlogs from the first to fifth semesters and must secure a minimum 7.5 CGPA in the fifth semester. For students admitted directly into the second year, the third to fifth semesters must be backlog-free, along with a minimum 7.5 CGPA in the fifth semester.
Students will begin preliminary research preparation at the college level from the fifth semester. In the sixth semester, they will be required to submit an outline of their research proposal, which will be evaluated by the concerned Board of Studies.
18 Additional Credits and Research Publication
Students opting for the Honours with Research programme will have to complete 18 additional credits beyond the regular BE curriculum. These will include four credits in research methodology, 10 credits related to research publication and four credits for final evaluation.
Students will be required to present two research papers at conferences or one paper in a Scopus-indexed or Web of Science journal. The final research project will be evaluated through a viva voce by an external examiner who is eligible to supervise PhD research. The research project will be undertaken individually.
Students enrolled in the programme cannot simultaneously pursue another Honours or an Emerging Minor. Those participating in AEDP will also not be eligible for the option. Students may withdraw from the programme in their fourth year; in such cases, completion of the regular curriculum will lead to the award of a standard BE degree.
Only PhD Supervisors Can Guide Students
Only faculty members recognised as PhD supervisors will be permitted to guide students under the programme, with each professor allowed to supervise a maximum of five students.
Only colleges with recognised research centres or approved PhD supervisors will be eligible to offer the programme. Colleges with PhD centres will have a base capacity of 10 students, along with five additional seats for each PhD supervisor.
If applications exceed the number of available seats, admission will be granted on the basis of merit.
University of Mumbai Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ravindra Kulkarni said the initiative would enable engineering students to develop a research mindset and innovative approach while pursuing their degree, besides giving them an opportunity to work on independent research projects and publish academic papers.
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