Delhi University’s Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) dissertation requirements face strong criticism. Monami Sinha, a member of the DU academic council, has urged the university to revise its guidelines. She termed the requirements “unreasonable” and “constantly changing,” citing concerns for academic integrity and student welfare.
The current FYUP dissertation guidelines are a “work in progress,” according to Sinha. They were issued on September 30, 2025 , but were never presented before the academic council. Weekly notifications have continually changed these guidelines. Students and teachers lack a final, stable document to follow.
FYUP Guidelines Lack Feasibility
Sinha stated the guidelines lack academic feasibility. Students nearing the end of their semester still receive new requirements. Clarity on the structure for semester 8 is missing, despite the dissertation being a full-year project.
Students must submit two chapters in semester 7. They do so without knowing the final dissertation length. This situation creates uncertainty for those undertaking the crucial final-year project.
New Requirements Pose Challenges
Recent changes to the dissertation guidelines include a 120-page translation , a 30-minute video presentation , and geo-tagging for the video. These rules were introduced at the last moment, Sinha reported. They are “academically unworkable” due to demands for 50 secondary readings by the end of semester 7.
Sinha also raised objections to the Entrepreneurship track. This track involves evaluation by two external industry experts. She cautioned this could compromise student confidentiality and risk the misuse of student ideas.
The overall structure of the FYUP further complicates matters. Sinha explained that students receive no research foundation during their first three years. This is due to the “poor structure” of Value-Added Courses (VAC) and Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) within the curriculum. This foundational gap makes the advanced dissertation requirements difficult for undergraduate students.