PANAJI
Goa University (GU) has formally introduced Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) for its postgraduate programmes in line with the national education policy (NEP) 2020. At the same time to avoid hardship during the transition period, the Varsity has announced one-time relaxation for semester I for the ongoing academic year 2025-26.
Goa University has issued a new ordinance governing postgraduate programmes such as MA, MSc, MCom, MSW, MTTM, MPEd, MLI Sc, MBA, MBA (Financial Services), MCA, Postgraduate Diplomas, and other master’s level courses conducted by the University’s on-campus schools and affiliated colleges. The ordinance, which introduces CBCS will come into effect from the academic year 2025–26.
A Master’s degree will typically require a minimum of 80 credits; for PG Diplomas and one-year degrees (post 4-year UG) the requirement is 40 credits. The programme differentiates credits for core, electives, research/dissertation, internship etc.
By implementing OA-35A, Goa University aims to modernise its postgraduate education emphasis on flexibility, multidisciplinary exposure, credit transfer, exit-options and employability-oriented features.
The University reiterated that the Internal Semester Assessment (ISA) and Semester-End Assessment (SEA) will carry a weightage of 60% and 40%, respectively, for both theory and practical courses.
Under the new structure, each course will include one midpoint examination, which constitutes 50% of the total ISA marks, while the remaining 50% will come from two additional assessments (25% each). For one-credit theory courses, only one midpoint assessment will be held, while one-credit practical courses will not have an ISA component.
The University has said that the students must appear for the midpoint examination, one other ISA, and the SEA to qualify in a course. “However, to ensure a smooth transition to the new system, the University has announced a one-time relaxation for Semester I of the academic year 2025–26. Under this relaxation, students will be allowed to appear for the SEA even if they have not completed the ISA components, though appearing for the SEA remains mandatory,” it said.
The ordinance also provides flexibility for students facing medical emergencies or natural disasters, allowing them to complete any missed ISA component within the same semester. Such additional ISAs must be conducted before the last teaching day of the semester.
The University also clarified that ISA marks obtained by students will be accepted as awarded, with no scaling or moderation permitted.
The evaluation scheme mandates internal continuous assessments (Intra-Semester Assessments) and Semester-End Assessments, with specifics on weights, durations and processes for each and there will be no grace marks under this system.
The ordinance also sets up institutional mechanisms for grievance redressal (both at university and college levels), coordination committees for CBCS implementation across schools, and requirements for academic audit and feedback.
