Degree admissions in Telangana rise 8,531 amid new courses, DOST changes

Undergraduate admissions in Telangana increased by 8,531 this year, with 2,13,671 students enrolling in 937 degree colleges. Officials attributed the rise partly to new courses, inclusion of five-year integrated programmes in DOST and multiple counselling and spot admission rounds

Hyderabad: Undergraduate admissions in Telangana have increased by 8,531 this year, with 2,13,671 students enrolling in 937 degree colleges compared with 2,05,140 last year, according to data released by the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE).

The increase has been attributed partly to the introduction of new courses and the inclusion of five-year integrated undergraduate-postgraduate programmes in the Degree Online Services Telangana (DOST) admission system.

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Admissions to five-year integrated programmes in MA Applied Economics, MBA, MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry, MSc Biotechnology and MSc Chemistry were conducted through DOST this year. Of the 370 seats available across 10 colleges, 81.62 per cent were filled. Earlier, admissions to these programmes were conducted through the Common Postgraduate Entrance Tests (CPGET).

Admissions through DOST alone stood at 1,81,444 across 784 colleges this year, up from 1,76,170 last year.

Government degree colleges and university colleges recorded higher enrolment, while private aided and unaided colleges saw a decline. Admissions in government degree colleges increased by more than 10,000, while enrolment in university colleges rose by nearly 900.

In contrast, admissions in private unaided colleges fell by 7,288 and those in private aided colleges declined by 645.

Admissions to residential welfare degree colleges run by the Social Welfare and Tribal Welfare departments also declined by 485 and 136, respectively. BC Welfare degree colleges, however, recorded an increase of 279 admissions compared with the previous year.

Apart from DOST admissions, 60 private aided and unaided colleges that have only recently been brought under the DOST system recorded an increase of 3,599 admissions, taking their enrolment to 21,182.

Across the State, 4,42,450 seats were available in 937 degree colleges, of which 2,13,671 were filled this year.

The introduction of new programmes has also contributed to the increase in enrolment. These include BSc Digital Forensics and Cyber Security, BA Land Agriculture and Rural Development, BCom International Banking, Finance and Accounts, and BA Cyber Security and Cyber Governance.

TGCHE Chairman Prof V Balakista Reddy told Telangana Today that three regular DOST counselling rounds, two special rounds and spot admissions had contributed to the increase in enrolment.

“Adding five-year integrated programmes to the DOST system and launching new programmes such as BSc Digital Forensics and Cyber Security increased enrolment. We will ensure that students enrolling in degree programmes leave with not just a degree, but also job-ready skills,” he said.