Team8 · July 14, 2026 
Introduction
What if you could begin your undergraduate degree in India — close to home, at a fraction of international cost — and finish it at a university abroad, walking away with global exposure, an international credential, and a head start on a worldwide career?
This is not a hypothetical. It is now a formally regulated academic pathway in India, built specifically for students who want the best of both worlds: the affordability and familiarity of starting in India, combined with the global credibility of finishing abroad.
The University Grants Commission (UGC), India’s apex higher education regulator under the Ministry of Education, notified the UGC (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programmes) Regulations, 2022 in the official Gazette on May 2, 2022. These regulations created, for the first time, a clear, government-backed legal framework for Indian students to split their degree between an Indian institution and a foreign one.
This blog explains exactly how these “dual country” programs work, what UGC actually permits, how they differ from each other, and what students need to know before choosing this path.
Why This Matters: The Official Government Rationale
According to the UGC, these regulations were introduced to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Union Budget Announcement of 2021-22. The stated objective is direct: to promote enhanced academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions, leading toward academic and research excellence in Indian institutions, and to enable mobility of students and faculty that will help Indian institutions achieve higher global rankings.
In simple terms: the Indian government wants more of its students to gain genuine international academic experience — without having to leave the Indian higher education system entirely, and without bearing the full cost of an international degree from day one.
Source: UGC official notification — https://www.ugc.gov.in/KeyInitiative
Have Any Doubts?
The Three Models UGC Actually Permits
This is the part most students get wrong: “dual country” study is not a single arrangement. UGC’s 2022 regulations define three distinct models, each with different outcomes. Understanding which one you are signing up for is essential.
1. Twinning Programme — “Study 2 Years in India, 2 Abroad”
This is the model most people mean when they say “2 years in India, 2 years abroad.” Under a Twinning Programme, a student enrolled at an Indian Higher Educational Institution (HEI) studies their programme partly in India and partly at a Foreign Educational Institution (FEI).
Key rule: Students must complete up to 30% of the programme’s credits at the foreign institution, typically through a structured exchange arrangement.
Who issues the final degree? Only the Indian university issues the degree. The time spent abroad earns credits and experience, but the foreign institution does not co-confer the degree under this model.
2. Joint Degree Programme
Under this model, the curriculum is designed jointly by the Indian HEI and the Foreign HEI. Upon completion, both institutions award the degree together — on a single, shared certificate.
This is a step up from twinning: instead of one Indian degree with international exposure, you get one degree that explicitly carries both institutions’ names.
3. Dual Degree Programme
This is the most advanced model. Under a Dual Degree Programme, the Indian HEI and the Foreign HEI each award a separate degree, simultaneously, upon the student completing the requirements of both institutions. The student must meet the admission requirements of both institutions independently and apply to both separately.
This means a student completing a Dual Degree Programme walks away with two separate degree certificates — one Indian, one foreign — both fully valid and recognised.
Key Rules and Restrictions Every Student Should Know
The UGC 2022 Regulations come with important fine print that directly affects whether a programme is genuinely valid:
Eligible levels: These regulations apply to undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. They explicitly do not apply to undergraduate diploma or certificate-only programmes.
Not applicable to online/distance learning: This is critical. The regulations are not permitted for programmes offered in online and/or open and distance learning (ODL) mode. If an institution offers a “dual degree” entirely online, it falls outside these specific regulations and should be scrutinised carefully.
No UGC approval required for the HEI: Indian universities that meet minimum academic standards do not need UGC’s prior permission to offer twinning, joint, or dual degree programmes. However, the Indian HEI must obtain internal approval from its own competent authority (such as its Board of Governors or Executive Council).
MoU is mandatory: The Indian HEI and Foreign HEI are required to sign a written Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) specifying the purpose of collaboration, student obligations, tuition fee arrangements, intellectual property rights, attendance patterns, duration of stay at each institution, joint supervision arrangements, and graduation procedures.
Professional programmes need additional approval: If the programme falls under a regulated profession (engineering, medicine, law, etc.), the Indian HEI must also seek approval from the relevant statutory council — such as AICTE for technical education.
How This Differs from the UGC’s “Two Degrees Simultaneously” Rule
There is genuine confusion online between two completely different UGC policies, and it is worth clearing this up.
UGC Regulations 2022 (this blog’s topic): Governs collaboration between an Indian institution and a foreign institution — the twinning, joint, and dual degree framework described above. This is specifically about international academic partnerships.
UGC Guidelines for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously (notified April 13, 2022, modified June 5, 2025): This is a separate, domestic policy that allows a student to pursue two different degrees at the same time within India — for example, a B.A. and a B.Sc. simultaneously, in regular, online, or distance mode, from the same or different Indian universities. This policy has no connection to studying abroad.
If your interest is specifically in splitting time between India and a foreign country for one integrated degree, you are looking at the 2022 Twinning/Joint/Dual Degree Regulations — not the “two degrees simultaneously” guidelines.
Source: UGC PDF — Guidelines for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously — https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/5729348_Guidelines-for-pursuing-two-academic-programmes-simultaneously.pdf
A Word of Caution: Unrecognised Foreign Collaborations
UGC has issued explicit public warnings on this exact topic. In a public notice, UGC stated that it has observed many institutions entering into collaborative arrangements with foreign-based educational providers that are not recognised by the Commission, and facilitating degrees through such arrangements. UGC has clearly stated that any such collaboration is not recognised, and degrees issued through it are also not recognised.
UGC further warned that some EdTech companies have been advertising degree and diploma programmes in online mode in partnership with foreign universities, calling such franchisee arrangements impermissible, with no UGC recognition for the resulting degree.
What this means for students: Before enrolling in any “study 2 years in India, 2 years abroad” programme, verify that:
- The Indian institution is itself UGC-recognised
- The foreign collaboration is structured under the UGC 2022 Regulations (twinning, joint, or dual degree — not a vague “partnership”)
- The programme is not purely online, since online dual-degree models with foreign universities are explicitly excluded from these regulations
Foreign University Campuses in India: A Related but Different Pathway
A complementary development worth knowing about: UGC also notified the University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023. Under this framework, foreign universities can establish physical branch campuses in India, subject to UGC approval — meaning no Foreign Higher Educational Institution shall offer any programme in India without prior approval of the Commission.
This is different from twinning/dual degree programmes (where an Indian university partners with a foreign one for part of a student’s journey) — here, the foreign university itself sets up a campus on Indian soil. Several foreign universities, including some in the UK and Australia, have begun this process following the regulation’s notification. Students interested in foreign-branded education without leaving India should research this separately from dual-country programmes.
How to Evaluate a “2 Years India, 2 Years Abroad” Program Before Enrolling
Given the complexity, here is a practical checklist:
- Confirm UGC recognition of the Indian institution. Check the UGC website directly — https://www.ugc.gov.in
- Ask which model applies: Twinning, Joint Degree, or Dual Degree — each has a different outcome for your final certificate(s)
- Request the MoU summary between the Indian and foreign institution — a legitimate programme will have this documented
- Verify the foreign institution’s accreditation in its home country independently — do not rely solely on the Indian institution’s claims
- Clarify credit transfer mechanics — under twinning, only up to 30% of credits transfer abroad; understand exactly how your specific programme structures this
- Check if professional approval is needed — for engineering, this means AICTE approval in addition to UGC recognition
How Career Plan B Helps
Choosing a dual-country study pathway is one of the more complex academic decisions a student can make — it involves evaluating Indian institutions, foreign partner universities, regulatory recognition, and long-term career value, all at once. Career Plan B offers Personalised Career Counselling to help students understand whether a twinning, joint, or dual degree model fits their goals, Psycheintel Career Assessment Tests to clarify direction before committing to an international pathway, and Admission and Academic Profile Guidance to evaluate specific institutional partnerships against UGC’s regulatory framework.
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Frequently Asked Questions
01. What is the difference between a twinning programme and a dual degree programme?
A twinning programme allows students to study at both an Indian and a foreign university, but only the Indian institution awards the final degree. In contrast, a dual degree programme awards separate degrees from both institutions after students complete the required academic credits.
02. Do I need UGC approval to join a twinning or dual degree programme?
No. Students do not need separate approval from the UGC. However, both institutions must comply with the UGC 2022 Regulations and have a valid Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place.
03. Can I complete a dual-country programme entirely online?
No. Under the UGC 2022 Regulations, twinning, joint degree, and dual degree programmes cannot be offered through online or Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. Always verify the programme before applying.
04. How much of the programme is completed abroad in a twinning programme?
Students complete up to 30% of the programme credits at the foreign partner institution. The exact duration and study plan depend on the agreement between the participating universities.
05. How can I verify whether a study abroad programme is UGC-recognised?
Visit the official UGC website to check whether the Indian institution is recognised. You should also ask the institution for its MoU with the foreign university. Be cautious of programmes promoted only through third-party platforms without official recognition.
Conclusion
The idea of studying two years in India and two years abroad is no longer an informal arrangement between colleges. It is now a formally regulated pathway under the UGC (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2022.
However, a “dual-country” programme is not a single model. It may be offered as a twinning programme, a joint degree, or a dual degree. Each option follows a different structure and leads to a different academic outcome.
Before you apply, understand which model the programme follows. Verify the recognition status of both institutions independently. Also, review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing the collaboration. Taking these steps can help you make an informed decision.
When chosen carefully, a dual-country programme offers the best of both worlds. You begin your studies in India at a lower cost and complete your education with an internationally recognised qualification.
Considering a dual-country study programme? Connect with Career Plan B for personalised guidance. Our experts can help you compare twinning, joint degree, and dual degree programmes based on your academic goals, budget, and long-term career plans.
