Overview
Most Indian universities run their undergraduate degrees as a sequence of semesters, with students assessed through a mix of internal (in-course) evaluation and end-of-semester examinations, organized around a credit system rather than a single annual exam. The exact rules, credit weightings and syllabi are set separately by each university, so this varies from institution to institution even though the general shape — semesters, credits, internal plus end-semester assessment — is common across many of them.
Who it applies to
Undergraduate students enrolled at an Indian university that runs a semester-and-credit system, rather than the older annual-exam pattern. Two examples covered here are the University of Delhi and the University of Mumbai, both of which publish their own syllabi and academic regulations.
Structure or exam pattern
| University | Current framework (as published) |
|---|---|
| University of Delhi | Undergraduate Curriculum Framework under NEP 2020 (NEP UGCF 2022) for current cohorts, alongside revised Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) syllabi that remain in place for other cohorts |
| University of Mumbai | Publishes both an "NEP Syllabus" and an "Old Syllabus" on its site, alongside faculty-wise examination timetables |
Both universities structure undergraduate study by semester, with course-wise syllabi published separately for each faculty (Arts, Science, Commerce, Technology and others).
What it covers
Because each university sets its own syllabus per course and per faculty, what is "covered" depends entirely on the specific degree and university — there is no single national undergraduate syllabus. Students should refer to their own university's published syllabus for their programme and faculty.
How to register
Enrolment, semester registration and examination form submission are handled by each university's own administration (for example, through the Controller of Examinations at Delhi, or the faculty-wise exam timetable pages at Mumbai) rather than through a common national process.
Preparation tips
Since the credit structure, internal-assessment weighting and syllabus differ by university and even by cohort (older CBCS syllabi versus newer NEP-aligned frameworks), the most reliable step is to check the current syllabus and academic regulations published by the specific university and programme, rather than relying on general assumptions about "the" Indian semester system.
Is the semester system the same at every Indian university?
No. The general pattern — semesters, credits, internal plus end-semester assessment — is common, but the exact credit weightings, syllabi and regulations are set separately by each university.
What framework does the University of Delhi currently use?
Its site lists the NEP Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 (NEP UGCF 2022) for current cohorts, alongside revised CBCS syllabi that remain in place for other cohorts.
Where can I find the syllabus for my specific course?
On the relevant university's own site — for example, Delhi and Mumbai each publish syllabi by faculty and cohort framework (NEP or older CBCS).