In a letter to vice chancellors, higher education department secretaries and college principals, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to identify approved SWAYAM courses for the July 2026 semester, map them with existing degree programmes and ensure students register before the respective deadlines.The commission asks institutions to actively integrate Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) into academic programmes instead of treating them as standalone online courses.
Universities asked to map SWAYAM courses with curriculum
According to the letter issued by UGC Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath, the Ministry of Education has approved a fresh list of SWAYAM MOOCs developed by national coordinators including the University Grants Commission (UGC), Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) and Institutions of National Importance (INIs).The commission has asked universities to circulate the approved course list among deans, heads of departments and SWAYAM University Nodal Officers so that students are informed well before the registration deadlines.
Focus shifts from enrolment to academic integration
Universities have been asked to convene meetings of their SWAYAM Advisory Committees to identify courses that match existing programmes and syllabi, finalise the mechanism for credit transfer and display the approved course list on institutional websites and official social media platforms.The move is aimed at making SWAYAM courses part of regular academic planning rather than an additional learning option chosen by a few students.
Colleges can conduct SWAYAM examinations on campus
The commission has also reminded institutions that those which have adopted the UGC (Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM) Regulations, 2021, along with the UGC framework issued in August 2024 for conducting SWAYAM examinations, can hold SWAYAM course end-term examinations on their own campuses.This is in addition to the examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and NPTEL, giving students another option to appear for the tests.Under the regulations, Higher Education Institutions may allow students to earn credits through SWAYAM for up to 40 per cent of the total courses offered in a programme during a semester.
SWAYAM July 2026 registration schedule
The UGC has also shared the registration deadlines for courses offered by different national coordinators.
| National Coordinator | Registration last date |
|---|---|
| University Grants Commission (UGC) | August 31, 2026 |
| Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) | August 31, 2026 |
| National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), IIT Madras | Set 1 (4, 8 and 12-week courses): July 27, 2026Set 2 (4 and 8-week courses): August 17, 2026 |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | August 31, 2026 |
| Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) | August 31, 2026 |
| All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) | August 31, 2026 |
| National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) | August 31, 2026 |
| Institutions of National Importance (INIs) | August 31, 2026 |
