SRINAGAR: For a group of students at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), what began as a four-year undergraduate degree in BSc Economics has now become a question over what degree they will eventually receive.
Students enrolled in the Economics programme at IUST have raised objections to the change in nomenclature from BSc Economics to BA Economics after they had already completed four semesters of the course. They say they were admitted to the programme as BSc Economics students and were not formally informed or consulted before the nomenclature was changed.
The students, now in their fifth semester, say the issue is not merely about the letters printed on their degree certificates. They chose the programme, paid its fees and, in some cases, travelled from distant parts of Jammu and Kashmir and stayed in hostels based on the understanding that they were pursuing a BSc degree.
According to the students, the first batch had around 60 to 70 students, while the second batch also had a similar number. Students from districts across both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions enrolled in the programme, with some coming from places where they had other colleges closer to home.
The students have also questioned the financial aspect of the programme. One of the students said, “We paid around Rs 15,000 per semester, while BA programmes at some other colleges cost only Rs 6,000 per semester.”
They said the higher fee was accepted on the understanding that they were enrolling in a BSc Economics programme.
Some students have also alleged that their original fee receipts carried the BSc Economics nomenclature, while they later noticed changes in certain records to reflect BA Economics.
The controversy comes at a time when IUST’s current programme listings show BA Economics as an undergraduate programme. Its official admissions portal also lists BA Economics under the Four Year Undergraduate Programme for the 2026 admission cycle. For the previous two years, which marked the inception of the programme at the university, it showed BSc Economics as the course taught.
The Dean of the Department of Economics, Parvaiz Mir, said, “Nomenclature is decided on the basis of market demand.”
Adding further, he said, “The students came with an application to change the name of the degree. Majority of students enrolled in the BSc course came from Arts background, so, it was changed on the demand of students.”
The students denied the statement and sought the revival of the original nomenclature.
IUST Dean Academic Affairs Prof Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, as per a report, said that the matter would be resolved within a couple of days and that he had conveyed this to the students.
The students, however, say they are continuing to approach the authorities and have repeatedly submitted applications seeking clarity on the change.
For the students, the issue now extends beyond the nomenclature itself, with concerns over the degree they will receive after completing a programme they entered as BSc Economics students.
