# Mandi's Sardar Patel University halts its five-year science degree after seats stayed empty for years

> Sardar Patel University in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi has halted fresh admissions to its five-year BSc-MSc integrated programme due to low enrolment and a shortage of faculty, though the roughly 50 students already enrolled will continue their studies.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Himachal Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-09-07 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/mandi-ki-sardar-patel-university-men-pancha-sala-ka-sainsa-korsa-thapa-vajaha-bani-khali-siten-28947 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Sardar Patel University, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, BSc MSc Integrated Programme, National Education Policy, Admissions

Sardar Patel University in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district has stopped taking new admissions this year for its five-year BSc-MSc integrated programme. The reason is simple, the course never attracted enough students and the university did not have enough faculty to run it properly.

## Launched in 2022 under new education rules
The university had introduced this programme in 2022 in line with the National Education Policy, setting aside 20 seats for it. But interest among students stayed weak right from the start, and the seats were never fully filled in any year. Part of the problem, as officials see it, is that the university administration never managed to promote the course effectively to prospective students.

## Kept running for four years, now shut
Despite the poor response, the university management kept the programme going for four years. But it has now become difficult to sustain it any further. According to Sardar Patel University Chancellor Professor Lalit Kumar Awasthi, the matter was referred to the Department of Physics for review because of the low admissions and shortage of faculty. The decision to close the course, at least for now, was taken on the recommendations of that department. Professor Awasthi added that reviving the programme could be considered in future if the situation improves.

## Around 50 current students unaffected
The university has clarified that the freeze applies only to fresh admissions. About 50 students are currently enrolled in the integrated programme, and their studies will continue exactly as before. In other words, existing batches face no disruption to their degrees, only new students will no longer be able to join this course.

## What the five-year BSc-MSc integrated programme actually offers
The programme allows students to complete both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree in science in one continuous five-year stretch right after finishing school, without having to apply separately for a master's later. Prominent institutions across the country, including the IITs, IISERs and several central universities, offer similar integrated programmes through national-level entrance exams. Against that backdrop, the closure of this course at Sardar Patel University in Mandi is being seen as one less opportunity for science students in the region.

## What this means for you
The decision will directly affect students in and around Mandi who wanted to pursue a five-year integrated science degree right after Class 12.

- **Across India:** The case shows several integrated programmes launched under the new education policy risk shutting down due to poor promotion and faculty shortages. Students should check a new course's seat-filling record and faculty strength before enrolling anywhere.
- **In Mandi and Himachal Pradesh:** Local students lose a nearby option to complete a science graduation and postgraduation together, and may now need to look at entrance exams for IITs, IISERs or other central universities instead.
- **For current students:** The roughly 50 students already enrolled at Sardar Patel University will see no change, their coursework and degree will proceed as planned.
- **For future applicants:** No new admissions will be offered from the next session, so interested students need to start exploring alternatives now.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where has this course been closed?
Sardar Patel University in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district has stopped new admissions to its five-year BSc-MSc integrated programme.

### 2. When was this course launched?
The course was launched in 2022 under the National Education Policy rules.

### 3. How many seats did it have?
The university had set aside 20 seats for this programme.

### 4. Why was the course shut down?
It was closed for now after a Department of Physics review, prompted by low admissions and a shortage of faculty.

### 5. What happens to students already enrolled?
The roughly 50 students currently in the programme will continue their studies as before, only new admissions have been stopped.

### 6. Could the course restart in future?
According to Chancellor Professor Lalit Kumar Awasthi, restarting the programme could be considered later if the situation improves.

### 7. What is the five-year BSc-MSc integrated programme?
It lets students complete a science graduation and postgraduation together in one continuous five-year course right after Class 12.

### 8. Where else is this type of programme offered?
Institutions such as the IITs, IISERs and several central universities offer similar integrated programmes through national-level entrance exams.

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