What's in a name? Bengaluru City University graduates say career at risk over degree nomenclature

Time of India

9 hours ago

Bengaluru: For over four years, a group of postgraduates from Bengaluru City University (BCU) was stuck in academic limbo, not because they lacked qualifications, but because of what their degrees were called.
Awarded MSc degrees in plant science and animal science, students from 2019–2022 batches said the university's naming experiment cost them critical career opportunities.
The dispute dates back to 2019 when BCU introduced these PG programmes, namely plant science and animal science, which students allege have no precedent or recognition in Karnataka's academic or govt institutions. The students said it made them ineligible for key roles like assistant professors, pre-university lecturers, and posts in forest and pollution control departments — even after clearing competitive exams like KSET and NET.
While later batches reportedly received updated certificates, the 2019–2022 cohort claimed they were excluded from the changes.
Kiran (name changed), a 27-year-old student from Kalaburagi, said, "We are the second batch that started in 2019. It's been four years, we are still unable to get desired jobs. The notification issued on July 5, 2022, mentioned our course is equivalent to botany and zoology, but now we're being told we can't apply for related positions.
When we reached the third semester, they changed the course to a master's in botany and zoology, and while the third batch got that reflected on their certificates, we were left out.
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According to students, although BCU issued a notification on July 5, 2022, stating plant and animal science are equivalent to botany and zoology, it has little practical value. "In many job applications, equivalent degrees are not accepted," he added.
Students said their multiple requests to vice-chancellor, registrar, and the university's syndicate went unanswered. "To make matters worse, the departments don't even exist anymore at BCU," the student said.
Another 26-year-old student said, "Animal and plant sciences are directly related to veterinary fields, and our teachers also came from botany and zoology backgrounds. Many of us are preparing for govt exams, some are chasing degree corrections, but despite all our hard work, we're left stranded."
A 25-year-old, Kalpana (name changed), who dreamed of working as a civil servant, shared, "We all wanted govt jobs, that's why we did our master's. Otherwise, we wouldn't have invested two precious years. I paid about Rs 50,000. But now, the degree is completely useless, we are eligible only for private sector jobs. The university even issued a notification promising to correct the nomenclature and provide us with an equivalence certificate.
But after we completed our master's, nothing moved. They kept asking us to approach officials again. I couldn't apply for a PhD because the degree isn't valid. We just want the issue resolved."
One of the officials from the board of studies in botany acknowledged the issue in an email response to students, a copy available with TOI. "It was the university's initial decision to use plant and animal science nomenclature.
But later, the board flagged the problems students were facing, and the university changed it. Now it's up to the authorities to consider issuing revised certificates to earlier batches."
An official from Bengaluru City University botany department said, "We can't change it now. The students know it and yet,with full knowledge they have joined the course. For later batches, we changed it and they started with botany and zoology nomenclature, but how can we give certificates in that name when they didn't do that course?"