Gujarat University (GU) has made internships compulsory for external students as well, a move that has created uncertainty among thousands of candidates. While the requirement is already in place for regular final-year students under the National Education Policy (NEP), the university has not yet issued clear guidelines for external students.
The decision comes as the application process for external examinations is currently underway, leaving many students unclear about how to meet the new requirement.
Why students are worried
Every year, a large number of students enrol as external candidates in streams like arts and commerce, usually because they are unable to attend regular college.
Sources say that even regular students face difficulties completing internships due to limited institutional support. Many are forced to arrange internships on their own or rely on certificates from private agencies. A similar challenge is now expected for external students, who may end up scrambling to complete internships at the last minute.