UGC Amends Allied & Healthcare Degree Specifications to Explicitly Reflect Specializations

Effective from Academic Session 2026–27, M.PT and M.OT degrees will officially state student specializations on degree certificates as per the Gazette Notification dated August 27, 2026.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced significant structural amendments to degrees under Allied and Healthcare Education. Beginning from the upcoming 2026–27 academic session, postgraduate degrees in Master of Physiotherapy (M.PT) and Master of Occupational Therapy (M.OT) will explicitly feature the student's field of specialization on their final degree certificates.

Notified in The Gazette of India on August 27, 2026, this update marks the Fifth Amendment to the 2014 Specification of Degrees Notification. The initiative aims to align Indian healthcare credentials with global standards while ensuring compliance with the directives of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP).

Recognized Specializations for Master of Occupational Therapy (M.OT)

The M.OT program retains a minimum duration of two years, requiring a relevant Bachelor’s degree for eligibility. Under the revised framework, the degree will formally recognize specializations in the following 8 domains:

Musculoskeletal Sciences

Pediatrics & Neonatology

Neurosciences

Mental Health

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Sciences

Rehabilitation

Geriatrics

Hand & Oncological Sciences

Revised Specialization Structure for Master of Physiotherapy (M.PT)

Similarly, the two-year Master of Physiotherapy (M.PT) degree will now explicitly specify specializations across 8 distinct streams:

Musculoskeletal Sciences

Neurosciences

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Sciences

Sports Sciences

Pediatrics & Neonatal Sciences

Obstetrics & Gynecology Sciences

Oncology Sciences

Community Rehabilitation Sciences

Note on Applicability: UGC has clarified that these amendments apply strictly to students enrolling from the 2026–27 academic session onwards. Students enrolled prior to 2026–27 will receive their degrees under the legacy nomenclature.

Inclusions Across Other Allied & Paramedical Disciplines

The amended gazette notification also standardizes degree titles across several key allied healthcare streams:

Laboratory & Pathology: Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Microbiology, Hematology & Transfusion Medicine, and Histology & Cytopathology.

Radiology & Therapy: Medical Radiology & Imaging Technology, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine, Medical Physics, Dialysis Technology, and Respiratory Technology.

Paramedical & Operational Fields: Paramedics, Anesthesia & Operation Theatre Technology, and Nutrition & Dietetics.

Standardized Structure for Health Information Management

The UGC has formally defined the degree nomenclature, duration, and admission requirements for Health Information Management programs: