NEP 2020 Hub
Student Mobility & Credit Transfer — Move Without Losing Years
Change your mind. Change your college. Change your city. Your credits come with you. Here’s how NEP 2020’s credit-transfer system works.
The basics
What is student mobility?
Student mobility means the freedom to move between institutions — colleges, universities, even countries — without losing academic progress. Under NEP 2020 it is explicitly protected through four pillars:
- Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) — your digital credit wallet
- APAAR ID — your unique academic identity
- A formal Credit Transfer Framework
- Multiple Entry & Exit — pause, return, switch
Four types
The kinds of mobility
- 01
University transfer
Move from one university to another (e.g. Mumbai University → Delhi University). Credits transfer via ABC.
- 02
College transfer
Move between colleges under the same university — generally smooth, as the syllabus matches.
- 03
Lateral entry
Direct entry to 2nd year based on a prior diploma or credits. Diploma credits count fully.
- 04
Re-admission
Re-enter education after a gap (job, family, health). Your ABC credits make it possible.
How it works
Credit transfer, step by step
Apply to new college
Apply through the standard process, flag “credit transfer”, and submit your ABC + APAAR IDs.
College reviews
The college fetches your credit record from ABC and compares it to their syllabus.
Credit mapping
Matching subjects are approved; gaps may need short bridge courses.
Transfer approval
You and both colleges sign off, and credits are officially transferred in ABC.
Enrollment
You’re enrolled and placed in the correct year based on transferred credits.
The heart of it
Credit mapping
Credit mapping compares your old college’s subjects to the new college’s to decide which credits transfer.
| Your old college | New college | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics-I (3 cr) | Applied Mathematics (3 cr) | ✅ Transfers |
| English Literature (3 cr) | English Communication (2 cr) | ⚠️ Partial (1 cr gap) |
| Computer Basics (2 cr) | Not in syllabus | ❌ Not transferable |
Where there’s a gap, a short bridge course (4–8 weeks) closes it.
Lateral entry
Direct 2nd-year admission
Lateral entry is direct admission to the 2nd year of a degree based on a diploma or prior credits. In Maharashtra, diploma holders enter B.Tech and B.Pharm directly in Year 2 via DTE.
- Polytechnic diploma holders (Engineering, Pharmacy, etc.)
- ITI graduates with NSQF certification
- Bachelor’s holders seeking a second degree (partial)
- Any student with ABC credits
Maharashtra
District-wide mobility data
EduPath maintains a district-wise database covering 35 Maharashtra districts, 703+ colleges and 4,41,000+ student records, including where students transfer to and from. The top corridors:
- Pune ↔ Mumbai (25% of all transfers)
- Aurangabad → Pune (Marathwada → Western MH)
- Nagpur → Pune (Vidarbha → Western MH)
- Nashik → Mumbai (North MH → Mumbai)
- Kolhapur → Pune (Southern MH → Pune)
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is credit transfer free?
Yes, the transfer process is free. You may pay fees at the new college.
How long does credit transfer take?
Typically 30–60 days. Some cases are faster (15 days), some slower (90 days).
Can I transfer between any two colleges?
Both must be UGC-recognised. Some private/deemed universities have restrictions.
Will my CGPA change after transfer?
Yes, it is recalculated at the new college, so your grade points may differ.
What if my new college has different subjects?
You take bridge courses for missing subjects, which count as extra credits.
Is lateral entry easier than regular entry?
For diploma holders, yes — you skip a year. For others, lateral entry doesn’t apply.
What if I have a gap of 5+ years?
You can still re-enter. Bridge courses may be longer, but ABC credits remain valid.
Does a transfer affect my degree’s value?
No. Your degree is awarded by the college where you complete it, and employers don’t penalise transfers.
Explore the NEP 2020 Hub
Plan your mobility journey
EduPath checks your transfer eligibility instantly, maps your credits to a target college, plans any bridge courses, and helps you apply through the proper channels.