Andhra Pradesh Makes Long Internships Compulsory for All College Students

New Internship Rules

Undergraduate students studying in Andhra Pradesh must now complete a mandatory 360-hour internship spanning an entire semester to graduate.

Programme Structure

Introduced by the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education, the requirement carries 12 academic credits and starts on November 16, 2026. Students in three-year degree courses will do this internship during their sixth semester. Those in four-year undergraduate and professional courses will complete it in the eighth semester. APSCHE Chairman in-charge S. Vijaya Bhaskar Rao stated that the policy follows guidelines from the National Education Policy 2020, UGC, the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes, and the National Credit Framework.

Industry Roles and Portal

Colleges and universities must give priority to paid internships found through the newly launched Institute-Industry Connect portal. Unpaid internships are only allowed if paid options are not available. Students must register on this portal using DigiLocker to link their Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry IDs. Meanwhile, companies, micro, small and medium enterprises, government departments, public sector units, defense groups, research labs, NGOs and tech firms can register on the portal starting November 4 to offer positions.

Context

Educational bodies across India are increasingly tying college degrees to practical work experience to help young graduates find jobs more easily. Portals that connect campuses directly with companies help make the hiring process smoother for everyone involved.