Andhra Pradesh Mandates 360-Hour Internships for Undergraduates

The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) will require undergraduate students at State universities and affiliated colleges to complete a 360-hour, semester-long internship carrying 12 academic credits from November 16, 2026.

Internship requirements and registration

The internship will form part of the final year of three-year and four-year degree programmes, in the sixth and eighth semesters respectively. The programme follows the National Education Policy 2020, University Grants Commission guidelines, the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes and the National Credit Framework. APSCHE has stated that it aims to strengthen industry-academia links and improve graduate employability.

Students must register through the Institute-Industry Connect portal, which is integrated with DigiLocker to retrieve their Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs. Stipend-based opportunities listed on the portal will receive priority; non-stipendiary internships are permitted only if suitable paid opportunities are unavailable.

Industry participation

Registration for industry and enterprise partners is scheduled to open on November 4. Partners must register and complete profile verification before listing opportunities. Internships may be physical or virtual and cover areas including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, solar energy and green hydrogen.

Important Facts for Exams

• Undergraduate structure: NEP 2020 proposes a multidisciplinary four-year bachelor’s degree with exit options, including a certificate after one year and a research degree after four.
• Stipend arrangements: Internships may be partly paid through stipends, typically fixed amounts paid regularly; this differs from unpaid placements.
• Cross-sector credit framework: The National Credit Framework brings school, higher education and vocational learning into a common credit architecture, allowing credits to be accumulated and transferred across sectors.
• Digital document verification: DigiLocker provides a digital platform for accessing authentic documents, which recipients can verify electronically when they are issued by registered organisations.