Students Demand Graduate Certificates from North Bengal University

tudents of North Bengal University (NBU) have not received their Graduate Certificates since the 2023 graduating batch, and this crisis is unfolding right in the Darjeeling region, since NBU is headquartered in Raja Rammohanpur, Siliguri, within Darjeeling district. The report states that affected students have been caught in a bureaucratic runaround, with colleges directing them to the university and the university redirecting them back to their affiliated colleges.

Darjeeling Colleges Affected

NBU's jurisdiction covers the districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, and its affiliated network includes numerous colleges spread across Darjeeling district itself, such as Darjeeling Govt. College, Kurseong College, Kalimpong College, Sonada Degree College, Mirik Degree College, Jorebunglow Degree College, St. Joseph's College, Salesian College Sonada, and Bijanbari Degree College. Since NBU is the sole degree-granting authority for all these hill-area colleges, students from Darjeeling town, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, and Sonada are among those directly affected by the certificate backlog described in the report.

What The Report Alleges

The complaint highlights a clear administrative deadlock affecting graduates from NBU-affiliated colleges. When students approached their respective colleges for their certificates, they were told to contact the university directly, but when they reached out to North Bengal University, they were sent back to their colleges, leaving the matter unresolved. The report closes with a strong demand, stating that "students have the right to get their Graduate Certificates," using the hashtag #northbengaluniversity.

Wider Pattern At NBU

This is not an isolated grievance—multiple independent reports confirm a broader institutional crisis at North Bengal University tied to a prolonged vacancy in the Vice-Chancellor's post. A LinkedIn post from a student corroborates the exact same complaint, stating that since 2023 NBU has not issued their original degree certificate, attributing the delay directly to the vacant Vice-Chancellor post. A Reddit thread from January 2026 further details that the Vice-Chancellor's post has been vacant for about 20 months, stalling PhD registrations and certificates, and explicitly notes that "students from the 2023 graduating cohort have not received their undergraduate graduation certificates". Telegraph India also reported that vacant administrative posts, including a permanent Registrar, have compounded delays in issuing degree certificates, directly hurting students' career prospects.

Impact On Students

Issue Reported Effect

Issue Reported Effect

No full-time Vice-Chancellor for ~20 months Convocations stalled, PhD and degree certificates delayed

Vacant Registrar and key posts Administrative bottlenecks in certificate processing

Colleges vs. university redirection 2023 batch students, including those from Darjeeling hill colleges, unable to obtain Graduate Certificates

Provisional certificates issued instead Not accepted by foreign universities/employers, costing students opportunities

The recurring theme across these reports is that students are left without recourse, as neither the university nor the affiliated colleges take clear ownership of certificate issuance. Since NBU serves as the primary university for the entire Darjeeling hill region, this administrative gap has direct consequences for local graduates seeking higher studies abroad or job placements. Students and advocacy voices continue to call for immediate intervention from university authorities to clear the backlog and ensure timely issuance of academic credentials.

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