The University Grants Commission receives many representations/complaints from students/parents on the non-refund of fees by the Higher Education institutions (HEls) on cancellation/withdrawal of admissions.

2. Students should be allowed a full refund of fees within a specified period to enable them to opt for a course of their choice.

3. The Commission has considered the matter in its 580'h meeting held on 15 May 2024, and after considering the relevant factors decided, the following fee refund policy for the academic session 2024-25:

·         A) Notwithstanding anything contained in any guidelines/ prospectus/ notification/ schedule, a full refund of fees shall be made by the HEls on account of all cancellations of admissions/migrations of students up to 30 September 2024 and with a deduction of not more than Rs. 1,000, as a processing fee, up to 31 October 2024.

·         B) It shall apply to all higher education institutions, whether established or incorporated by or under a Central Act or a State Act, and every institution recognized by the University Grants Commission under clause (0 of Section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and to all institutions deemed to be a University declared as such under Section 3 therein and to all higher education institutions affiliated to a University

·         C) These guidelines would also be applicable to organizations, consortiums, committees, associations, etc., constituted for the purpose of conducting counselling or processing admissions and collecting fees on behalf of participating HEIs, and the HEI concerned will be responsible for refund fees.

·         D) For any admission schedule extending/commencing beyond/after 3'l October 2024, the provisions contained in the UGC Notification issued in October 2018 on Refund of Fees and Non-Retention of Original Certificates shall apply (reproduced below for ready reference):

Category              Percentage of            Point of time when notice of withdrawal of  admission is received in the HEI

                                   Refund of fees*                  

(1)                                  100 %                  -   15 days or more before the formally notified last date of admission

(2)                                   90 %           -   Less than 15 days before the formally notified last date of admission

(3)                                  80 %             -   15 days or less after the formally notified last date of admission

(4)                                  50 %                 -   30 days or less, but more than 15 days after formally notified last date of admission

(5)                                  00 %                   -   More than 30 days after formally notified last date of admission

              E) This policy will remain in force for subsequent academic sessions until the issuance of a revised policy by the UGC.

4. It may also be noted that the UGC has notified the Redressal of Grievances of Students Regulations, 2023, wherein "delay in, or denial of, the refund of fees due to a student who withdraws admission within the time mentioned in the prospectus, subject to guidelines, if any, issued by the Commission, from time to time" has been defined as one of the grievances.

5. The Higher Education institutions are requested to ensure compliance with the fee refund policy for the academic session 2024-25 and redress any grievance by the provisions of the University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023.

6. Any HEI violating the provisions of UGC Fee Refund Policy 2024-25 shall be liable for punitive action as notified in Clause 5 of the UGC Notification on Refund of Fees and Non - Retention of Original Certificates issued in October 2018.