Students who withdraw from courses over 15 days before the admission process closes in higher education institutions can get almost a full refund of fees, according to suggestions the University Grants Commission has come up with.
The institute concerned can deduct up to five per cent of the fees paid, subject to a maximum of Rs 5,000.
The refund would be 90 per cent if the student opts out within 15 days before the admission process ends.
If students withdraw within 15 days after the process closes, they will get back 80 per cent of the fees, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar told a media conference, detailing the suggestions the UGC is set to notify.
Withdrawal between the 16th and the 30th day after the admission process closes will entitle students to a 50 per cent refund, but they will not get any refund if they withdraw after 30 days.
A university can charge the fee for one semester or a year at the time of admission but not the entire course and the money has to be refunded within 15 days after an institute gets a written application from a student.
Universities cannot also keep original documents while admitting students.
“Several complaints have been received about universities not refunding fees and holding back documents when students want to withdraw after admission. The UGC will notify the new rules. Violation of rules will be punishable ranging from denial of grants to public notification and withdrawal of affiliation,” Javadekar said.
The UGC has been asking institutes to refund fees if a student withdraws before the admission process is over. It has been also asking the institutes not to hold back documents. But some private deemed universities and private colleges have been accused of doing just that.
Javadekar said the institutes would have to disclose on their website information regarding their accreditation status, assets and amenities, course-wise sanctioned intake of students, fees, details of faculty, members of governing bodies and minutes of the meetings of bodies, sources of income and their financial situation.
The UGC has been asking institutes to refund fees if a student withdraws before the admission process is over. It has been also asking the institutes not to hold back documents. But some private deemed universities and private colleges have been accused of doing just that.
Javadekar said the institutes would have to disclose on their website information regarding their accreditation status, assets and amenities, course-wise sanctioned intake of students, fees, details of faculty, members of governing bodies and minutes of the meetings of bodies, sources of income and their financial situation.
