UGC Norms For Fee Refund 2024-25: Guidelines, Documents, Circulars

The UGC norms for fee refund 2024-25 policy has been revised by the University Grant Commission. The notice is to understand that the colleges and universities are expected to refund the fee after the deduction of not more than INR 1000 (as a processing fee) when the students cancel or withdraw their admission within the deadline.

The colleges are also warned not to retain the original documents submitted by the students during the admission process. Continue reading to know more about the UGC norms for fee refunds for the academic year 2024-25. 

UGC Norms for Fee Refund 2024-25: Download Notification

Many students reached out to the HRD ministry for the unfair promises made by some universities. The UGC, University Grants Commission, reacted to those complaints and released a notification to stop any malpractices. 

Some private and deemed-to-be-universities have a hefty fee structure, so the students couldn't get admitted to these colleges. The University Grant Commission ordered all the institutions to abide by the rule and refund the necessary fee. 

The UGC also came with certain norms for the fee refund procedure, as the candidate can get the fee refund if and when he/she withdraws from the admission. However, the two major hurdles that the candidates faced were

• Institutes stored the candidate's original documents at the time of admission.
• Candidates who withdrew their admission at the desired time also did not get any refund.

Also Read: UGC NET Result 2024

UGC Policy For Fee Refund 2024-25

UGC came out with a strict notification for the fee refunds and storage of the original documents of the candidates. They made sure all the colleges and universities abide by the guidelines. Candidates can check the UGC Guidelines for fee refund below.

• The institute will not make it mandatory for any student to purchase the college prospectus. It should be his/her personal choice to buy it or not.
• The prospectus should have all the UGC norms for the fee refund details mentioned.
• All the institutions should mention all the details on their official website about their college, courses, fees, submissions, applications so that the candidate can make a well-planned choice.
• Institutions are only allowed to collect the fee per semester. They cannot collect the entire fee of the course in advance.

If any candidate decides to withdraw from the course in which he/she took admission, then the institute shall follow the below-mentioned system of the UGC norms for fee refund.

Caution money and the security deposit money, which are not part of the fee structure, will be refunded entirely.

• Fees shall be refunded to the eligible candidate by the institute within 15 days after the candidate has submitted the official written letter to the authority.

Also Read: UGC NET Cut off

UGC Norms for Fee Refund 2024-25: Original Documents 

The UGC made an excellent step by releasing the notification for the fee refund. Candidates get relief because of it, and they can apply to various colleges if they want, without thinking about the fee deposits. 

Along with the same notification of UGC norms for fee refunds, it also notified the institutions to not keep the original documents of the candidates, as they are required in various colleges for verification. Candidates can check the UGC norms below.

• No institute shall ask the candidate to submit their original and personal documents at the time of admission. Instead, the candidates must submit self-attested copies of the same.
• Institutes can use the original documents and certificates for verification purposes, and according to it, submit the candidate’s self-attested copies.
• Institutes can ask the candidate for the original documents during the course for physical verification, but the original documents should be returned immediately to the candidate.
• The collection of any original certificate or document is extremely prohibited.
• Suppose the certificate or document does not appear authentic. In that case, the institute can contact the certificate/ document issuing authority for verification but cannot take in custody any candidate’s original documents or certificates.

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UGC Norms for Fee Refund: Disciplinary Action

The UGC has also made sure that if an institution does not follow the UGC norms for fee refund 2024-25 and handling of original documents, then that institute would have to face disciplinary action/actions. The institutes shall note that the commission will not take any action mentioned below unless the institution has been given an opportunity of being heard. The disciplinary actions that might be taken against the institutions are.

• Withdrawal from receiving any grants.
• The UGC can withdraw the present grants.
• The institute will be considered ineligible for further programs or assistance.
• The notification of the institution being ineligible would be published in the national newspaper/ media and will also be notified on the official website of the commission. 
• The affiliating university would be contacted to cancel the affiliation of a college/ institute.
• The Central Government would remove the status of the deemed-to-be university.
• The State government would be requested to take any action if the college/institute was established under the State Act.
• The commission can take any action under them if required.

UGC Norms for Fee Refund: Grievance Portal

This move by the UGC has made the admission process transparent and easy for students. Now the students do not have to worry about settling for just one college. The UGC norms for fee refund 2024-25 have been extremely welcoming by everyone. 

With the norms being published, UGC has also released an option of Grievance Portal, where students can register their complaints. These grievances portals will be available on the official website of UGC and the respective institutes. 

The complaints will be redressed within 30 days. Every institute should have a grievance portal. All the fee-related and different types of complaints will be addressed through this. 

Also Read: UGC NET Paper Analysis