MBBS tuition fees at deemed univs raised by 200% since 2015

MBBS tuition fees at deemed univs raised by 200% since 2015 

Avg Annual Fee Of ₹30L May Turn Many Away 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 18.07.2025

Chennai : Deemed universities in the state have increased the course fee for MBBS courses to ₹1.5 crore, with an annual fee of up to ₹30.50 lakh. The yearly hike could turn many aspirants away from pursuing such fields altogether, experts say. 

Since 2015, tuition fees at deemed universities increased by up to 200% from an average annual fee of ₹10 lakh. “While self-financing colleges are forced to follow the fee fixed by fee committee, there are no regulations for deemed universities. After a series of court judgments, it was hoped that the govt would come up with some regulation to cap the fee for all deemed universities. But to no avail,” said Student Counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. 

In 2019, the University Grants Commission (UGC) proposed that a fee committee would fix the fee for all deemed universities. It would also impose a fine of ₹10 lakh along with a refund of the excess fee and penal action if colleges did not comply with the proposals. Parents say in addition to tuition fees, they are asked to pay fees for lab, library, hostel, mess, and other services that can cost an additional ₹2.5 lakh. 

“Students and parents should not just go by the announcement on the webpage. They should read the college prospectus carefully,” said NEET Coach Sathish Kumar R. Most parents are opting for a mix of personal and educational loans, besides drawing money from savings and selling properties. “Fresh graduates are not paid more than ₹40,000 in most hospitals. So, they continue to depend on parents to repay EMI. Students don’t opt for PG unless they ace a govt college,” he added. 

Doctors' bodies, including the state wing of the Indian medical association and the TN govt doctors’ association, say it is because most fields of medicine have many practitioners. To prevent oversupply, it recommended shrinking the incoming freshman medical classes, a ban on adding medical schools, and restrictions on the admission of foreign-trained physicians. 

“TN has more than 1.8 lakh doctors registered in the medical council and among them, at least 1.5 lakh are practising. The recommended ratio of doctors is 1:1000. We have 1 per 600,” said Former State Medical Council President Dr K Senthil, also President of the TN Government Doctors’ Association. With a fertility rate of 1.4, there is a population decline. “In ten years, TN will have 1 doctor for every 350 people because every year 10,000 MBBS graduates and 1,500 foreign medical graduates apply for a medical licence,” he said. 

The southern states must use this as an opportunity to increase PG and super specialty seats, he said. While doctors have opportunities to practice in other states, most doctors say these regions don’t have good schooling and healthcare facilities for their families.