UGC seeks governors’ help to ensure fee refund for cancelled admissions

UGC seeks governors’ help to ensure fee refund for cancelled admissions

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 19.10.2026

Chennai: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought intervention from governors of various states over higher education institutions refusing to refund fees after cancelled admissions. The communication lists 150 complaints involving 82 institutions in Tamil Nadu relating to admissions cancelled during the academic years 2021–22 to 2025–26. Students paid fees ranging from 2,535 to 4 lakh. 

The listed institutions include 11 deemed universities, three private universities, 16 public universities and state-run institutions, and 54 private colleges, according to the details enclosed with the UGC’s communication. “UGC has made considerable efforts to ensure compliance, including forwarding student grievances to the institutions concerned and convening consultative meetings. However, these measures have not yielded the desired results, as the institutions continue to disregard the guidelines,” UGC secretary professor Shyama Rath said in a demi-official letter dated Oct 7. 

The letter was addressed to secretaries to the governors of 28 states, including TN. “Such violations not only infringe upon students’ rights but also erode the integrity and credibility of the higher education system. Despite repeated written communications and telephonic follow-ups with the universities concerned and their affiliated colleges, several institutions continue to disregard the UGC directives, thereby causing undue hardship to students,” Rath said. 

The UGC has requested the respective governor’s office to ensure strict enforcement of its fee-refund policy and issue directions cautioning institutions against further violations. Under the UGC’s 2024–25 fee policy, institutions must provide a full refund for admissions cancelled or migrated up to Sept 30.