University Grants Commission has released a strict notification of UGC norms for fee refund policy, which states 100% of the application is withdrawn within 15 days of admission and no storage of the original documents of the candidates to stop malpractices.
The University Grant Commission has revised the UGC norms for fee refund policy 2025. 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. As per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines for the academic session 2025–26, all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India are required to follow a structured fee refund policy in case a student withdraws admission. A full 100% refund (excluding a processing fee of up to ₹1,000) must be provided if the withdrawal is made 15 days or more before the last notified date of admission.
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 2025. More details on UGC norms for fee refund 2025 can be checked on this page.
UGC Norms for Fee Refund Notification
Many students have reached out to the HRD ministry because of 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 that the students can'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 up with certain norms for the fee refund procedure, as the candidate can get the fee refund if and when he/she withdraw 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.
| UGC Norms for Fee Refund 2025 - Download Circular |
UGC Policy For Fee Refund 2025
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 refunds 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 institutions should mention all the details on their official website about their college, courses, fees, submissions, and 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 for 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 system of the UGC norms for fee refund.
| Refund of Fee (percentage) | Period (withdrawal of the application) |
| 100% | 15 days or more before the last date of admission have been notified |
| 90% | Less than 15 days before the last date of admission |
| 80% | 15 days or less after the last date of admission |
| 50% | 30 days or less, but more than 15 days, after the last date of admission |
| 0% | More than 30 days after the last date of admission |
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.
Read More: UGC NET Certificate Validity
Original Documents Required for UGC Norms for Fee Refund
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.
Check This: How to Calculate Cutoff Marks for UGC NET?
Disciplinary Action for UGC Norms for Fee Refund
The UGC has also made sure that if an institution does not follow the UGC norms for fee refund 2025 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 to be 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 a deemed-to-be university.
- The State government would be requested to take any action if the college/institute were established under the State Act.
- The commission can take any action under them if required.
Also Read: Documents Required to Fill UGC NET Application Form
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 2025 have been extremely welcoming by everyone.
With the norms being published, UGC has also released an option of the Grievance Portal, where students can register their complaints. These grievance 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.
