UGC flags 78 Karnataka colleges as 132 fee refunds stay stuck since 2020
By TUF News Desk · Published 30 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Of the 132 students waiting on fee refunds from colleges in Karnataka, 110 have received nothing at all and 22 got only part of their money back. The cases go back to 2020, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has now run out of patience with the usual channels.
The regulator has flagged 78 colleges and universities in the state for not returning fees to students who cancelled within the permitted window. It forwarded the grievances, held meetings, and followed up in writing and on the phone. None of that worked, so it has now sought the intervention of the Governor’s Office. The figures, reported on October 28, cover complaints from 2020 to 2025.
Where the money is stuck
Pending refunds in engineering run from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8.3 lakh, in computer science, electronics, aerospace and mechanical branches. The largest single case cited is a student awaiting Rs 8 lakh after cancelling a computer science seat.
Management students follow: MBA, PGDM and BBA claims run Rs 2.9 lakh to Rs 6.5 lakh, and law and allied health claims Rs 2.7 lakh to Rs 3.1 lakh. Two deemed to be universities stand out: one has four pending complaints adding up to Rs 15.5 lakh, and another has 13 separate complaints. The institutions have not been named individually in the reported data.
What the refund rules say
The UGC issued circulars and notifications on fee refunds between December 2020 and June 2024. Under the framework, what a student gets back depends on when they withdraw, measured against the formally notified last date of admission:
| Point of withdrawal | Refund |
|---|---|
| 15 days or more before the last date | 100 percent |
| Less than 15 days before the last date | 90 percent |
| 15 days or less after the last date | 80 percent |
| More than 15 days but 30 days or less after the last date | 50 percent |
| More than 30 days after the last date | No refund |
Why colleges say they hold back
Colleges have their own version of the story. M Prakash, secretary of the Karnataka Private Post-Graduate Colleges’ Association, said students often take admission, hold a seat for a while and then withdraw, leaving colleges unable to find a replacement at the last minute. The seat can then stay vacant for the full course, two years or more, which is why many colleges resist returning the fee even though the UGC and AICTE insist on it. His association’s view: colleges should refund when they fill the vacated seat.
The commission calls that non-compliance a hardship for students.
What a student waiting on a refund can do
Keep every receipt, the fee payment proof and the admission prospectus, and a written record of each request made to the college. Our admission documents checklist lists the paperwork worth holding on to before any dispute starts. Complaints can go through the UGC’s student grievance channels, listed on the UGC’s official website with its circulars.
Before paying any fee, read the refund terms in the prospectus. Our guide to choosing a university in India explains how to check an institution’s credentials and terms before committing money.
Frequently asked questions
How many Karnataka fee refund complaints are still unresolved?
132 complaints from 2020 to 2025 remain unresolved across 78 colleges and universities. Of these, 110 students have received no refund and 22 only a partial refund.
Why has the UGC approached the Governor’s Office?
Written communications, telephone follow-ups and meetings failed to resolve the complaints, so the commission has asked the Governor’s Office to enforce the fee refund guidelines.
Which students are owed the largest amounts?
Engineering students, from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8.3 lakh. One student is awaiting Rs 8 lakh after cancelling a computer science seat.
What refund does the UGC framework allow?
It depends on when a student withdraws relative to the formally notified last date of admission, from 100 percent for withdrawal 15 days or more before that date down to no refund more than 30 days after it.
Frequently asked questions
How many Karnataka fee refund complaints are still unresolved?
132 complaints from 2020 to 2025 remain unresolved across 78 colleges and universities in Karnataka. Of these, 110 students have received no refund and 22 have received only a partial refund.
Why has the UGC approached the Governor's Office?
The commission says written communications, telephone follow-ups and meetings with the institutions failed to resolve the complaints, so it has asked the Governor's Office to ensure the institutions follow the fee refund guidelines.
Which students are owed the largest amounts?
Engineering students, from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8.3 lakh. One student is awaiting Rs 8 lakh after cancelling a computer science seat.
What refund does the UGC framework allow?
The refund depends on when a student withdraws relative to the formally notified last date of admission, from 100 percent for withdrawal 15 days or more before that date down to no refund more than 30 days after it.
Sources: The Times of India, Jagran Josh