In India, a college generally cannot arbitrarily refuse a fee refund after admission cancellation if the student is entitled to a refund under the applicable UGC rules and the institution’s approved refund policy. The exact refund depends on when the admission was cancelled, the type of institution/course, and the applicable fee-refund rules.
UGC’s student-entitlement guidance states that when a student withdraws before the commencement of the course, the student should generally receive the fee paid, subject to the permitted deduction. The UGC also currently has a dedicated Fee Nivaran (Refund of Fee and Non-Retention of Academic Certificates) function and student-grievance regulations.
If the college refuses the refund, the student can:
- Submit a written refund request to the college and keep proof of submission.
- Ask the college to provide the specific rule/policy under which the refund is being denied.
- Escalate the complaint through the university/college grievance mechanism.
- If applicable, approach the UGC grievance/refund mechanism with admission receipts, cancellation proof, correspondence, and the college's refund decision.
The situation can be different if the cancellation occurred after the course had started or if certain non-refundable charges are legally applicable. Therefore, the admission date, cancellation date, amount paid, and type of college are important.
This is general information, not a substitute for advice on a specific case.
