Full Fee Refund in 15 Days: All About UGC's New Policy for Students in Rajasthan

In a significant development for students across Rajasthan, the state government has announced a new fee refund policy that will benefit thousands of students. Under the newly implemented rules stemming from the recent education policy reforms, students who decide to cancel their admission to any college or university will now be eligible for a fee refund.

Key Features of the New Policy:

1. Full Fee Refund Within 15 Days: Students who withdraw their admission within 15 days of enrollment will receive a complete refund of their fees.
2. Partial Refund After 30 Days: If students cancel their admission after 15 days but within 30 days, they will receive a refund of 50% of their fees.

This initiative has been met with widespread enthusiasm among students, particularly those preparing for competitive exams such as JEE and NEET. Many students traditionally secured admission in local colleges as a fallback while awaiting results from prestigious universities.

Previously, if they were accepted into top-tier institutions, the students faced financial losses when they cancelled their local college admissions. Now, with this new policy in place, students can secure their future without the fear of losing their investment.

However, the policy has raised concerns among operators of B.Ed colleges. Following directives from the University Grants Commission (UGC), it has been announced that candidates who decide not to pursue their B.Ed after securing admission can receive a refund if they cancel within 30 days. This has sparked anxiety among B.Ed college operators, who fear financial losses due to potential seat vacancies if students opt out after realising they do not want to attend.

Previously, once students were admitted, colleges held the discretion to refund fees, often leading to disputes. With the new UGC guidelines, any student can now cancel their admission within the stipulated 30 days and receive their refund, with the department taking action if colleges fail to comply with these rules.

The UGC has already established a comprehensive fee refund framework for higher education institutions, mandating a full refund for cancellations within the first 15 days and a 50% refund for cancellations within the following 15 days. This policy encompasses all higher education teaching-training institutes, ensuring that students are not financially burdened if they choose to withdraw from their programs.