Engineering Course is now Refundable

New Delhi, March 31: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced that engineering colleges across the country will have to refund the fee collected from the students in case they don't join the course or if they leave midway.

From this academic session, The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has also directed the institutes not to withhold the school/institute leaving certificates of students.

According to sources, a number of students and parents had complained to the HRD ministry regarding this.

The regulatory body has included a clause in 'AICTE approval process handbook 2017-18' which directs engineering institutes to refund the fees collected from the students if the seat falling vacant is subsequently filled by another candidate by the last date of admission.

A processing fee of up to Rs 1000 can be levied by the institute and proportionate monthly fee and hostel rent can be charged.

"The clause also prohibits the AICTE approved technical institutes from retaining the school/institute leaving certificates," said a senior official.

In case a student withdraws before the start of the course, the entire fee collected from the student, after a deduction of the processing fee of up to Rs1000 should be refunded by the institution, the clause included in the handbook states.

"In case the vacated seat is not filled, the institution should refund the security deposit and return the original documents. The institution should not demand the fee for the subsequent years from the students canceling their admission at any point in time. Fee refund along with the return of Certificates should be completed within 7 days," the AICTE said in the handbook.