New Delhi | September 17, 2026
Students who pay thousands in admission fees for regular DU colleges face financial pressure when they later withdraw their seats and opt for DU SOL due to distance, family circumstances or other reasons.
Delhi University admission process has turned into a monetary problem for several middle-class families. Admission charges and course charges for courses like Bachelor of Commerce Programme of DU are approximately Rs.18,000 for a normal DU college. However, in case if any candidate ends up with a college far from his residence and withdraws the seat, then the issue of refund turns out to be a major one.
However, in case if any candidate is not able to go that far on a daily basis due to monetary issues of transport, food, and accommodation, then the other option available to him is to opt for Delhi University School of Open Learning. Applying again for the same B.Com Programme course through DU SOL would mean paying yet another fee of Rs.12,500, as per the mentioned fee amount by the students.
Money Needed Immediately, Refunds Take Time
The most important issue raised by the students and their family members is the delay in refund process from the date of payment of admission fee.
A student may have already paid around Rs.18,000 to a normal DU college. When the seat has been withdrawn, the family expects the money back so that the student can apply for DU SOL. But if there is delay in receiving the refund then the family will have to pay again around Rs.12,500 immediately.
It is not easy for a middle class family to pay both the amounts together. The amount being paid is around ₹30,500 even if the student is applying for just one course.
“It is required for colleges to have money instantly while admitting students, but once the student withdraws the seat, why the refund process takes so long? A middle class family cannot arrange thousands of rupees again and again,” said by those students.
Financial Burden Can Affect Admission Decisions
For students belonging to poor or average economic backgrounds, it becomes necessary to depend on the monthly salary of their parents to meet the costs of college fees.
This becomes difficult for those students who already had admission at an institute but are faced with the problem of their admission cost being frozen. In such a case, they would not be able to pay their next admission costs on time.
A student might face difficulty in going regularly to college if the college was situated far away from his/her house because of travel expenses and other such factors.
In this situation, DU SOL provides an easier way of education. However, the need to pay another admission cost in order to get back the previous one becomes an extra obstacle.
Students Demand Faster and More Transparent Refunds
Students and parents are demanding a refund process which is easy for them to get back their money from the college/university. They feel that the refund should take place within a specific time period, especially when a student withdraws before the start of classes or during the refund period.
Also, they demand that the colleges give them complete details about:
- The amount which is refundable after withdrawing from the seat.
- The date of refunding the money.
- The status of the application for the refund process.
- The cancellation and administrative fees.
- If there is any provision for relief for paying fees at another DU institution.
A Question of Access to Education
This problem is not just about admission fees; it is also about access to higher education. For many students, the fees of Rs. 12,500 or Rs. 18,000 may constitute a large part of their monthly expenses. In case of the previous fee being locked up, the student will not have a choice but to delay admission or forego admission all together.
Students feel that the admission and refund procedures of the university should be sensitive to the economic conditions of common families.
What they want is clear – admission fees can be charged quickly, but refund fees should also be processed quickly. The student who wants to shift colleges on account of either distance or monetary issues should not have his academic prospects destroyed just because he does not get his refund money back.
What DU and Colleges Need to Clarify
Delhi University and the concerned colleges need to make the rules of refunds clear for those students who wish to seek admission in DU SOL after dropping out of the regular admissions process for the B.Com Programme.
This is because the procedure can ease the financial load on parents and enable students to pursue their education smoothly.
Please note: Fee amounts of about Rs. 18,000 in case of regular DU admissions and Rs.12,500 for DU SOL have been given as per information provided by students.
