Guide
How to Check an Admission Offer Before You Pay Any Fee
Before you pay an admission fee in India, check the university on the UGC list, the course on the official portal, and the fee terms in writing. A simple checklist.
How to Check an Admission Offer Before You Pay Any Fee
Before you pay any admission fee, check four things on official pages: the university is on the UGC list and not on the fake list, your course is approved for your session, the fee terms are in writing, and the payment goes into the institution's own account against its own receipt.
1. Check the university
Search the name on the UGC list of universities and on the UGC fake university list. Use the exact legal name from the offer letter, and match the state and address.
2. Check the course for your session
For an online or distance programme, the UGC FAQ says the student must confirm the institution's recognition for the session in which they take admission, and that recognition for the previous year does not carry over. Check the UGC-DEB portal. For engineering or management, check the AICTE approved list.
3. Read the notices before you pay
The UGC FAQ asks students to read the notices on the UGC notice board before taking admission anywhere. The UGC-DEB also publishes public notices for students, including warnings about franchises and deadlines.
4. Get the fee terms in writing
Ask for the fee structure for the whole programme, the refund terms and the last date to withdraw. Under the UGC grievance regulations, demanding money beyond what the declared admission policy specifies is a ground for a complaint, and so is delay or denial of a refund due to a student who withdraws within the time mentioned in the prospectus.
5. Pay into the institution's account only
Pay into the institution's own bank account against its own receipt, and keep the receipt, the offer letter and every message. Be careful with anyone who asks for cash, a personal account or a wallet transfer to hold a seat.
6. Keep your original certificates
Withholding certificates to push a student into paying fees for a course the student does not want is a listed ground for complaint under the UGC regulations. Do not leave original documents with anyone without a written receipt.
Frequently asked questions about admission offers
How do I know an admission offer is genuine?
Check the university on the UGC list and the fake list, check the course for your session, and confirm the fee terms in writing. If any of these cannot be confirmed from an official page, wait.
Is it safe to pay an agent?
Check first with the institution itself. Pay only into the institution's own account against its own receipt, and keep proof.
Can a college keep my original certificates?
The UGC regulations list withholding certificates to compel fee payment as a ground for complaint. Ask the college in writing and keep a receipt for any document you submit.
What if I already paid and have doubts?
Write to the institution's admission office, keep proof of what you paid, and ask them to confirm the details in writing. If you want a second pair of eyes, call or WhatsApp CollegeJaancho.
Final steps before you pay
A short check on official pages takes less time than recovering a fee. You can call or WhatsApp CollegeJaancho to get a Jaancho Report for your college.
Official pages where you can check this yourself
- UGC list of universities (central, state, private, deemed)
- UGC list of fake universities
- UGC frequently asked questions
- UGC-DEB portal: recognised online and distance (ODL) universities and programmes, session wise
- UGC-DEB public notices for students
- AICTE approved universities and institutions
- UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, Gazette of India, 11 April 2023
Want a Jaancho Report on your college?
Call us on +91 96439 95533 or send the college name on WhatsApp. We will send you a Jaancho Report built from public records, with the official link beside every fact.