Campus Times | Lucknow

A sharp hike in fees for self-financed courses at University of Lucknow has triggered widespread concern, significantly increasing the financial burden on students and their families.

Pursuing higher education at the prestigious institution is set to become considerably more expensive this academic session. In a move that has caught many off guard, the university administration has announced a substantial increase in fees for several self-financed programmes, with costs in some cases nearly doubling.

Financial Strain Amid Admission Season

The timing of the decision has drawn criticism, as the revised fee structure comes while the admission process for various courses is already underway. While students enrolled in regular courses remain unaffected, those opting for self-financed seats will now have to bear significantly higher costs.

Revised Fee Structure: Key Highlights

The hike spans multiple undergraduate and professional streams:

Science & Management:

Fees for B.Sc. (Self-Finance) have increased from ₹13,580 to ₹26,330, effectively doubling. BBA fees have risen from ₹6,380 to ₹13,500.

Professional & Vocational Courses:

The BCA programme fee has gone up from ₹35,080 to ₹49,500. Under B.Voc., revised fees include Retail (₹10,572), Technology (₹20,830), Software (₹3,727), and Renewable Energy (₹4,027). The general B.Voc. (Self-Finance) fee now stands at ₹22,732.

Commerce & Health:

B.Com (Honours) fees have increased from ₹28,330 to ₹40,232, while regular B.Com now costs ₹40,580. The Public Health course has seen one of the steepest hikes, rising from ₹25,580 to ₹47,330. Meanwhile, B.Sc. Agriculture has witnessed a comparatively modest increase and is now priced at ₹54,505.

Administration Defends Decision

University officials have defended the move, citing mounting financial pressures. Prof. Anitya Gaurav, President of the LU Teachers’ Association, noted that state government grants have not seen significant growth since 1991, while operational costs have risen steadily over the years.

University spokesperson Prof. Mukul Srivastava stated, The funds received from the government are no longer sufficient to maintain resources for the ever-growing number of students. This fee hike has become unavoidable to meet rising expenses. However, we have increased seats in several courses to ensure opportunities for a larger pool of candidates.

Concerns Persist

While the university aims to utilise the additional revenue to improve infrastructure and manage rising costs, the sudden increase has placed considerable strain on middle-class families. As the new academic session approaches, attention will be on whether the higher fees translate into improved facilities and better academic outcomes for students.