PU fee hike gets nod; traditional, professional courses to cost more

Panjab University Senate has approved 10% hike in fee starting from next academic session 2018-19 onwards. The hike has been subjected to minimum annual increase of Rs 750 in traditional and professional courses.

Earlier, the proposed minimum annual increase was Rs 1,000. The decision was changed after senators Rabinder Nath Sharma and Subhash Sharma intervened and demanded that the minimum annual increase be reduced to Rs 750 per annum.

As per the varsity website, the fee structure of traditional courses such as BA/BCom for session 2017-18 was Rs 2,700. With 10% increase, the fee would have been Rs 2,970. However, with subject to minimum increase of Rs 750, the fee will be Rs 3,450 for 2018-19 session, totaling to around 27% increase in the fee.

The fee structure of MA (humanities) and MA (evening studies) for the session 2017-18 was Rs 2,940. With the proposed fee hike, the fee will be Rs 3,690 for 2018-19 session, totaling around 26% increase.

The fee structure of BSc (honours) for the session 2017-18 was Rs 2,820. With the proposed increase in fee, the fee will be Rs 3,570 for 2018-19 session, totaling around 26% increase.

Besides, the fee of professional course LLB (three-year programme) for the session 2017-18 was Rs 4,500. With the proposed increase, the fee will be Rs 5250 for the 2018-19 session, totaling an increase of around 16%.

Old fee structures tables create confusion

The fee structure tables for the session 2018-19, which were presented in the senate meeting, did not have the required set of changes as per the minimum increase, which was reduced to Rs 750 from Rs 1,000.