Karnavati University Students Allege Being Barred From Exams Over Unpaid ₹9,500 Software Fee

Students at Karnavati University, a private university located in Uvarsad near Ahmedabad, have alleged that the institution is imposing additional fees and denying students access to examinations if they fail to pay a separate software fee of ₹9,500.

The university offers various courses, including design programmes. Students pursuing design courses claim they are required to pay approximately ₹9 lakh towards course and hostel fees, apart from additional charges for artificial intelligence (AI), software and activities.

With mid-semester examinations scheduled to begin tomorrow, students who have not paid the software fee have allegedly been told they will not be allowed to appear for the examinations. Students have also claimed that those who have not paid the fee have not been issued their No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and hall tickets.

Students allege additional charges for software

According to students in the second year of the Interior Architecture Design course, the university is collecting ₹9,500 from students across all years of its design programmes under the name of a multi-software fee.

The students alleged that similar software is available online for approximately ₹3,000 to ₹4,000, but the university is charging a higher amount. Several students reportedly paid the fee out of fear of being denied entry to the upcoming mid-semester examinations, while some students have yet to make the payment.

Apart from the software fee, students also alleged that separate charges are being collected for AI and activities.

Design courses reportedly attract ₹9 lakh annual cost

The university offers several design programmes, including Interior Architecture Design. Students claim that the fee for design courses is not determined by the Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC), allowing Karnavati University and other private universities to charge high fees for such programmes.

According to the details provided by students, the design course fee is ₹3 lakh per semester, while the annual hostel fee is ₹3 lakh. This brings the total annual cost to approximately ₹9 lakh, excluding additional charges such as software, AI and activity fees.

Students have alleged that the university generates substantial revenue through these additional fees.

Students allege full-year fees and retention of original documents

Students further claimed that those who cancel their admission or discontinue their studies midway are charged the entire year's fee. They also alleged that the university collects students' original documents at the time of admission.

The allegations have raised concerns among students over the additional financial burden and the reported denial of examination access to those who have not paid the software fee.