MBBS fee hiked for NRI, management quota in self-financing colleges

The prescribed fees for MBBS in self-financing medical colleges under management and NRI quotas has been increased, with the Selection Committee putting out the revised fee structure for the academic year 2025-2026 as per the order of the Committee on Fixation of Fee in respect of self-financing professional colleges, on Monday.

As per the order, the fees for government quota in the 21 self-financing medical colleges were ₹4,35,000 to ₹4,50,000. The management quota fee was fixed at ₹15,00,000, while it was ₹27,00,000 for NRI quota.

In its order, the committee – Justice R. Pongiappan is the chairman and P. Senthil Kumar (Health Secretary) is member secretary – said that the fee included tuition fee, admission fee, special fee, laboratory/computer/internet fee, library fee, sports fee, maintenance and amenities fee, extracurricular activities fee and other recurring expenditure.

Manickavel Arumugam, education counsellor, gave a comparison of the increase in fee structure. “The good thing is that the government quota fee in self-financing medical colleges remains untouched. The fee for management quota and NRI quota has been increased. From ₹13,50,000, the management quota fee has been increased to ₹15,00,000, while for NRI quota, the fee has been increased from ₹24,50,000 to ₹27,00,000,” he said.

“Another positive aspect is that they have completely done away with the NRI lapsed quota category. So, through this, the NRI quota seats that fall vacant will be added to the management quota,” he added.

For State private university medical colleges, the committee noted that four institutions in the category were established recently – during 2022 to 2024 – and the fee was fixed during the same period. So, the committee unanimously decided that except the NRI quota, the fee hike for these institutions pertaining to undergraduate and post graduate medical courses is not necessary at present.

While the fee for government quota in these institutions was ₹5,40,000, it was ₹16,20,000 for management quota and ₹30,00,000 for NRI quota. Mr. Arumugam pointed out that NRI fee has increased from ₹29.4 lakh

The committee stated that these fees do not include hostel, transport and mess charges that are optional for students. The institutions were directed to submit the details of these fees to the Selection Committee well in advance before the commencement of counselling. It also directed the institutions not to collect or levy any other recurring or non-recurring fee including capitation fee. In case of any deviation from the order, the committee said it will send a recommendation to the respective authority for withdrawal of approval by the National Medical Commission and disaffiliation by the respective university as well as the imposition of fine.

However, healthcare professionals in the know-how said there is a greater need for the Selection Committee to keep an eye on collection of excess fees from students. “Tamil Nadu has one of the highest fee structures for MBBS in private universities in the country. Some institutions also charge students for the fifth year (house surgeoncy). Some fee heads such as hostel fee remain murky and should be closely monitored for excess fee collection,” a source said.