St Stephen’s College faces uproar over inflated Delhi University fee component for 2025-26 admissions.
St Stephen’s College, one of Delhi University’s most prestigious affiliated institutions, has found itself embroiled in a fresh fee controversy. For the upcoming academic year 2025-26, the college has introduced a ‘dual-payment system,’ requiring its first-year students to pay university fees and college fees separately. This new approach appears to deviate significantly from DU’s established single-portal payment regulations. What’s even more alarming is that the ‘DU fee’ component listed by the college is more than three times the university’s official share, prompting serious questions about compliance and transparency.
DU fee vs. official share: A stark difference uncovered
An internal review of the fee notice revealed that first-year students across most programs, including B.A. (Programme/Honours) and B.Sc. (Honours in Physics and Chemistry), are being charged between Rs 11,551 and Rs 11,630 as the purported DU fee. However, Delhi University’s official annual share stands at just Rs 3,500. This discrepancy points to an apparent overcharge exceeding Rs 8,000 per student, representing a staggering 230% excess. Considering approximately 400 students are admitted in the first year, this amounts to an estimated additional Rs 32 lakh, which is seemingly paid to the university, though it remains unclear whether these funds have been directly transferred or temporarily held by the college.
For students falling under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, the listed DU fee is Rs 1,150, significantly higher than the university’s official Rs 875 – an increase of 31%. Meanwhile, the college’s own fee component ranges from Rs 17,500 to Rs 19,000 per semester. When combined, the total payable amount for a standard BA or BSc program approaches Rs 30,000 per semester. This figure is notably higher than the first-year fees at comparable Delhi University colleges, such as Miranda House (Rs 16,000–20,000 annually) and Ramjas College (Rs 15,000–17,000 annually).
St Stephen’s College fee structure for 2025-26 (Per Semester)
For a clearer understanding, here is the detailed fee structure for first-year students across various categories at St Stephen’s College for the 2025-26 academic year:
| Courses | Category | DU fees (Rs) | College fees (Rs) | Total (Rs) |
| B.A. Programme / B.A. Honours | General | 11,615 | 17,822 | 29,437 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Physics / Chemistry | General | 11,630 | 19,058 | 30,688 |
| B.Sc. Physical Sciences | General | 11,625 | 19,058 | 30,683 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Mathematics | General | 11,615 | 18,008 | 29,623 |
| M.A./M.Sc. Previous | General | 11,551 | 17,560 | 29,111 |
| B.A. Programme / B.A. Honours | PwD | 1,150 | 200 | 1,350 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Physics / Chemistry | PwD | 1,150 | 200 | 1,350 |
| B.Sc. Physical Sciences | PwD | 1,150 | 200 | 1,350 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Mathematics | PwD | 1,150 | 200 | 1,350 |
| M.A./M.Sc. Previous | PwD | 1,150 | 0 | 1,150 |
| B.A. Programme / B.A. Honours | Staff Ward | 8,950 | 200 | 9,150 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Physics / Chemistry | Staff Ward | 8,965 | 1,436 | 10,401 |
| B.Sc. Physical Sciences | Staff Ward | 8,960 | 1,436 | 10,396 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Mathematics | Staff Ward | 8,950 | 386 | 9,336 |
| M.A./M.Sc. Previous | Staff Ward | 8,850 | 0 | 8,850 |
| B.A. Programme / B.A. Honours | SC / ST / EWS / Martyr’s Children | 11,435 | 17,822 | 29,257 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Physics / Chemistry | SC / ST / EWS / Martyr’s Children | 11,450 | 19,058 | 30,508 |
| B.Sc. Physical Sciences | SC / ST / EWS / Martyr’s Children | 11,445 | 19,058 | 30,503 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Mathematics | SC / ST / EWS / Martyr’s Children | 11,435 | 18,008 | 29,443 |
| M.A./M.Sc. Previous | SC / ST / EWS / Martyr’s Children | 11,335 | 17,560 | 28,895 |
College’s rationale and the university’s firm response
Haneet Gandhi, Dean of Admissions at Delhi University, reiterated the university’s stance: “There is only one payment system. Students are required to pay their fees through the DU portal, from which the university retains its share and transfers the remainder to colleges. No other payment mechanism is permissible under current rules.” Gandhi further confirmed that the university’s official share was indeed Rs 3,500, characterizing the inflated fee component listed by St Stephen’s as “the college’s fault.”
According to Gandhi, DU has already disbursed 60% of the college’s rightful share from the total fees collected, which surprisingly includes the higher DU component charged by St Stephen’s. This suggests that the extra Rs 32 lakh, initially paid as part of the university fee, may ultimately remain with the college rather than being passed on to Delhi University.
When questioned about the matter, Chinkhanlun Guite, Bursar and Public Relations Officer at St Stephen’s, stated that the dual-payment system “was done for the convenience of students.” He asserted that “no such permission is required” from DU for this separate system and declined to comment on the nearly threefold increase in the listed DU fee. Attempts to reach Principal John Varghese for comment remained unsuccessful.
A history of strained relations between DU and St Stephen’s
This latest fee dispute underscores the long-standing tensions between St Stephen’s College and Delhi University regarding administrative autonomy. While the college frequently references its minority status to justify internal procedures, such as separate interviews for applicants, Delhi University consistently maintains that all affiliated colleges must strictly adhere to common regulations. As students continue to pay substantial amounts upfront, this incident highlights the urgent need for clearer communication and greater transparency in how premier institutions manage and convey their financial structures.