Ukraine-returned students told to pay semester fees

Rithu Dravid | NT

 Bengaluru

While the thousands of Ukraine[1]returned medical students are facing an uncertain future, the universities of Ukraine are now exerting pressure on the students to pay the next semester fees as the new academic year begins, or they will be expelled.

According to the students and parents, the universities are compelling students to pay the fees or they will have to pay transfer fees, which is twice as much as the course fee. Currently the fee that the students are paying is approximately Rs 3-4 lakh per year. Students also alleged that many agents are misusing this situation to extort money from them.

Bharathi Balu, a fifth[1]year student from the Ivano[1]Frankivsk National Medical University, Ukraine, said, “We are hoping we will receive some information from the foreign universities so that we can return to the universities and study offline. We do not have the money to pay for the transfer and prefer to pay the course fee and study in Ukraine. Some agents are trying to convince the students and insisting on resuming the education in other countries like Georgia, Hungary and other places.”

 Some students also said they are being threatened to be expelled if the course fee is not paid in 2-3 months. The students said that those opting to study in other countries will have to undergo the process of transfers, visa procedures and other formalities, which is time consuming. The students have been told to wait till August 25 as the Education Ministry of Ukraine will be giving an official notice about the online or offline mode of education.