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The course fee of BMMMC offered at Indraprastha College for Women was hiked from INR 67,845 to 1,00,845. The sudden hike has left students feeling discontented.

On 3rd July 2019, Indraprastha College for Women issued a notice stating that the fee of the Bachelor’s in Multimedia and Mass Communication (BMMMC) course had been increased from INR 67,845 to INR 1,00,845. In the annual fee breakdown, the course fee was increased from INR 15,000 to INR 44,000.

The sudden move has been met with backlash from the students. “This is unfair to the students from marginalised communities. The University of Delhi (DU) is a public university. We expected the fee to be lower here. The course is an autonomous course but increasing the fee to 1 lakh is absurd,” said a second-year student.

Another student added, “It”s almost a two-fold increase in the fee structure. Last year, the it was around INR 67,000. We understand that the University calls BMMMC a self-financed course, but this sudden hike is exorbitant.”

According to the college prospectus of the academic year 2018-19, the fees for the first-year students was INR 82,000 which included development fee and establishment charges. The fees for the second and third year was set to INR 67,845. The college has now hiked the fee for second and third year students to INR 1,00,845. The fee structure for the first year students is yet to be announced.

The deadline for submitting the college fees is the 25th July 2019.

The college facilities remain poor despite the annual fee hike.The studio fee of INR 15,000 stands underutilized. The equipment and computer systems need to be updated. It is said that the students rarely get to visit the studio.

The clause of the refundable ‘caution money’ of INR 3000 seems unclear. Students are required to pay the sum at the beginning of the semester, if they don’t meet the minimum 66% requirement of attendance, the money is forfeited. If the money is forfeited, students need to pay it once again in the next semester.

The high fee in a public university prevents students from marginalised backgrounds from accessing it. In a public university system where casteism still survives, fee hikes like this only strengthens the elitsm of these spaces.

The college is yet to give a statement on the reasons behind the hike.

Feature Image Credits: College Dunia

Jaishree Kumar

[email protected]

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Indraprasth College for Women’s (IPCW) journalism course has gone through a host of changes since the introduction of the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). Initially known as Bachelor in Mass Media and Mass Communications, it was renamed to BJMC and its entrance exam was scrapped in favour of admissions through cut-off percentages. Last year, after the scrapping of FYUP, Bachelor in Multi Media and Mass Communication (BMMMC) was reintroduced but admissions continued through cut-offs.

In a press conference on Thursday, the college announced the return of the entrance exam system for the course, which has now been renamed to BA(H.) Multi Media and Mass Communication in order to fall in line with the University Grants Commission directives on course nomenclature.

There will be two exams for admission to the course. The first entrance exam will be an objective (MCQ) test and is scheduled for 21st June. The second entrance exam will be held on 25th June. It will be a subjective test on English comprehension and creative & analytical skills.

The college will issue a list of accepted candidates on 29th June followed by payment of fees from 1st July to 3rd July.

To register, candidates can collect and deposit forms at IPCW starting 1st June. Last date to apply is 10th June. The chargeable fees for the form and the test is Rs.950 for general category and Rs.475 for other categories. Aspirants can also request postal delivery of the application form.

A student from the Class of 2015 (last batch to have taken the entrance test) suggests that entrance exams ensure that only candidates who are ready for the highly specialised course make it through the admission procedure. “It’s a welcome change,” she said, on condition of anonymity. The graduating batch reportedly also faced problems while filling application forms for PG courses due to the change of name of the course from Mass Media and Mass Communication to Multi Media and Mass Communication.

In the press conference, IPCW also announced the proposal of a new journalism course to the University of Delhi. The course will include Fashion Communication, Disaster Management & Communication and Public Service Broadcasting among other subjects.

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