Cuttack, July 18: The decision to raise course fees of various subjects in the undergraduate, postgraduate and the self-financing courses at Ravenshaw University has drawn flak from many quarters.

"Studying at Ravenshaw University is a dream for many students and the way course fees are being hiked, poor students will not be able to take up a course of their choice," said former students' union president Saubhagya Swain. Varsity officials should extend support to the poor students by providing 50 per cent concession during admissions. They can do it by seeking an income certificate, he said.

The annual course fees for various postgraduate programmes at the institution have been increased by Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.

A student will now have to pay Rs 4,950 instead of Rs 3,665 for various practical-oriented subjects, including physics and chemistry. For commerce, the fee has been increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,450. One willing to pursue a postgraduate degree in international studies or rural development will have to pay Rs 20,000, while the course fee for journalism and mass communication is now Rs 25,000, an increase of Rs 5,000.

"The authorities have reduced the seats in commerce and introduced entrepreneurship as a self-financing course from this academic season and the course fee has been fixed at Rs 27,450," said Sachiranjan Behera, a second-year journalism student.

The All India Democratic Students' Organisation staged a protest against the fee hike. Later, they gheraoed the varsity officials and the vice-chancellor.

"The fees for various streams were revised after necessary approvals from the executive council. The hike has been made at 8 to 10 per cent, which is a routine thing to meet the expenses of the university," said vice-chancellor P.C. Sarangi.

He also said the students' grievances stated in their memorandum had been forwarded to the council, which would take a call on the fee structure in the next meeting scheduled in September.