Chennai: Students allotted seats at private medical colleges in the state have written to the Directorate of Medical Education, saying they were told after allotment that the MBBS programme was fully residential and would cost an extra ₹8.2 lakh.“We have received complaints that students were being asked to pay excess fees, including hostel charges. The complaints have been forwarded to the fee committee for further action,” said selection committee secretary Dr V Lokanayaki.The fee fixation committee decides the annual tuition fees for private institutions, excluding deemed universities. For 2026, MBBS tuition fees in private colleges range from ₹4.35 lakh to ₹5.4 lakh for govt-quota seats in self-financing colleges and state private universities, and from ₹15 lakh to ₹16.2 lakh for management seats. Officials said a govt-appointed committee’s report on excess fees levied by some colleges was also forwarded to the fee committee.Most colleges collect additional fees citing books, coats, library and lab charges. On Saturday, parents said Kanyakumari Medical Mission Medical College and Research Centre had made hostel accommodation compulsory while admissions were underway. “My niece chose this college because she can stay at my place and attend college. Her travel time will be just half an hour. Why should she choose an expensive hostel for ₹8.27 lakh? If it were mandatory, they should have told us before the counselling. We would not have opted for a seat here,” said S Sarala.The college, a constituent of St Joseph University, told parents that it has made it mandatory for MBBS students to stay in approved hostels for the four-and-a-half-year course and the one-year internship from 2026-27. Attempts to reach the college administration by TOI were unsuccessful.“Doctors at the college told parents the policy was intended to ensure academic continuity, clinical training, safety, and discipline. Parents were surprised by this decision when they came to pay the fees,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam.e National Medical Commission said colleges cannot make hostel accommodation mandatory. Senior officials confirmed that while colleges must provide accommodation, students are not obliged to live on campus or pay hostel fees if they choose to stay elsewhere. “Complaints are filed every year. The selection committee forwards them to the fee committee. No action is taken. Colleges then target students who complain. The selection committee must amend its counselling rules to gain powers to act on such complaints,” Arumugam said.
