Fake universities in India: A student’s guide to spotting and avoiding scam universities
Srinagar, Aug 23: Fake universities are a serious and growing concern for students pursuing higher education after Class 12. These unauthorized institutions offer degrees that are not recognized by India's higher education authorities, leaving students with worthless qualifications and uncertain futures.
To protect themselves, students must verify the authenticity of any university before applying. The University Grants Commission (UGC)—India’s higher education regulator—regularly updates a list of fake universities on its official website: ugc.gov.in. Checking this list is a crucial step in the admission process.
Common red flags of fake universities include:
- Offering courses with unusually short durations.
- Charging very low fees while promising guaranteed placements.
- Having poorly detailed websites with limited information about faculty or programs.
Legitimate universities in India must be recognized by the UGC, and in some cases, also by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Only institutions established under a Central, State, or Provincial Act, or those empowered by the UGC Act of 1956, are legally authorized to award degree.
In March 2025, UGC issued a circular listing fake universities across several states, including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
