About 70% of private universities based in the nine prefectures of the Chubu region do not intend to refund admission fees to students who decide not to enroll in the university after passing entrance exams for the 2026 academic year, a survey by the Chunichi Shimbun has found.
The online survey was conducted in October following the education ministry’s notice issued in June urging private universities to consider reducing the financial burden on students when it comes to admission fees. Most institutions were reluctant to change their policies for upcoming admissions, with only two universities planning refunds, the survey showed.
According to estimates by the ministry, 1 in 4 students pay admission fees to universities they ultimately do not attend — a practice commonly referred to as “double payment.” Students and parents have long called for such a financial burden to be reduced.
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