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Microlesson · 5-min read

Educational Institution Audit – Verification of Fees from Students

## Educational Institution Audit — Verification of Fees from Students

### Primary Concern: Fee Concessions

Fee concessions are a high-risk area because:

  • They reduce revenue without corresponding expense recognition
  • They may be granted without proper authority

Audit approach for concessions:

  • Verify that concessions are granted only under proper authority of college management
  • Review the internal controls for granting concessions
  • Perform detailed testing of a sample of cases for genuineness and proper management approval

### Six-Point Verification Programme for Student Fees

#Verification Procedure
1Cross-check names in the Fee Register (each month/term) with Class Registers (students on rolls); verify fee amounts charged; test the internal control system for raising demands
2Compare counterfoils of receipts with Cash Book entries; trace collections in the Fee Register to confirm revenue is duly accounted for
3Total the Fee Register columns for each month/term; confirm fees paid in advance are carried forward; ensure irrecoverable arrears are written off only under appropriate authority
4Check admission fees against admission slips signed by the head of institution; confirm amounts credited to Capital Fund (unless managing committee has directed otherwise)
5Confirm that fines (late payment, absence, etc.) are either collected or remitted under proper authority
6Confirm that hostel dues were recovered before closing a student's account and refunding caution money deposits

Worked example

### Example 1

MTP 2 Scenario: As auditor of a college, you notice fee concessions in a substantial number of cases. How would you verify them? Also explain two other points to verify fees.

Answer: For concessions — verify they are granted under proper management authority; review internal controls; detailed-test samples for genuineness and approvals.

Other verification points: (1) Cross-check Fee Register names against Class Registers; test fee amounts; check internal controls over demand-raising. (2) Compare receipt counterfoils with Cash Book; trace collections into Fee Register to confirm revenue is fully accounted for.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Focusing only on concessions and ignoring the 6-point fee verification programme in exam answers
  • Forgetting the specific verification for admission fees — they should go to Capital Fund unless the managing committee decides otherwise
  • Not mentioning that write-off of irrecoverable arrears requires sanction from an appropriate authority
  • Overlooking hostel dues verification before refunding caution money
Reference:
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