Petition Summary:

We, the undersigned, urgently call on UpGrad, its investors, and academic partners to address the widespread deceptive practices across its key business wings—UpGrad (core platform), UpGrad KnowledgeHut, and UpGrad Abroad—that have caused significant financial, academic, and emotional harm to students. From misleading admissions promises and abrupt program closures to inadequate refund policies and unfulfilled job guarantees, UpGrad’s actions have left thousands of students stranded with debts and broken dreams. We demand full compensation, transparent processes, a robust grievance system, and a public commitment to ethical practices to protect current and future students.

Petition Details:

UpGrad markets itself as a leader in edtech, offering programs through its core platform (online courses in data science, management, etc.), UpGrad KnowledgeHut (professional training, including AI and tech), and UpGrad Abroad (international education pathways). However, credible reports and student experiences reveal a pattern of deceptive practices across these wings, exploiting students’ aspirations and leaving them with financial burdens and unfulfilled promises. The following issues, supported by media investigations, highlight the systemic failures affecting students.

Key Issues Across UpGrad’s Business Wings:

UpGrad (Core Platform): Misrepresentation and Refund Denials
Students enrolling in UpGrad’s core programs are often lured with promises of high-paying jobs and seamless course delivery. Aggressive sales tactics downplay risks, pushing students into costly loans with misleading assurances of career success.

Many face challenges securing promised outcomes, such as job placements, and encounter strict refund policies that deny or delay repayments, leaving them financially strained.

UpGrad KnowledgeHut: Abrupt Closures and Broken Job Promises
UpGrad KnowledgeHut, through its acquisition of the International School of Engineering (INSOFE), offered AI and data science courses with guaranteed job placements. In 2023, INSOFE’s sudden closure in Telangana’s Hyderabad City, Rangareddy district, left approximately 700 students without jobs, refunds, or support.

Students, many of whom took loans based on job assurances, were informed of the shutdown via a virtual meeting, with minimal recourse offered beyond partial loan repayments.

UpGrad Abroad: Misleading Admissions and Visa Support
UpGrad Abroad promises seamless pathways to international education, including admissions to partner universities and visa assistance. However, students report receiving conditional offer letters with unrealistic deadlines or inadequate visa documentation, leading to rejections and financial losses.

Refund requests for unfulfilled services are frequently denied, forcing students to bear costs like SEVIS fees and travel expenses without completing their programs.

Systemic Failures Across All Wings:

Aggressive Marketing: UpGrad targets vulnerable students, including first-generation learners, with high-pressure sales tactics that obscure financial and academic risks.

Inadequate Grievance Handling: Complaints are met with deflection or minimal resolutions, with some students receiving higher compensation only after public outcry, indicating unfair treatment.

Financial and Emotional Impact: Students face crippling debts, lost time, and emotional distress, with trust in edtech eroded by UpGrad’s unfulfilled commitments.

Supporting Evidence: Article Summaries - The following articles expose UpGrad’s deceptive practices, providing evidence to educate petition supporters:

Economic Times (Nov 21, 2023): “Trust Deficit? Some Students Cry Foul Over UpGrad’s Refund Policy, Allege Misrepresentation” highlights UpGrad Abroad students’ struggles with conditional university offer letters and unmet visa support promises. Students faced refund denials, prompting legal action and exposing a broader trust deficit. Link

Times of India (Apr 19, 2023): “Ed-Tech Firm Shuts Shop in Telangana’s Rangareddy, 700 Recruits Left in Cold” details the abrupt closure of UpGrad KnowledgeHut’s INSOFE, leaving 700 students jobless despite job guarantees. Students like Mohammed Imad, who took loans, were left stranded. Link

Times of India (Apr 20, 2023): “Will Repay Loans, Says Ed-Tech Firm; Staff Demand Relief in Hyderabad” reports student protests after INSOFE’s closure. The CEO promised loan repayments but refused further compensation, ignoring demands for accountability. Link

Inc42 (Apr 2023): “UpGrad’s INSOFE Leaves 700 Students Fuming, Abruptly Shuts AI/ML Course” underscores the chaos following INSOFE’s shutdown, with students angry over lost investments and unfulfilled job promises, highlighting UpGrad’s failure to support them. Link

LinkedIn Post by Journalist Salman Sh (Nov 2023): This post echoes the Economic Times article, criticising UpGrad’s trust deficit and calling for accountability in the UpGrad Abroad program for misleading students about international education. Link

What We Demand:
To address these widespread harms and prevent future misconduct, we demand:

Comprehensive Compensation:
Full refunds for tuition, ancillary costs (e.g., SEVIS fees, visa fees), and compensation for lost time and opportunities across all wings.
Equitable treatment for all students, regardless of public advocacy.

Transparent Processes:
Clear disclosures of risks related to loans, visas, and job placements during enrollment.
Comprehensive counselling to ensure informed decisions.

Effective Grievance System:
An independent, accessible mechanism with transparent outcomes to resolve complaints promptly.

Public Apology and Reforms:
A formal apology from UpGrad and partners for misleading students.
A published plan to reform marketing and partnership practices.

Regulatory and Investor Accountability:
Compliance with educational and consumer protection laws.
Investor oversight to prioritise student welfare.

Why It Matters:
UpGrad’s practices across its core platform, KnowledgeHut, and abroad programs exploit students’ aspirations, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, undermining trust in edtech. The financial, emotional, and academic toll demands urgent action to ensure accountability and protect future students.

Join Us:
Sign and share this petition to hold UpGrad accountable and advocate for a fair edtech ecosystem. Your support can protect students’ right to a trustworthy education.

Thank you for standing with us.