Academic Pressure, Financial Stress Among Top Reasons Behind Student Distress At India’s Top Institutions

Last Updated:September 23, 2026, 11:14 IST

A recent IISc Students’ Council survey points to academic workload, and financial concerns raising broader questions about student wellbeing at India’s premier institutions.

Around 80% of students linked distress to their financial situation, as per a survey by IISc Students’ Council. (Image: X/@ARPITy26)

For years, academic excellence has been at the heart of India’s elite institutions, with students competing for top grades, research opportunities, scholarships and placements. But a recent student survey at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has brought renewed attention to another side of life at premier campuses — the pressure students face beyond the classroom.

The IISc Students’ Council conducted a survey after two student deaths in August, with more than 1,000 students responding. The findings pointed to concerns around academic workload, financial stress, access to mental-health support and students’ participation in decisions affecting campus life. The survey found that 50% of respondents said mandatory academic workload caused significant distress, while around 80% linked distress to their financial situation.

At IISc, students have also raised concerns about the financial burden of higher education. A student-community article published by the IISc undergraduate magazine Quarks cited the Students’ Council survey and said 81% of respondents believed a student’s financial situation contributes to mental distress. It also highlighted recent fee increases and concerns over scholarships and fellowships.

“With the recent fee hikes, the discontinuation of student scholarships for UG students formerly provided under IIScP and INSPIRE, and no increase in student fellowships for PG students, the situation has just gotten worse. The tuition fee for BS students has increased 8-fold, a massive rise from 10k to 80k. The hostel and mess amenities fees have also increased by 50% and are expected to see another hike by the same amount at the end of this academic year,” the survey added.

A student-community analysis published by the students’ council argued that the competition does not end with admission, with students continuing to compete for grades, placements and publications. It also raised concerns about mandatory attendance, limited flexibility and the availability of spaces where students can socialise and seek peer support.

Around 47% of respondents reportedly considered psychiatric support inadequate, while 84% wanted greater awareness and accessibility of existing mental-health services. Around 85% called for higher reimbursement for external mental-health care, while 81% said more student-friendly attendance and leave policies could help. Another 88% wanted student representation on the Wellness Committee.

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What key factors caused student distress according to the IISc student survey?

A survey conducted by the IISc Students’ Council indicated that 50% of respondents experienced significant distress from mandatory academic workloads, while roughly 80% attributed their mental distress to financial difficulties and fee hikes at the institution.

What specific fee increases and financial challenges were highlighted by IISc students?

Students reported an eight-fold increase in tuition fees for BS students, rising from 10,000 to 80,000, along with a 50% increase in hostel and mess fees. Additionally, respondents noted the discontinuation of undergraduate scholarships under IIScP and INSPIRE, alongside flat student fellowships for postgraduates.

What mental health improvements and policy changes did IISc students demand?

Around 84% of survey respondents called for greater awareness and accessibility of mental-health services, while 85% requested higher reimbursement for external psychological care. Furthermore, 81% advocated for student-friendly attendance and leave policies, and 88% demanded student representation on the Wellness Committee.

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