A student was expelled from university but is being asked to pay over 10,000 hryvnias. What was the court's decision?

The student studied at the Faculty of Pharmacy, specializing in "Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy" at Zaporizhzhia State Medical University. However, she was later expelled from the university at her own request. She has an outstanding tuition fee debt of 10,211 hryvnias, which is being demanded for repayment. This is stated in the decision of the Ordzhonikidze District Court of Zaporizhzhia, published on November 4, 2024.

On July 18, 2019, a contract No. FZ-MSF-108 was signed between Zaporizhzhia State Medical University and the citizen for the provision of educational services. She committed to timely pay the fee for educational services, in accordance with clauses 3.1.1, 3.1.2, and 5.2 of the contract. She was registered as a student of the II Faculty of Pharmacy, specializing in "Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy" at Zaporizhzhia State Medical University. Subsequently, according to order No. 480-s dated August 25, 2023, she was expelled from the university at her own request.

"The defendant has an outstanding tuition fee debt that has not been voluntarily paid, and therefore, considering the breach of obligations under the terms of the contract, the plaintiff requests the recovery of the amount of 10,211 hryvnias from the defendant, including: the principal debt, taking into account inflation, amounts to 9,840 hryvnias; 3% annual interest is 370 hryvnias," the case materials state.

What was the court's decision?

The court granted the claim. The citizen will owe Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University the outstanding debt for educational services amounting to 10,211 hryvnias – the principal debt adjusted for inflation, plus 370 hryvnias – 3% annual interest on the debt amount.

"In accordance with order No. 480-s dated August 25, 2023, the defendant was expelled from the university for failing to meet the academic plan. As established from the calculations of the outstanding debt provided by the plaintiff, the amount of 10,211 hryvnias must be paid for the student’s education, taking into account inflation. Based on the above, considering that at the time of the court's review, the defendant had not paid the debt under the contract and the case materials do not contain evidence that the defendant took measures to repay the debt for educational services, the court concludes that the plaintiff's claims are justified and the specified monetary amount is subject to recovery from the defendant," the court emphasized.