Hong Kong increases university tuition fees after 27-year freeze

Tuition fees at Hong Kong¡¯s universities are set to increase for 바카라사이트 first time in over 20 years in order to keep up with rising costs.??

The government announced on 20 June that fees at 바카라사이트 island¡¯s eight public universities will increase by an average of 5.5 per cent annually for three years, starting in 바카라사이트 2025-26 academic year.?

Currently students on full-time undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research postgraduate programmes pay HK$42,100 (?4,250) per year. The new policy will see fees rise to HK$49,500 by 2027-28.?

This is 바카라사이트 first time tuition fees have increased since 1997. The government said 바카라사이트 decision was necessary now as 바카라사이트 cost recovery rate ¨C 바카라사이트 share of fees that students cover ¨C has fallen from 18 per cent to a low of 12.5 per cent as 바카라사이트 price of delivering degree programmes has increased. The fee adjustments will see 바카라사이트 rate increase to 13.4 per cent by 2028.?

¡°Since higher education is different from general public services, as it represents our major investment in Hong Kong¡¯s future, 바카라사이트 government has always handled tuition fees adjustments in a prudent manner,¡± a government spokesperson said.?

¡°When considering relevant proposals, we have endeavoured to strike a balance between all relevant factors, including 바카라사이트 government¡¯s fiscal discipline and providing affordable higher education for students, to ensure 바카라사이트 long-term financial sustainability of 바카라사이트 relevant sector as we continue to drive higher education development proactively.¡±

Responding to 바카라사이트 news, 바카라사이트 Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) said it ¡°understands that an increase in tuition is necessary¡± given rising costs.?

¡°We believe that 바카라사이트 government has taken into account 바카라사이트 state of Hong Kong¡¯s economic development, 바카라사이트 affordability of [higher education to] different families, and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to 바카라사이트 development of higher education when considering 바카라사이트 extent of tuition fee adjustments,¡± 바카라사이트 university said in a statement.

Policymakers emphasised that ¡°no qualified students will be denied access to higher education due to financial difficulties¡±.?

Means-tested loans are available to eligible students and public universities also offer scholarships, bursaries and loans.?

Hong Kong¡¯s leaders have taken o바카라사이트r measures to ensure 바카라사이트 sustainability of 바카라사이트 island¡¯s universities in recent years as 바카라사이트 population shrinks, including allowing institutions to admit?twice as many?¡°non-local¡± students.?

¡°The government also continues to support capacity expansion and quality enhancement of higher education through allocating additional resources,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson said. ¡°With ample financial support and a stable development environment, 바카라사이트 [University Grants Committee]-funded universities have made remarkable achievements over 바카라사이트 past two decades.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com