The Secretary for Education of Hong Kong, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, announced that the government proposes to increase public university tuition fees. This would be the first increase in 27 years.
It is not yet confirmed when the new policy will take place, but there is an estimation that it will start from the 2025-26 academic year onwards.
Choi explained that the adjustment to the public tuition fee is necessary as the financial secretary of Hong Kong called for solutions to boost the city’s revenue through public service charges. Hong Kong is currently in a significant deficit, and is coming up with various solutions to combat this issue.
From the government source review, it is speculated that the costs borne by students will increase from 13 to 18 percent. Currently, the undergraduates of the University Grants Committee (UGC-funded universities) pay $42,100 per year.
Universities under the University grants Committee of Hong Kong, which refers to government subsidized public schools, refer to the 8 universities: The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Education University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, Hong Kong Baptist University, and City University of Hong Kong.
The five percent increase would make the tuition jump from $42,100 to $58,000. This price has been unchanged since 1997-1998.
There are mixed responses from the increase of the school tuition fee. While most are unhappy about the school tuition fee, some think it is reasonable.
Lawmaker Lau Chi-Pang commented that taking inflation into account, he thinks the price adjustment is fair. He said, “I think the public will also think it is fair to increase tuition fees, as they have not been adjusted for more than 20 years.”
A local year 3 student from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Andy Tang, also said, “I mean I am unhappy about the price increase, but I think it is reasonable. I think it would significantly affect the lower-income families though.”
The situation could be potentially even worse for international students. The tuition fee for non-local students is currently HKD 182,000, which is 4.3 times more compared to the local students.
The Secretary of Education has announced that the government has a new target of increasing the non-local quota to 40 percent. If the increase of universities is applied for international students as well, it raises concerns if the increase will affect the number of non-local applicants to Hong Kong. Mainland Chinese currently make up around 70 percent of the non-local student population.
Cho Haewon, non-local student from University of Hong Kong said, “I really think it would be a big financial burden for all the international students if the school tuition fee is further increased.”
As concern has risen among students and parents from the announcement, the education minister pledged that she would take the financial burden of students into account and would gradually increase students’ university tuition fees.
Cho said, “We will consider Hong Kong’s economic situation and the affordability for families and the young. It should be done gradually for them to afford it.”
Reported by Jimin Park
Edited by Coey Fung and Justin Fung