‘Funding cut won’t affect non-local student tuition’

Education authorities on Tuesday stressed that plans to slash funding for universities does not translate to a rise in tuition fees for non-local students as a source of income.

The government had announced plans to reduce public university funding by HK$2.8 billion over the next three academic years.

At a Legislative Council panel meeting, education minister Christine Choi was asked if universities would raise fees for non-local students because of the cut.

Choi said non-local students’ tuition fee adjustments are not linked with the income of a university.

“Even if we increase the funding for universities, they will not lower the tuition for non-local students, so when non-local students come to Hong Kong to study – regardless of the change in our funding for universities – the tuition level is decided based on the cost of individual programmes,” Choi said.

As part of funding changes to publicly-financed universities, the institutions need to return HK$4 billion from their General and Development Reserve Fund to the government in a one-off special arrangement.

Universities would not be seriously affected with the move leaving them with around four months worth of reserves, Choi said.

Education authorities on Tuesday stressed that plans to slash funding for universities does not translate to a rise in tuition fees for non-local students as a source of income.

The government had announced plans to reduce public university funding by HK$2.8 billion over the next three academic years.

At a Legislative Council panel meeting, education minister Christine Choi was asked if universities would raise fees for non-local students because of the cut.

Choi said non-local students’ tuition fee adjustments are not linked with the income of a university.

“Even if we increase the funding for universities, they will not lower the tuition for non-local students, so when non-local students come to Hong Kong to study – regardless of the change in our funding for universities – the tuition level is decided based on the cost of individual programmes,” Choi said.

As part of funding changes to publicly-financed universities, the institutions need to return HK$4 billion from their General and Development Reserve Fund to the government in a one-off special arrangement.

Universities would not be seriously affected with the move leaving them with around four months worth of reserves, Choi said.