Shandong raises higher education tuitions

Shandong Price Bureau released a plan to raise annual tuition fees at seven universities on Thursday, with increases ranging from 600 yuan ($100) to 2,000 yuan depending on majors.

According to the new plan, annual tuition fees in the humanities will rise to 4,000 yuan from 3,400 yuan. Students in sciences and engineering will pay 4,500 yuan instead of the current rate of 3,600 yuan a year. Tuition fees for medical students will increase to 5,400 yuan from 4,000 yuan. Art students will experience the biggest bump in tuition fees. They will pay to 8,000 yuan from 6,000 yuan.

The bureau explained in an online statement that the increases are to optimize education resources. It held a hearing to discuss the tuition hikes on Oct 25.

The plan also reduces annual tuition fees in some majors. Tuition fees for foreign language majors will drop from 4,800 yuan to 4,000 yuan. Physical education students will pay 300 yuan less.

The plan discusses a new policy for students from low-income families. The province will distribute 50 million yuan to establish a scholarship to sponsor 10,000 students from impoverished families.

The plan will start on Sept 1, 2014, for two years on a trial basis.

Seven universities including Shandong University will be affected by the new plan.