China ends free postgraduate education

This new tuition scheme marks the end of a system in which students on government-funded postgraduate programmes enjoyed tuition waivers. From 2014 on more kinds of scholarships will be introduced to help students to cover their tuition fees, the official statement released by the Chinese government.

Improving postgraduate education

At the same time the Chinese government stated that it  will increase subsidies for research assistants and improve financial aid to students, including student loans. The quality of state-backed education will be stimulated as well be increase earmarked funds for improving postgraduate education.

Under the new policy, yearly tuition fees for master’s degrees and doctorates in academic disciplines are capped at 8,000 yuan (960 Euro) and 10,000 yuan respectively, while standards for professional degrees remain unchanged, said the statement.