Face Off: Should Hong Kong universities charge students more for higher-costing courses?

There is a pressing need to reassess the current fee structure for higher-cost education programmes in Hong Kong, particularly specialised courses. This has been underscored by the proposal to raise tuition fees.

Tuition fees for degree courses offered by UGC-funded universities will rise for the first time in 27 years. Given the increasing costs of delivering quality education in specialised fields, it is appropriate to review whether some programmes should cost more.

Some courses demand advanced equipment, specialised faculty, and hands-on training, increasing operational expenses. It is crucial to adjust tuition fees for these programmes to ensure that universities have the resources to maintain exemplary standards.

According to a recent SCMP article, the average annual cost of educating an undergraduate student at a public university in Hong Kong has increased by 42 per cent over the past decade.

Meanwhile, the cost of educating a medical student can be as high as HK$578,000 annually, and the unit cost for medical and dental courses is more than double compared to courses like business, language, education, and social sciences. This is the primary reason for advocating for differentiated fees based on the course.

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Furthermore, scholarships for medical and dentistry students are readily available, supporting the rationale for charging higher fees in these programmes.

Students’ superior academic performance in these demanding fields reflects their dedication to their studies and increases their chances of receiving scholarships.

The proposal to reassess tuition fees for high-cost courses promises to ensure the sustainability and excellence of education in Hong Kong.

By implementing adjustments and differentiating fees, universities can allocate resources more effectively and uphold Hong Kong’s elevated educational standards, delivering quality programmes.

As secondary school students, we all have dream careers that we would like to pursue when we grow up.

But would it be fair if your ideal university courses cost more than others? It’s unjust for universities to charge students higher fees just because it costs more to offer their programme.

For starters, students might think that studying a higher-cost course makes them more knowledgeable or superior to students studying lower-cost ones. Believing in these misconceptions may harm students socially and result in bullying, further diminishing the value of lower-cost courses in universities.

Moreover, students who want to pursue their ideal careers through higher-cost courses might not be able to afford their academic fees, which could prevent them from achieving their dreams.

If universities charged more for higher-cost courses, it would negatively affect underprivileged secondary school students financially, either driving their families into a financial crisis or forcing them to study subjects they are not passionate about.

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In addition, universities want the most talented students to study the subjects that will allow them to prosper and succeed. Charging extra fees for certain courses would automatically dissuade some gifted students from taking the classes, bringing down the university’s academic standard.

This should be a concern for all of us, as it affects the quality of education we receive. It could also affect the quality of the people practising the profession in Hong Kong; do we want our doctors to be limited to the people who could afford the programme, rather than the most academically gifted?

If universities were to charge greater fees for higher-cost courses, it would negatively affect many students socially and financially without benefiting the university’s academics. Thus, they should not charge more for higher-cost courses.