Tehan proposes huge fee increases for humanities degrees

Reforms aim to increase the number of graduates in ‘areas of expected employment growth’

The cost of an arts and humanities degree at Australia’s universities would more than double—from $20,400 to $43,500—as part of a tertiary education reform package proposed by federal education minister Dan Tehan.

The reforms, which will need to pass both houses of parliament, would be introduced in 2021. They include a $900 million National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund to support “job-ready graduate” programmes such as work placements and internships, chiefly in science, technology and health.