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Students at the University of Karachi are protesting a third consecutive hike in M.Phil and PhD fees, calling higher education increasingly unaffordable for the middle and lower-income class.
The semester fee for M.Phil has jumped from Rs 100,000 to Rs 132,000, while the PhD semester fee has risen to Rs 165,000. Just two years ago, fees were Rs 38,500 and Rs 44,000, respectively.
Students and parents have expressed frustration, saying that education is fast slipping out of reach due to repeated hikes and lack of scholarship or fee-relief alternatives.
University Vice Chancellor Dr. Khalid Iraqi stated that the 10% annual increase had already been approved by the university syndicate. He blamed the rise on reduced government funding and the need to align with “market value.”
However, critics argue that such increases, without support measures, will push deserving students out of higher education. No new financial aid policy or fee concession scheme has been announced alongside the hike.
