International fees are about to rise for a raft of University of Otago subjects.
All subjects will have price hikes in 2017 except for postgraduate clinical dentistry papers, for which tuition fees will be slashed by up to 30.6%.
University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor of external engagement Prof Helen Nicholson said a significant reduction in clinical dentistry fees was necessary because it was clear "that the very high level of tuition is discouraging candidates from applying''.
Fourteen postgraduate dental papers will have fees dropped by $27,000 per equivalent full-time student (efts).
Dentistry enrolments are included in the health sciences division, which reported a 2.9% increase in student numbers this year.
The division has 5871 efts.
In 2015 most subjects had a zero or 1-2% increase to international fees.
Prof Nicholson said larger increases were needed this year to ensure the university did not become "significantly out of step'' with other New Zealand universities.
Of the 56 papers that will have the highest fee increase of 4.4%, 31 are in the humanities division.
Otago University Students' Association acting president Jarred Griffiths said the organisation opposed any increase in fees.
"We would be concerned if these increases had an impact on an international student's decision to study at Otago.''
The fact most of the papers that would have the highest fee increase were in the humanities division was concerning, Mr Griffiths said.
"It is really symbolic of the larger problem. It really indicates a lack of investment by the Government in the tertiary education sector and their encouragement of particular areas of study.''
International efts for the end of May were up 4.8% on the same time last year.
Rises and falls
•Highest international tuition fee increase is 4.4%.
•56 papers will have this increase; 31 are in humanities division.
•Postgraduate clinical dentistry papers fees slashed by 30.6%.
