Rachel Hou/Shanghai Daily news

All local universities that have adopted the credit-hour system will calculate school fees on a per-credit basis, today's Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The schools are not allowed to use the reform as a means to raise tuition from the current level, said a notification issued by Shanghai Education Commission yesterday.
Local college students have to gain 40 to 45 credit hours per school year. Supposing the tuition fee is 5,000 yuan per year, the average cost will be 120 yuan per credit after the reform.
The reform is good news for those who take a sabbatical and return later, since they won't be asked to pay additional fees for extended periods of study. However, it is bad news for students who fail to pass exams and have to study the same course again, since they will have to pay the tuition twice.
Most local universities have implemented the credit-hour system already.
The usual course-length for local undergraduates is four academic years, and the tuition-fees are usually the same each year. It is collected at the beginning of the school year, and ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 yuan depending on subject and college.