[Compiled by Lu Yongshan/Comprehensive Report] Although the Beijing authorities have increased their investment in top universities, China's economy is weak, fiscal revenue has dropped significantly, and the overall university budget has shown a trend of being cut year by year. The Chinese media "The Paper" reported that due to increased financial pressure, many universities in China have recently required "strict economy" and "tightening their lives." News that many university teachers have received salary cuts has appeared on social media, triggering attention and heated discussions among netizens.
On September 9, the Planning and Finance Office of Beijing Forestry University issued the "Implementation Opinions of Beijing Forestry University on Adhering to Strict Savings and Living Tightly," which requires "spending money where it should be spent." It also makes provisions for business trips, meetings, training, etc. It also requires that official receptions and overtime meals can be saved, and official receptions are not arranged for official events in the same city.
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In August, Anhui Jianzhu University issued "Several Specific Measures to Further Strengthen Financial and Accounting Supervision and Adhere to Tight Living", which clearly stipulates that no reimbursement for scientific research business meal expenses such as tobacco, alcohol, high-end dishes, etc., must be accurate, and the content of the invoice must be accurate.
Shanxi Vocational and Technical College of Finance and Trade held a special working meeting on September 9 to communicate the spirit of "Living Tightly" and promote internal budget control. It also required strict implementation of rigid regulations on official receptions, travel, meetings, production of promotional materials, etc. It also required that no refreshments, fruits, etc. be placed at the meeting.
The WeChat public account "Henan Higher Education" previously reported that at the 2025 budget leadership group meeting held by the University of Science and Technology of China in July last year, President Chang Jin emphasized that the school's funds are currently under pressure.
The report pointed out that the budgets of many universities in 2025 are decreasing, including "double first-class" universities (referring to world-class universities and first-class discipline construction). The total budget of Renmin University of China in 2025 will be 9.173 billion yuan (the same below, NT$43.61 billion), a decrease of 816 million yuan (NT$3.88 billion) compared with 2024; Yunnan University will decrease by 801 million yuan (NT$3.81 billion) compared with 2024; Fuzhou University will decrease by 677 million yuan (NT$3.22 billion).
In addition, the budgets of Minzu University of China, University of Science and Technology of China, China University of Petroleum (East China), and Zhongnan University of Economics and Law have all been reduced to varying degrees.
At the end of 2025, the "Report of the State Council on the Allocation and Use of Financial Higher Education Funds" mentioned that strict budget preparation and management will be promoted, the construction of expenditure standards will be promoted, the application of expenditure standards will be strengthened, the tight living requirements will be fully implemented, and general expenditures will be strictly controlled.
On Chinese social media, there have been more news about salary cuts for university teachers this year. A question on the "Zhihu" platform in May this year sparked a heated discussion on the Internet: "The year-end performance of a grade 7 teacher in a university management position (referring to those responsible for non-teaching functions such as administrative management, party and government affairs, teaching and research management, student work, etc.) in 2025 is only 8,400 yuan (approximately NT$40,000), while last year the number was still around 20,000 (NT$95,000)."
More people in the social circle of university teachers are complaining: scientific research awards for non-key universities (non-key schools) have been cut in half, and overtime subsidies (overtime teaching fees) have been directly cancelled; some teachers even have negative performance due to their inability to complete assessments, and their salaries have to be deducted.
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