Singapore’s four Government-funded universities, five polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have raised their tuition fees for the next academic year. As with previous hikes, the increase will be larger for permanent residents and foreigners than for citizens. With the exception of 2009, university fees have been increasing almost yearly. The Government has said that it would make small fee increases more frequently rather than hefty hikes every few years. Singaporeans enrolling at SMU and SUTD in the next academic year will pay nearly 2 per cent more. Those starting at the NUS will pay up to 8 per cent more than their seniors depending on their course, while those at the NTU will pay up to 2.5 per cent more.