Australian government has no modelling on effect of university fee hikes, official reveals

It is not clear if recent funding changes will encourage students to study science instead of humanities, the Covid-19 parliamentary inquiry hears

Education department officials have revealed the government has no modelling about whether university funding changes will incentivise students to study science instead of humanities, the rationale for fee hikes provided by Dan Tehan.

The department's deputy secretary of higher education, Rob Heferen, told the Covid-19 inquiry on Tuesday fee changes had produced muted" results in the past and declined to answer questions about why the price of some courses such as social work will be increased by 113%.