China's major universities have offered aid to students from areas hit by the May 12 powerful earthquake.

According to the Ministry of Education, universities directly under the ministry have offered 4.4 million yuan (US$629,000) of grant-in-aid to 4,417 students.

Banks have extended 21.58 million yuan of loans to 3,790 students.

Peking University and the other 72 universities offered 8.26 million yuan of emergency financial aid to 14,977 students.

Meanwhile, Peking University and 17 other universities have announced that they will waive 1.45 million yuan of tuitions for 299 students.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2008)