Education subsidy policy plays an important role in promoting educational equity by supporting students from economically disadvantaged families to access and complete higher education. Although China has established a relatively comprehensive student financial aid system, the effective implementation of subsidy policies remains challenging, particularly in private universities where institutional conditions and student backgrounds create complex implementation contexts. This study explores the challenges encountered in implementing education subsidy policy for poor students in a private university in China. A qualitative case study design was adopted, with data collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis at Shandong Huayu University of Technology. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns related to policy implementation challenges. The findings reveal five major challenges: identification and recognition limitations, stigma, privacy, and psychological pressure, coverage and aid-intensity constraints, evaluation fairness concerns, and insufficient developmental and educational support. The study demonstrates that the implementation of education subsidy policy involves not only financial distribution but also complex processes of identification, communication, evaluation, and student support. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of financial aid implementation in private higher education contexts and provide implications for improving student-centred subsidy practices.
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