BEIJING -- China's Education Ministry on Wednesday opened a hotline for students and their parents with inquiries on financial aid at universities.

This will mark the 16th year of the opening of such a hotline by the ministry to serve students and their parents from poor households and ease their worries about financial support for the students newly admitted to higher education institutions.

The routine hotline this year will run from Wednesday through Sept. 18, the longest ever, according to the ministry.

Education authorities and universities across the country are also required to open hotlines to provide information on financial aid.

China's unified college entrance exam was held last week. Those newly enrolled by universities normally start campus life in autumn.