Women who hold a bachelor's degree took home a higher salary than their male counterparts this year for the first time in history, according to a recent report by Fudan University.

But men with postgraduate degrees still earn a little more than women with similar titles, while the gap is shrinking.

The Report on Employment of Graduates of Fudan University 2004 said women with bachelor's degrees earn 50 yuan (US$6) a month more than male graduates. Women were paid 70 yuan less a month than men last year.

While women with postgraduate degrees still earn less than men with a similar education, the gap has dropped form 1,000 yuan a month to just 600 yuan.

The report said students who majored in business management, information management and system, and economics earned the highest average salaries this year.

2003, computer science majors took home the highest average salaries.

Among postgraduates, MBAs earned the most money, taking home an average 8,859 yuan every month.

The report suggested that Jiangxi Province offers the highest salaries for undergraduates while postgraduates and postdoctorates found the most financially rewarding jobs in Guangdong Province this year. Shanghai was listed as the fourth highest paying city for undergraduates.

(Shanghai Daily December 21, 2004)